Sakana - Under-Bed Food Storage (Cont'd)

QUESTION: Does the concern of ru’ach ra’ah on food placed under a bed apply to all foods?

ANSWER: The Talmud Bavli (Pesachim 112a) writes that one may not place food or drink under a bed. However, the Yerushalmi (Avoda Zara 2:3) only cautions against placing a tavshil (cooked food) under a bed. Rambam (Hilchos Rotzei’ach 12:5) and Shulchan Aruch (YD 116:5) both use the wording of the Yerushalmi that the concern applies to cooked foods. The Binas Adam (klal 63) writes that in his days, it was common for the peasant farmers to store raw vegetables under their beds. He ruled that one may be lenient and purchase these vegetables, since the Shulchan Aruch only forbade cooked foods. Although the Vilna Gaon was stringent even regarding raw foods, Binas Adam writes that this was an added measure of stringency. 

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