[Avodah] Does Ru'ach Ra'ah (negative spirits) still exist today?

[Micha Berger]

On 5/25/2018 7:11 PM, Rn Toby Katz Avodah wrote:
> It is possible that one manifestation of ruach raah may be
> bacteria. So parents should definitely wash their hands before
> feeding their children.

According the Tosafos (Yuma 77b) and the Yam Shel Shelomo (Chulin
8:31) there isn't any ru'ach ra'ah anymore. Unsurprizingly, the Rambam
(Rotzeiach 12:5) doesn't mention ru'ach ra'ah when he discusses not
putting food under your bed, his reason is "shema yipol bo davar hamaziq".

If it is a modern and mundane issue, I would think ru'ach ra'ah is
depression, not a physical illness. The day after Shaul learns he lost
his throne, "vatilach ruach E-lokim ra'ah el Sha'ul". (Shemu'el I 18:9)

On Sat, May 26, 2018 at 09:17:24PM +0200, Ben Waxman via Avodah wrote:
: True but washing one's hands is not netilat ya'diim. It is soap and water.

Actually, you need to do both for neigl vasr, as you need to get rid of
chatzitzos. AhS 161:1, MB s"q 7,10.

So the question might be... What's the problem with chatzitzos? Can
someone make an argument that it's about places where disease can hide?
Then why haqpadah?

I really don't know what to do with RASoloveitchik's suggestion that
ru'ach ra'ah can be things like germs. If it's a saqanas nefashos thing,
then pesaqim should indeed be more maqpidim about things like soap
than about using a cup, koach gavra, etc...

BUT... this is RAS. I am assuming he did indeed have an explanation.
Keeping the discussion alive (and CC-ing R Harry Maryles) to see if
we can get down to one.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

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