Single bed post-menopause - Nishmat Yoatzot Halacha

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Single bed post-menopause

April 9, 2004

Question

In a previous posting, you indicated that while there was no halachic prohibition for a couple to have one bed (as long as they had an alternate arrangement for times the wife was niddah), but that it was best to have two beds due to mareet ayin. Does this concern have to be taken into account when dealing with a couple where the wife is past menopause?

Answer

For a post-menopausal couple, a single bed is fine. There is no concern of marit ayin.

Women do occasionally become niddah after menopause (as a result of certain gynecological procedures or conditions), and a couple should not share a bed on Yom Kippur or Tisha B’Av. For those rare occasions, an alternative sleeping arrangement (e.g., a guest bed, a couch, or an air mattress) should still be available for one spouse.

This response was updated on 19 September, 2023.