Q. Hello Rav, In our basement with a washroom has in it a toilet and shower stall. The shower stall is never used. I’m wondering if its permissible to use it for storage of drinks. (wine, beer, soda, water bottles). Everything is closed in their containers. There are other less convenient places we could keep them, but this spot is nice because its out of the way and easy to access. Would this be allowed, and if so, is it very b’dieved?
Thanks
A. Mishna Berura (84: 7) rules that one should not drink inside a ‘Beis Hamerchatz’ or bathroom since one cannot recite a brocho there. However he quotes from P’ri Megodim, that one who desires to drink in the bathroom should say the brocho in an adjacent permissible room, or should enter the room where the mikvah is and cover himself with the water and cover his head and recite the brocho with the intention to continue drinking inside the bathroom.
Avnei Yoshfo (Gam Ani Odecha 95) permits bringing pieces of bread into a bathroom for the purpose of Bedikas Chometz, based also on the above Mishna Berura.
Maase Ish (p. 99) quotes that Horav Moshe Doitch zt’l asked the Chazon Ish if one is permitted to eat food that was kept in a Beis Hakisseh or washroom and he answered with a smile that we do not find a prohibition on this.
However, Taamei Haminhagim (Tzitzis, Kuntres Acharon – Chaf) quotes that the Belzer Rebbeh would not eat food that was introduced in a Beis Hakisse. Likewise, Mechkerei Eretz (O.H. 5) mentions that the Rebeh Rav Pinchas Mekoritz would rule similarly.
Nevertheless, Minchas Yitzchok (3: 63) is lenient. Salmas Chaim (3: 19) is lenient if food that one carried in his pocket.
It would seem from Betzel Hachochno (3: 11: 2) and others that one may be more stringent in food introduced into a Beis Hakisse than in a Beis Hamerchatz.
Although Poskim beware that on the onset one should not bring in any food into either one of the above facilities, after the fact the food is permitted. (Maharam Brisk 1: 10, Afraksto Deaniyo 133, Shevet Halevi 10: 165: 5, and others).
Horav Shlomo Miller’ Shlit’a opinion is to be lenient. The Rov quoted a similar ruling in Piskei Teshuvo (Y.D. 200: 1)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a