"Omitting Hamapil because one fears being interrupted between making the brachah and falling asleep is not justified"

May I say Krias Shema al Hamittah while already lying down in bed?

It’s recommended to recite Krias Shema while standing or sitting, before lying in bed, since once one is lying down, she’s liable to fall asleep before finishing the Shema or Hamapil. But if one is already lying in bed, she’s not required to get out of bed in order to say Shema or Hamapil.

I’m a night owl and often climb into bed long after midnight. May I say Krias Shema al Hamittah at this hour?

Krias Shema may be said at any time before going to sleep. Hamapil, however, should not be recited if one will not fall asleep until after alos hashachar, which is about 72 minutes before sunrise. (According to some kabbalistic sources, one should omit Hamapil if he goes to sleep past chatzos. Other kabbalistic sources dispute this and require that Hamapil be recited at all times.)

As a mother of children of different ages, I don’t feel comfortable saying Hamapil, because my younger children often need me right after I recite it but before I fall asleep. What’s the proper approach?

Regarding Hamapil, there are two schools of thought: Some maintain that Hamapil is similar to shehakol or borei peri ha’eitz, which must be recited immediately before drinking or eating with no interruption allowed. If so, one who interrupts between Hamapil and falling asleep is reciting a brachah l’vatalah.

However, many other poskim hold that Hamapil is not a brachah for an individual’s personal sleep; rather, it’s a general blessing of praise to Hashem for giving His creations the opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate themselves, similar to Elokai neshamah. If so, one could recite Hamapil even though he is well aware that he may be forced to make an interruption afterwards.

Practically speaking, in deference to the minor­ity opinion, l’chatchilah one should plan that no interruption will take place after reciting Hamapil. All eating, drinking, talking, or any other activity should take place prior to reciting Hamapil. But if this is difficult to do, or bedieved if you re­cited Hamapil and now must eat, drink, answer an important telephone call, daven Maariv, count Sefiras Ha’omer, etc., you may do so and need not be concerned about a brachah l’vatalah.

It follows, therefore, that there’s no excuse to skip Hamapil before retiring for the night. Omitting Hamapil because one fears being interrupted between making the brachah and falling asleep is not justified.

When my baby wakes up crying in middle of the night, do I have to wash netilas yadayim before taking care of him?

You are not required to wash netilas yadayim when taking care of your baby during the night. If you do not wash your hands, then take extra care to avoid directly touching, with your bare hands, any of the “open” areas of your body (e.g., eyes, ears, nose).

Is it permitted to occasionally take a sleeping pill on Shabbos?

Contemporary poskim debate whether or not it is permitted to take a sleeping pill on Shabbos without reaching a clear consensus. Some consider it medication, in which case it may not be taken, while others do not classify insomnia as an illness nor a sleeping pill as medication. All agree that if the lack of sleep will result in the insomniac becoming dysfunctional or incapacitated, then it is permitted to take the pill on Shabbos.

I work long office hours, sometimes catnapping on my desk in the late afternoon. Must I wash netilas yadayim upon awakening?

If the catnap lasted for a half an hour or longer, you should wash your hands three times upon awakening. The brachah of al netilas yadayim is not recited.

It there any problem with storing my baby’s food in the basket underneath the carriage where he’s sleeping?

Although it is forbidden, because of ruach ra’ah, to store cooked or raw food or drink underneath a bed (even if the food or drink is wrapped or sealed), most poskim do not consider a baby’s carriage a bed and permit storing food underneath it.

We’re redoing our bedroom and my sister-in-law insists my beds can’t be facing the door. Where did she get this from?

I’m not sure where she got this from, since I have never seen any source — halachic, midrashic, or kabbalistic — for this oft-repeated saying. While there are conflicting sources in Chazal if a bed should be placed between north and south (with the head facing north) or between east and west (with the head facing east or with the head facing west), and all options may be followed, none of the sources mention having the bed facing the door or otherwise.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 739)