Q&A: A Kohen at the Graves of the Righteous
A Kohen at the Graves of the Righteous
Question
What is the Rabbi’s view regarding the connection between the statement that “the righteous, even in their death, are called alive” and the claim that the graves of the righteous do not convey ritual impurity? And is there some other permission to enter the Cave of Machpelah?
Answer
I have no idea. I don’t really believe that.
A kohen is forbidden to become ritually impure again, even though the presumption is that nowadays he is already impure. According to the Raavad, this is only a rabbinic prohibition. So on the face of it, there seems to be no permission to enter there (unless there are no graves there at all and it is all aggadah, but then there is no point in going in). But see Rabbi Lior’s responsum here, that because of the structure of the cave there may be room to permit it: https://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/244