In Which Direction Should One Place Their Head While Sleeping?

Greetings,

According to our halachic authorities, it is forbidden for a person (when their wife is with them, and when their wife is not with them, it is right to be cautious) to sleep between east and west. Rather, they should sleep between north and south, with the head of the bed to the north and the foot to the south.

However, according to our mystics, on the contrary, a person should not sleep between north and south, but rather specifically between east and west, with the head of the bed to the east and the foot to the west.

As for practical application, one who wishes to act according to the opinion of our halachic authorities and place their bed between north and south may do so, and one who wishes to follow the opinion of our mystics and place their bed between east and west, with the head to the east and the foot to the west, may do so.

Nevertheless, some have written that a person should always act consistently in one direction, either east and west or north and south, as this way they fulfill at least one opinion. However, if they do it one way sometimes and another way at other times, they contradict themselves.

Sources:It is explained in Tractate Berachot (5b) that one should sleep between north and south, and Rashi explains that the head of the bed should be to the north and the foot to the south. The Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (Siman 3, Sif 6), rules that it is forbidden to sleep between east and west if one’s wife is with them, and one should be cautious even when their wife is not with them. Further on in the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 240, Sif 17), it is clarified that the intention is for the head of the bed to be to the north and the foot to the south. This is also the opinion of the Mishna Berura (Siman 3, Sif Katan 11) in the name of the Lechem Hamudos.

However, our mystics hold that the bed should be arranged so that the head is to the east and the foot is to the west, as noted in the Zohar (Parashat Bamidbar, 118b) and in the Kaf Hachaim (Siman 3, Ois 16). This was also the practice of the Chacham Tzvi, as reported by the respondents in the Responsa Sha’iltot Yavetz, Part 1 (Siman 47). The same conclusion is reached in Responsa Veyashiv Hayam, Part 1 (Siman 1).

Nonetheless, the opinion of the Mishna Berura is that it is preferable initially to act according to the Shulchan Aruch, because in the Responsa of the Benin Shel Simcha, it is stated in the name of the Vilna Gaon that even the intention of the Zohar is in accordance with the Gemara. Furthermore, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, ruled similarly as noted in the book Ashrei Ha’ish, Part Even Ha’ezer, Part 2 (Chapter 14, Section 38). Likewise, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, in his book Daas Notzei, Part 1 (Page 106, Responsa 251), maintains that one should act according to the Mishna Berura, with the head to the north, and there it is noted that the Chazon Ish said to lie between north and south. (However, in the book Ma’aseh Ish, Part 5, Page 182, it is cited that Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, said that indeed the Chazon Ish instructed to place the bed between north and south. Yet others claim he replied that in his parents' house, it was east to west).

Indeed, several great halachic authorities have written that since there are opinions on both sides, one may conduct themselves as they wish, as written in the Shiyarei Knesset Hagedolah Orach Chaim (Siman 3, in the gloss of Beit Yosef, Ois 4), that nowadays the world does not observe this at all. The reasoning is that if we stick strictly to this matter, on which side should we act? If we lean towards our Talmud, it contradicts the Zohar. And if we follow the Zohar, it contradicts our Talmud. Therefore, they have not maintained caution regarding this. This is also noted in the book Olat Tamid (Siman 3, Sif 6) regarding this matter, that one can act this way or that way. The same concept is posited by the Aruch HaShulchan (there, Sif 13) that the common practice is not to be cautious about this, as we rely on the Tur for its legal aspect, stating that it is not an obligation but rather mere piety, and it is questionable among the great authorities whether identifying north and south refers to the head and foot or the width of the bed. Hence, this halachic matter has been rendered insignificant.

The view of several contemporary authorities is similar, see the book Or Lezion, Part 2 (Chapter 1, Responsa 1), which ruled that a person can arrange their bed as they please because in every direction, they have a basis to rely upon. Nevertheless, where possible, it is better to place the head of the bed to the east and the foot to the west. Also, refer to the book Halacha Berurah (Siman 3, in the clarification of the law, Ois 7), which quotes his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, who agreed that if one wants to place their bed between north and south, they may do so, and if they wish to place it between east and west, they may do so as well. Additionally, look at the book V’Alah Lo Yavul, Part 2 (Page 284), in the name of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, stating that it is the custom of the world not to be cautious about arranging their beds between north and south, and see there for further clarification.

Also examine this matter in Responsa Yeshuat Moshe, Part 3 (Siman 20), and in Responsa Olat Yitzchak, Part 1 (Siman 2, Ois 2) and Part 2 (Siman 3).

As for the statement, 'and nevertheless, some have written...', it is indeed noted in the book Ma’am Loez (Bereshit, Page 151).

Blessings,

Hillel Meirs