Encountering a non-Jew or a non-kosher animal after Mikvah
Does the Halacha of returning to the mikvah after seeing a goy or non-kosher animal apply only to a live person or animal or to even a picture on one’s phone, for example, a stock photo of children who are probably not Jewish used in a Chabad email newsletter, etc?
Answer:
In Shulchan Aruch it says that when women come out of tevila they should be careful not to encounter a non-Jew or a non-kosher animal, and if they do encounter any of them they should re-immerse. However, once the woman has seen (and preferably made physical contact with) another Jewish woman, such as the mikvah lady, there is no need to re-immerse.
The Hebrew wording indicates that the problem is only in regard to actually encountering, not a picture. Although, on the positive side – seeing holy and pure things can have a positive effect on the child.
Sources:
רמ”א יו”ד סוף סי’ קצח. ושחברתה תיגע בה – סד”ט שם ס”ק צא והועתק בכמה מקומות. טהרת ישראל סו”ס ר”מ. לקו”ש חכ”ה ע’ 311. וראה מה שדייק בזה בטהרה כהלכה פרק כב הע’ 79 שהזהירות הוא רק לפני יציאתן מבנין המקוה ורק נשים צדקניות נזהרות גם ברחוב. ולענ”ד אפ”ל שזהירותן של הנשים צדקניות היא לא ליפגע בדבר טמא גם אחרי שתיפגע בחברתה, ועצ”ע.
#9296
Does this apply only to mikvah or also when learning Torah or davening? For example, is there an inyan to be machmir if one can and not learn or daven where one can see a goy, such as a housekeeper or by a window?
Regarding davening & learning – there is no problem davening in view of non-Jews or non-kosher animals, as long as the person is properly dressed. (Obviously, if it disturbs the concentration it should be avoided).
ראה שו”ע אדה”ז עה, ז