Renovations and Halachic Concerns

Hi, I am in the middle of renovating my house, and I have two questions regarding the construction:I would like to seal off one of the windows, and there are other windows in the room — is that a problem with regard to the decree of Rabbeinu Yehudah HaChasid?Does the Amah al Amah need to be a square, or can I design it any shape that I want?

Thank you for your question.

It is brought in the Tzava’at Rabbeinu Yehudah HaChasid that one should not seal off a window or a door, since it may cause a sakanah (danger), as the mazikim (harmful spirits) that used to exit through that door or window are no longer able to leave.

This even includes a room that has two windows; nevertheless, one should not seal off even one of them. 

HaGaon HaRav Fried shlit”a says that one does not need to leave the entire window open. What one can do, for example, is to stretch a wire across the full width of the window, seal the rest, and then remove the wire, and that will leave a tiny hole and that is sufficient, since according to Rabbeinu Yehudah HaChasid, it is enough if there is even a small opening left as an "exit", and the entire window does not have to remain open.

This even applies in a case when one leaves the window as-is, but wants to place a cupboard in front of it, since this might be considered as sealing the window, it depends on how the cupboard is installed.

If the cupboard is not completely attached to the wall, and there is some space between the cupboard and the window, then there is no problem.
 If, however, the cupboard is completely fixed to the wall, like typical bathroom cabinets that are mounted directly onto the wall, and one blocks the window in such a way, then this would be considered as sealing the window. Therefore, one would have to make a small hole in the back of the cupboard, facing the window. Although it is important to note that there is no need to keep the cupboard doors open, since even when they are closed, there is still a small gap between the doors.

Shape of the Amah al Amah

With regard to the halacha of leaving an "Amah al Amah" as a zecher l’Churban (remembrance of the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash) whether it has to be a perfect square?

The source for this halacha is as follows:

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות תשעה באב ושאר תעניות סימן תקס סעיף א
 משחרב בית המקדש, תקנו חכמים שהיו באותו הדור שאין בונים לעולם בנין מסוייד ומכוייר כבנין המלכים, אלא טח ביתו בטיט וסד בסיד ומשייר מקום אמה על אמה כנגד הפתח בלא סיד.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 560, Se’if 1:
 From the time the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the sages of that generation instituted that one may not build a fully plastered and decorated home like a royal palace. Rather, he should plaster his house with clay and lime, but leave a space of one amah by one amah (approximately 60x60 cm, or 48x48 cm according to a smaller measurement) unplastered, opposite the entrance, as a remembrance.

The Pri Megadim in Eshel Avraham, Se’if Katan 3, writes that the shape of the Amah al Amah should be square:

פרי מגדים אשל אברהם על שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות תשעה באב ושאר תעניות סימן תקס סעיף א
 …..גם צ"ע אי דוקא אמה על אמה מרובע ולא אריך וקטין, והכי מסתבר,

It also requires clarification whether the space must be specifically a square Amah al Amah — and not a long and narrow rectangle — and that indeed seems to be the correct understanding.

The ideal place for this should be opposite the entrance to the house as brought in the Shulchan Aruch above, so that it is visible when entering. If that is not possible, then it should be placed opposite the place of the ba’al habayit (owner of the house).

Wishing you Hatslacha with your renovation.

Tzava’at Rabbeinu Yehudah HaChasid

 Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 560:1

Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham) on Orach Chaim 560:1

Psak of HaGaon Harav Fried Shelittah