Bracha on Mezuzah of the utility room in a jointly owned property

 

Question:

I live in an all Jewish condo building and I realized that the utility room (in the garage/basement) never had a Mezuzah. I plan to put one up ASAP. My question is whether I should make a Bracha when I do so?

 

Answer:

This would depend upon several factors:

  1. The common areas of the building are jointly owned by the owners of the condominiums (“homeowners association”).
  2. The garage is used as an entrance into the building (as I would assume).
  3. The utility room has an area of 75.5X75.5 inches.
  4. The utility room serves a (even minor) storage function.

If all of the above conditions are met, a Bracha should be recited. lacking one of the above, a Mezuza should be affixed without a Bracha.

 

Sources:

ראה יומא דף י”א, רמב”ם הל’ מזוזה פ”ו ה”ז, שו”ע יו”ד סי’ רפ”ו, מקדש מעט שם ס”ק ט’, בנין אב ח”א סי’ מ”ד, פתחי שערים סי’ רפ”ו ס”ק קמ”ו, שבט הלוי ח”ב סי’ קנ”ו (סי’ רפ”ו סעי’ ב’), שבט הקהתי ח”ו סי’ שס”ח, ועוד ועוד.

 

 

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