Q. After attending a levaya or exiting a cemetery can one wash hands by sinking them in the snow? Does one have to do it three times? Can it be done in the same place?
A. On question 2074 regarding if one can wash hands netilas yodaim by immersing them in snow on Shabbat, as when exiting the house after touching boots or shoes; we wrote: "Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is permitted. However, one must be careful not to grind or mash the snow into water by rubbing one’s hands together.
During weekdays, one may immerse hands three times in snow that has a volume of more than forty saah or the amount of water in a mikva, when exiting a cemetery and remove the ruach raah from them."
Mishna Berura (4: 25), quotes P'ri Megodim debating if one dips his hands inside a river or in a snow bank on three different places, if it actually removes the ruach hatumah or pouring from a vessel is required. Mishna Berurah further quotes Poskim that maintain that dipping hands in a river, snow or in a mikva brings about the removal of tumah, even if there is no forty saah present. See also Beer Heitev (ibid.).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar. The Rov maintains that if he can dip them on three different places it is better.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
