Sources:
The Magen Avraham, siman 4, se’if katan 20, writes in the name of the responsa of the Mahari”l: “He wrote that one should wash before praying at graves.” This is likewise cited in the Mishnah Berurah there, se’if katan 42. However, anyone who looks in the responsa of the Mahari”l, siman 23, will see that he writes: “Those who come from a cemetery in order to pray do well to wash their hands, because of the spirit of impurity that rests in a cemetery, etc., and netilat yadayim removes it.” In the notes to the Machon Yerushalayim edition of the responsa of the Mahari”l, they write that apparently the Magen Avraham found difficulty with the Mahari”l’s wording, “those who come from a cemetery in order to pray,” and emended it to read, “to a cemetery in order to pray.” However, in all manuscripts of the responsa of the Mahari”l, the text appears as it does in our editions, and not in accordance with the Magen Avraham’s emendation. In Sefer Mahari”l, at the end of the laws of mourning, as well as in Machzor Vitri, Rokeach, and the derashot of Maharash, siman 368, they write, “when they return” from the cemetery. See there. Moreover, from what the Mahari”l wrote in his responsum, “because of the spirit of impurity that rests in a cemetery, etc., and netilat yadayim removes it,” it is evident that the discussion concerns leaving the cemetery. The difficulty the Magen Avraham had with the wording, “those who come from a cemetery in order to pray,” can be resolved by noting that their custom was to pray Mincha after leaving the cemetery.
In the responsa Lev Binyamin, p. 135, the author asked Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt”l whether the practice is to wash one’s hands also upon entering a cemetery, or only upon leaving it. Rabbi Chaim replied that it is only upon leaving. In the notes there, the author wondered about this in light of the above Mishnah Berurah. According to what has been stated here, however, this is readily resolved: since it is clearly established that in all the manuscripts of the Mahari”l the text does not appear as the Magen Avraham emended it, there is no need to be particular to wash one’s hands before entering. This is especially so because even according to the Magen Avraham, this is not a strict law but merely a precaution.
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. Therefore, it may contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
