Recently, a kosher certified company requested kosher certification for deviled eggs. This prompted the agency certifying the company to review the halachahs of leaving peeled eggs overnight. The Gemara notes that a person who eats shelled eggs, peeled onions or garlic that had been left overnight, endangers his life and will be judged as a person who took his own life.¹ The Gemara explains that the danger associated with these foods is ruach ra’ah.

Does the concern for ruach ra’ah still apply to these foods?

There is a disagreement among later Poskim about this question and other details of the prohibition. The following is a summary of these views:

1. Yad Meir and Shevet HaLevi hold that this Halachah is no longer relevant because Tosfot states that certain ruach ra’ah do not descend in “these countries”. We can infer from Tosfot that we do not have to be concerned for any ruach ra’ah unless we have a mesorah that that specific form is still prevalent. Yad Meir and Shevet HaLevi cite Hago’ot Mordechai as a source for adopting such an approach regarding leaving eggs, onions and garlic overnight. They are supported by the fact that the Shulchan Aruch cites certain dangerous activities listed in the Gemara but not these. Minchat Yitzchok discusses this issue and concludes that there is basis for those who are lenient.
2. The overwhelming majority of Poskim hold that the Gemara continues to be relevant nowadays. They address, but do not resolve, the fact that Shulchan Aruch doesn’t discuss this danger.

Republished with permission from www.oukosher.org