Food that is under the bed-Part 2:
A number of limitations to this ruling have been suggested in Poskim: Some Poskim[1] suggest that the prohibition only applies if the food is placed directly on an earth floor, while if it is on top of tiles or a wood floor, it is allowed. Other Poskim[2] suggest that the prohibition only applies to an actual bed which is designated for sleeping, and not to a non sleeping area that one sleeps on occasion.
What is the law if the food is not placed directly on the ground, but in a drawer and the like that is under the bed? What is the law if the food is placed under the bed on a tiled floor?
Some Poskim[3] suggest that the prohibition only applies if the food is placed directly on an earth floor, while if it is on top of tiles or a wood floor, it is allowed. Certainly if it was placed in a drawer that is under the bed it is allowed according to this approach. However other Poskim[4] are stringent even in such a case. Practically, Lechatchilah one is to avoid doing so although Bedieved one can use the above Poskim to be lenient to permit eating the food in a time of need.[5]
Q&A on item that is not a bed
May one leave food under a couch which at times people sleep on?
Some Poskim[6] suggest that the prohibition only applies to an actual bed which is designated for sleeping, and not to a non sleeping area that one sleeps on occasion. Other Poskim[7] rule that even in such a case it is forbidden to place food under the area that one is sleeping even if it is not a designated bed. Practically, if one placed food under the couch the food remains permitted.[8]
May one place food under one’s bus seat, an airplane seat, or a bed on a ship, if one plans to nap on it?[9]
Some Poskim[10] rule it is permitted to do so. Others[11] rule one is to be stringent. Certainly Bedieved the food is permitted to be eaten.
Q&A on bed of gentile or child
May one place food under the bed of a gentile and is the food forbidden if one did so?[12]
Some Poskim[13] rule it is forbidden to do so, and even Bedieved the food is forbidden.[14] Other Poskim[15] rule it is permitted to do so.[16] Practically, initially one is not to do so, although Bedieved if one did so the food is permitted.[17]
May food be placed under a crib or bed of a child?
Some Poskim[18] rule it is permitted to do so.[19] Other Poskim[20] rule one is not to do so.
May food be placed under the stroller or baby carriage?[21]
Yes. One may place food in the basket that is on bottom of the stroller even if the child is sleeping
[1] Mizmor Ledavid, and Yifei Laleiv 3 116/6; brought in Darkei Teshuvah 116/37; Kaf Hachayim 116/40 and 44
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that even in such a case it is forbidden to place food under the area that one is sleeping even if it is not directly in an earth floor. [Shaareiy Rachamim 156/2 in name of Binyan Olam that the Gr”a forbade sugar that was left in a cabinet that one slept on top of, brought in Darkeiy Teshuvah 116/38 and Kaf Hachaim 16/43]
[2] Mili Dechasidusa ibid; Poskim brought in Darkei Teshuva 116/38; See story of Rebbe Rashab below that A person once asked the Rebbe Rashab what to do with food left under his seat on the train, if he fell asleep during the ride, and the Rebbe Rashab replied that the food may be eaten as the entire issue is only a bed that one slept on. [Heard from Harav Eliyahu Landa]
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that even in such a case it is forbidden to place food under the area that one is sleeping even if it is not a designated bed. [Shaareiy Rachamim 156/2 in name of Binyan Olam that the Gr”a forbade liquor that was left in a cabinet that one slept on top of, brought in Darkeiy Teshuvah 116/38 and Kaf Hachaim 16/43]
[3] Mizmor Ledavid, and Yifei Laleiv 3 116/6; brought in Darkei Teshuvah 116/37; Kaf Hachaim 116/40 and 44
[4] Shaareiy Rachamim 156/2 in name of Binyan Olam that the Gr”a forbade sugar that was left in a cabinet that one slept on top of, brought in Darkeiy Teshuvah 116/38 and Kaf Hachaim 16/43
[5] Kaf Hachaim 116/66
[6] Mili Dechasidusa ibid; Poskim brought in Darkei Teshuva 116/38; A person once asked the Rebbe Rashab what to do with food left under his seat on the train, if he fell asleep during the ride, and the Rebbe Rashab replied that the food may be eaten as the entire issue is only with a bed that one slept on and not a seat. [Heard from Harav Eliyahu Landa]
[7] Shaareiy Rachamim 156/2 in name of Binyan Olam that the Gr”a forbade liquor that was left in a cabinet that one slept on top of, brought in Darkeiy Teshuvah 116/38 and Kaf Hachaim 16/43; Shemiras Hagif Vehanefesh p. 58 in name of Maharsham, brought in Hakashurs 18 footnote 110
[8] Rebbe Rashab ibid as heard from Rav Eli Landa
[9] Hakashrus 436
[10] Mili Dechasidusa ibid; Poskim brought in Darkei Teshuva 116/38 that the prohibition is only on a bed; A person once asked the Rebbe Rashab what to do with food left under his seat on the train, if he fell asleep during the ride, and the Rebbe Rashab replied that the food may be eaten as the entire issue is only with a bed that one slept on and not a seat. [Heard from Harav Eliyahu Landa]; Mizmor Ledavid, and Yifei Laleiv 3 116/6, brought in Darkei Teshuvah 116/37 and Kaf Hachaim 116/40 and 44 that the prohibition is only when placing the food on the ground; Tzitz Eliezer 10/35; Divrei Yisrael 15; Hakashrus 18/28
[11] See Hakashrus ibid footnote 113
[12] Darkei Teshuvah 116/39
[13] Degel Efraim 28, brought in Darkei Teshuva ibid
[14] The reason: This is not similar to the fact that the hands of gentiles don’t contract impurity regarding washing in the morning. [ibid]
[15] Olalos Moshe 4 [son of Degel Efraim] brought in Darkei Teshuvah ibid;
[16] The reason: This is similar to the fact that the hands of gentiles don’t contract impurity when they awake in the morning. [ibid; Admur in Basra 4/2; Peri Megadim 4 M”Z 7; Amudei Hashulchan 4/7] As this form of impurity [called Bas Melech] only desires to reside in a holy vessel which is defined as an area which contained holiness that departed from it, [in order for it to nurture from it], such as a sleeping Jewish body [as opposed to the body of a gentile]. The Jewish body has its G-dly soul ascend from it while sleeping and a spirit of impurity then resides on the body. When the person awakens and the soul returns to the body, the impurity immediately leaves the entire body and remains only on the hands. [Admur ibid] However a gentile which does not have a G-dly soul does not retract this impurity upon going to sleep.
[17] Teshuros Shaiy 2/116; Darkei Teshuvah ibid; Peri Hasadeh 3/159; Shulchan Chaiy 17/8; Hakashrus 18 footnote 101 and 118 [p. 434, and 437]
[18] Shearim Hametzuyanum Behalacha 33 Kuntrus Achron 5; Hakashrus 18/29 [p. 436]; All Poskim that are lenient by gentile seemingly would be lenient also by a child
[19] The reason: As Admur Basra 4/2 rules that a child does not carry the evil spirit on his hands in the morning.
[20] Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh p. 62; All Poskim that are stringent by gentile seemingly would be stringent also by a child
[21] Minchas Yitzchak 4/117; Hakashrus 18/29 ; All Poskim that rule the issue is only with a real bed, and only with an adult
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