Washing hands after visiting the cemetery
Question:
1. Is one allowed to use a hand washing station set up inside the walls of a cemetery that is more than 4 amos away from any kever? If not, should one bring water with them to wash outside the walls of the cemetery?
2. Also, if there’s a restroom within the walls of a cemetery and there is a washing station outside the bathroom but still within the walls of the cemetery, would there be any problem to wash there?
Answer:
1. One should not wash their hands inside the cemetery, even if 4 amos away from any kever.
It would be best to avoid washing with water that came from the cemetery.
2. If the washing station is outside in the open and within the walls of the cemetery (as by the front entrance to the Old Montefiore Cemetery), One should not wash their hands there, even if 4 amos away from any kever.
However if the washing station is in a separate room (as by the Ohel Chabad entrance) even if the entire room is within the walls of the cemetery, there is no issue with washing there.
See here:
Sources:
בשם הגרז״ש דווארקין. וראה קובץ רז״ש עמ׳ 60. ולהעיר מל׳ אדה״ז בשו״ע מהדו״ק סי׳ ד׳ סי״ח: ההולך בין הקברות. ושינה מל׳ השו״ע שם סי״ח: בין המתים. וראה משנ״ב שם סקמ״ב.
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