Mikvaot: Difference between revisions

# Using an ice machine to create ice is a discussion in the poskim. Some hold it is invalid even after the fact,<ref>Satmer rebbe (Shevet Halevi 8:204) was machmir not to use an ice machine. Imrei Yosher 1:148 argues that one shouldn’t use machine made ice for a mikveh for several reasons: 1) According to the first explanation of the Smag you can’t use ice that melts that once was sheuvim unless you also add 40 seah afterwards. Even though the Shach holds like the second explanation of the Smag, the Gidulei Tahara and Lechem Vsimla are strict. 2) According to the Tzlach you can’t use water for a mikveh if the water is tameh even if it isn't carried with a kli that has tumah and we’re all tameh today. 3) perhaps the machine making ice is considered tefisat yaday adam. Even though according to the Raavad there’s no issue of sheuvim, we’re concerned for the Baal Hameor also (Chatom Sofer 200). Even though perhaps the Baal Hameor is only strict for snow but not ice but still it isn’t clear he’d allow sheuvim of ice if it was put in a vessel after it was frozen. 4) One version of the Raavad and the Sefer Eshkol held that you can’t ice that melts for a mikveh. Even though it isn’t accepted we should be concerned when anyway there’s reason to be strict.</ref> however, others hold it is acceptable in an extenuating circumstance.<ref>Rav Ovadia Yosef (Taharat Habayit v. 3 pp. 318-336) writes that in extenuating circumstances it is permissible to make a mikveh from ice made in an ice machine. He quotes that this is also the view of Rav Kook (Daat Kohen 94) and Ben Ish Chai (Rav Poalim YD 2:24). This is also the view of Rav Chaim Ozer (Achiezer 3:33:2, 4:39). Fundamentally, this is dependent on the two views in rishonim in understanding the Tosefta (Taharot 2:3) that a mikveh which was sheuvim and froze and then melts is considered sheuvim. Rosh understands that it isn't sheuvim at all and is kosher as a mikveh. Smag, however, quotes one opinion who holds that it doesn't invalidate the mikveh as sheuvim but is still not kosher unless there's 40 seah of rainwater afterwards. Rav Ovadia is lenient to follow Rosh, because that is the view of Shulchan Aruch, Rama (Darkei Moshe), Shach (201:74) and others. Even though Gidulei Tahara and Lechem Vsimla hold like Smag, Rav Ovadia is lenient like most poskim. He cites Levush Mordechai 25 as holding that a mikveh made from an ice machine is invalid since the water was sheuvim before it became ice. Rav Ovadia cites Shevet Halevi 2:102 and Yaskil Avdi YD 2:34 as holding like the lenient view. Chazon Ish (Tinyana 6:3) writes that it is hard to be lenient on this question. Igrot Moshe 1:120 does not offer an opinion on this question. Shevet Halevi 8:204 and Mikveh Mayim (v. 1 p. 198) hold that a mikveh made with an ice machine is kosher. Shevet Halevi only allows on condition that the ice is brought in kelim with holes in them and also there's hamshacha after the ice is made. </ref>