Sakana - Food in a Cemetery

QUESTION: I had food in my pocket when I visited a cemetery. May this food still be eaten, or is there a concern of ru’ach ra’ah?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (YD 368:1) writes that one must act with a level of seriousness when one visits a cemetery so as to show proper honor for the deceased. The Rema adds that one may not eat or drink inside of a cemetery as this demonstrates a lack of respect. Yalkut Yosef (OC 4:39) extrapolates from the ruling of the Rema that there is no concern of ru’ach ra’ah in bringing food into a cemetery. The Rema was not concerned with food brought into a cemetery, only noting that it is improper to eat it there. However, ru’ach ra’ach (a damaging spirit) does rest on the hands of one who enters a cemetery, and one must wash their hands upon exiting a cemetery. Therefore, after leaving a cemetery one must be careful not to touch the food until after washing one's hands.

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