Q&A From the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Hanging On

Dayan Yehoshua Grunwald

December 30, 2021

Q I took down my mezuzah to have it checked. Should I make a bracha upon rehanging it?

A R’ Akiva Eiger (Y.D. 286) writes that it depends whether you had a hesech hada’as (mental interruption). But what constitutes a hesech hada’as? Rav Elyashiv (quoted in Shu”t Avnei Yashfeh 1:207:2), R’ Shmuel Wosner (

Kovetz Mibais Levi Y.D., mezuzah), and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Shu”t Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:551) rule that there is no hesech hada’as if one rehangs the mezuzah the same day he took it down. This seems to be the prevalent minhag.

If the original mezuzah was replaced the same day with another, poskim disagree whether a bracha is required. Changing the mezuzah should be discussed with a rav.

If one is rehanging a mezuzah because it fell down, a bracha is certainly required. This is so even if the mezuzah didn’t fall down but only began swinging because one of its two nails fell out (Chovas Hadar 11, footnote 29).

Sefer Agurah B’ahalecha (1:38) recommends that while hanging a mezuzah initially, one should have the intent that his bracha is only for that one hanging, and all subsequent hangings aren’t included. This would enable him to make a bracha on any rehanging without question.

One should be aware that in certain situations there is no bracha even at the initial placement of a mezuzah, e.g., in a doorway that has no door.