עברית
Halachot and Customs
Is It Permitted to Eat Food That Was Inside a Cemetery?
Question
Good evening. If a woman attended a funeral and had food inside her bag, is there any problem with eating it? And if she was in a cemetery with it, does the ruling change? Thank you.
Answer
Shalom rav,
It is permitted to eat that food, even if it was inside a cemetery. Sources: This is evident from what the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah (siman 368, seif 2), writes: trees planted in a cemetery may have their fruit picked, since they are not on top of the graves themselves. End of quote. It is therefore clear that there is no concern about eating food that was inside a cemetery. See also Yabia Omer, part 11 (Yoreh Deah, siman 38), Chazon Ovadia: Avelut, part 1 (pages 433-434), and Derech Sichah, part 1 (page 628). It is true that the Gemara in Horayot (13b) says that there are ten things that are difficult for learning, and one who drinks from a water channel passing through a cemetery. However, it would appear that this is a segulah-related matter stated specifically about uncovered water passing through a cemetery. Similarly, in Shemirat HaGuf VehaNefesh, part 1 (siman 50, note 2), it is written in the name of the Graish"z Auerbach zt"l that he said there is no need to be more stringent in this than what is stated in the Gemara regarding an אמת המים, namely uncovered water, and there is no need to be concerned about water that passes through a pipe.
Good news, Hillel Meirs
