Bathroom-Using the Bathroom before and during Davening, and the law if one Davened with a bathroom urge:^[1]

1. Prior to Davening:

• Checking if need to use the bathroom: Prior to Davening one is initially to check himself well to verify that he will not need to use the bathroom during Davening.
• The Prohibition to pray if one feels an urge to use the bathroom: If prior to Davening [Baruch Sheamar] one feels that he must use the bathroom, then it is forbidden for him to begin Davening until he relieves himself.
• This applies even if he is able to withhold his needs until after Davening or for even many hours and will not transgress Bal Tishkatzu.
• If will miss Zman Tefila: If relieving oneself before Davening will cause one to miss Davening within Zman Tefila, then if he is able to withhold himself for a Parsa distance [1 hour and 36 minutes], then he may first Daven. If, however, one estimates that he cannot hold himself in for that amount of time, then he must first relieve himself and then Daven, even though this will cause him to miss Zman Tefila.
• If will miss Minyan:[2] If one will not miss Zman Tefila if he were to first use the bathroom, but suspects that he will miss Davening with the Minyan, then he must nevertheless first use the bathroom, even if he is able to withhold himself for a Parsas distance, and even if this will certainly cause him to miss the Minyan.
• The Prohibition to learn Torah if one feels an urge to use the bathroom: Just as it is forbidden for one to pray if he feels an urge to use the bathroom, so too it is forbidden for one to study Torah if one feels such an urge.

1. Bedieved-The law if one Davened despite the urge to use the bathroom:

• Able to withhold himself for a Parsas distance: One who felt a need to use the bathroom before Davening and transgressed and went ahead and first Davened, then if he estimated that he was able to withhold himself for a Parsas distance [1 hour 36 minutes], then he has fulfilled his prayer obligations and does not need to re-Daven.
• Urge to defecate: If, however, one was not able to withhold himself for that amount of time, then if he felt the need before Davening for a bowel movement, then his prayer is considered an abomination and therefore he has not fulfilled his prayer obligations and must re-Daven.
• Urge to urinate: If, however, one only felt the need to urinate, then he has fulfilled his obligation even if he was not able to withhold himself for a Parsa distance.

1. Using the bathroom during Davening:

• Defecating: One who did not feel the need to defecate before Davening and then suddenly in middle of Davening became aroused with a desire to defecate, then if he is past Baruch Sheamar then he may not stop to relieve himself if he can withhold his bowels until after prayer.
  • This applies even if withholding one’s needs will cause him to transgress Baal Tishaktzu.
• Urinating: One who did not feel the need to urinate before Davening and then suddenly in middle of Davening became aroused with a desire to urinate, then if he is past Baruch Sheamar, then he may choose to stop and urinate even if he is in the midst of Birchas Kerias Shema. However, he is not obligated to stop to urinate and may hold himself in if he wishes.
• Felt the urge prior to Baruch Sheamar: If one is prior to saying the blessing in Baruch Sheamar, then he is obligated to defecate or urinate if he feels an urge to do so.
  • This applies even if he will not transgress Baal Tishaktzu.
• Felt urge during Shemoneh Esrei: If during Shemoneh Esrei one feels the need to relieve himself, then he must hold himself as much as physically possible whether to urinate or defecate.
  • If the urge is so strong that it is physically impossible to withhold himself any longer, then by a bowel movement he is to stop his prayer and go to the bathroom.
  • However, by urination it remains forbidden for him to move from his spot, and he is rather to remain there even if he urinates within his clothing.

[1] See Admur 92:1-2; Basra 3:11; Siddur Admur; Michaber 92:2; Ketzos Hashulchan 12:1-2; 18:7; 19 footnote 27-28; 20:1

[2] Ketzos Hashulchan ibid