Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Mattress on floor

14 December, 2005
Question:

My husband is unhappy about my sleeping on a mattress on the floor when I am a niddah. He cannot sleep on the floor as he has back problems.
Prior to our marriage he had invested in a wide double bed (160 x 200). He is unwilling to exchange it as he has had severe back pain for many years and this is the first bed on which he has been able to sleep the night through.
He has suggested laying the extra mattress ON TOP OF (half of) the existing mattress, and for me to sleep on that, perhaps in a sleeping bag.
I feel that this is not acceptable, but please could we have your opinion?
Thank you.


Answer:

A separate mattress is a good halachic option. It is clearly separate from his bed and physical contact between you while sleeping is impossible. But the mattress does not need to be on the floor! Is there room for you to purchase a second bed, or a futon? When you are niddah, he could sleep on his double bed while you sleep on a single bed. Alternatively, you could buy some sort of platform for the mattress, which could be stored under the main bed. If you find it comfortable, an inflatable air bed, which could easily be deflated and stored when you are tehorah, would also work.

Layering the mattresses, even with a sleeping bag, is not halachically acceptable because you would still be sleeping on top of the same bed. 

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