I read somewhere that you can’t do this. Is there anything a person can do to purify themself.
Please provide sources.
-
Welcome to Mi Yodeya Joshua. To prevent this question to be closed because it might be asking for a practical halachic advice, it is advisable to edit this question. You can ask if there are any sources that describes such and so etc... In this case, I would advise you to contact your local Rabbi.– ShmuelCommented Oct 13, 2022 at 15:27
-
@Shmuel edited.– JoshuaCommented Oct 13, 2022 at 15:30
-
1Are you a kohen? I've never heard of this being an issue, besides that it is disrespectful. For a kohen, however, they are not allowed to become tamei meis (impure by a dead body).– ezraCommented Oct 13, 2022 at 15:36
-
@ezra I thought this applied to everyone. I guess I am wrong. I am not kohen– JoshuaCommented Oct 14, 2022 at 16:15
-
1. Why does he have to purify himself if he doesn't legit know that there's a Corpse there. How does he know. And besides, there has been no Parah Adumah to purify anyway.– Nissim NanachCommented Oct 19, 2022 at 16:29
|
Show 2 more comments
1 Answer
As, Ezra stated in the comments (I've not seen that until I published this answer), if you are a Kohen, then this does not apply to you, since a Kohen is not allowed to become impure through this.
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 199:14 says:
It is forbidden to step upon graves because some Poskim maintain that it is forbidden to derive benefit from them. However, if you have to visit a certain grave, and have no way of getting there unless you step upon other graves, it is permitted.
Regarding washing after leaving a cemetry, see this answer.
The Magen Avraham (4:20) writes that you can wash yourself (netilat yadayim) after visiting a cemetry because there are bad spirits (שדים)
בין המתים. היינו בית הקברות (תשובת מהרי"ל סי' כ"ג) וכתב שיש ליטול קודם שיתפלל על הקברות ורוחצין שנית בשובו לחצר בה"ק שהשדים מלוין החוזרים ויש לרחוץ גם הפנים עכ"ל ע"ש:
See also: Mishnah Berurah 4:42:
and wash a second time upon returning to the courtyard of the cemetery, because evil spirits accompany those who leave. There are those who also wash their face at that time.
