Single bedframe, two mattresses? - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Single bedframe, two mattresses?

December 25, 2003

Question

Hi. We are a newly married, dati leumi couple living in Israel. Recently, we have been to many of our (also dati leumi) couple friends for Shabbat, etc, and have noticed that they have one bed in their bedroom – two mattresses, definitely on one bed frame. We have noticed this definitely with one couple and possibly in other friends’ houses. This is surprising to us, because we both learned that the halacha is clear – during niddah, the beds must be entirely separate, including the frame, at least so that the covers do not touch. Also, one of these couples seems to be more machmir about many things than we are – specifically harchakot.
We do not plan on changing what we do – keeping our beds entirely separate during niddah. But we would like to be "lomed zechut" on our friends, or just clear about the whole issue. Is it halachically ok for the mattresses to be separate but the bed frame not? Is there any heter for that?
Thank you.

Answer

A couple can own any kind of bed or beds that they prefer. The halachic issue is their sleeping arrangement during the time that the wife is in niddah. At that time, the beds on which they are sleeping (both mattress and frame) have to be separate and not touch. Some couples do this by moving one mattress to the floor. Other have a king size mattress and an additional pull-out bed or couch. A bed frame may even be constructed so that it converts to two separate beds, and this may not be apparent. Thus, the arrangement you have observed in your friends’ bedrooms does not necessarily indicate that they are not fulfilling the halacha properly. Nevertheless, even if only because of appearances, the setup you describe is not recommended.

This response was updated on 2 November, 2025.

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