Pool and Sea: A Collection of Halachic Q&A

Is it permissible for a man to work as a lifeguard at a pool where men and women swim together?

Greetings and blessings. One who guards his soul should stay very far away from this and anything similar. Hashem will provide you with kosher work as a lifeguard in a place designated for men only. Go and succeed.

Shalom Rabbi, I would like to ask whether during the first nine days of the month of Av, my children are allowed to enter the small children's pool in the yard?

Greetings and blessings. There is no prohibition. You should supervise them with excellent care so they don't get hurt, more than on other days.

Is it permissible to go to the sea or pool during the period of Bein HaMetzarim?
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef permits going to the sea and pool during the days of Bein HaMetzarim - of course, all this applies to a separate beach, as mixed beaches are forbidden throughout the year.

If I go to a separated pool, am I also violating the commandment "walk humbly with Hashem"? After all, I am not modest in the pool.

Greetings and blessings. There is no prohibition in this, to go without modesty in a bathhouse or pool, since this is the necessary way.

I would like to ask His Honor a question... The question is whether on Shabbat I am allowed to go to the pool. I enter with a membership card that I just show, not with money, punches, etc. So is it permissible for me to be at the pool and swim in this manner?

Shalom. Since it's possible to transgress several prohibitions when bathing on Shabbat, it is forbidden to go to a pool or sea on Shabbat. Even for ritual immersion for men, which is a purification bathing, many refrain from immersing on Shabbat.

If I go to a gender-separated pool (without men), am I violating the prohibition of "walk humbly with Hashem"? Because I am not modest in the pool.

Greetings and blessings. In places designated for bathing such as a pool, this is not considered immodesty.

Shalom, honorable Rabbi. Is it permissible for me to go to the pool on Shabbat? I enter with a membership card, and only show the card, without paying money or punching a ticket. The question is whether I am allowed to be at the pool and enter it, and in general, is it permissible to swim?

Shalom. Since it's possible to transgress several prohibitions when bathing on Shabbat, it is forbidden to go to a pool or sea on Shabbat.

Is it permissible for a woman who is in her niddah period to swim in a pool with men? I have a friend who is learning to swim. She swims with men and wants to know if it's permissible for her to swim during niddah with men (she knows and understands the prohibition of physical contact). The question is perhaps related to impurity or something similar.
Greetings and blessings. Swimming with men is absolutely forbidden at all times, whether during niddah or not during niddah. This constitutes terrible immodesty.

Shalom to the honorable Rabbi. I am a young Haredi woman, and since I was little, I was accustomed to going to the sea or pool wearing a classic swimsuit - without adding a shirt or anything else, even if there are male lifeguards and not female lifeguards. This bothers my husband very much, and to be honest, I understand him very much. His argument is that our generation is so compromised that even gynecologists in our days don't concentrate only on their work, so all the more so lifeguards exploit their work in order to "enjoy" forbidden sights. I would like to know what is permitted and what is forbidden in this, and who are the authorities who permit or forbid it.

Greetings and blessings. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is strict, and Rabbi Moshe Feinstein is lenient. According to the situation in our days - it is appropriate to be strict. According to the situation in our days - it is appropriate to be strict. Our table has received hair-raising letters as a result of this stumbling block, and those who understand will understand.

The answers were given by Rabbi Menashe Israel and Rabbi Binyamin Shmuli, collected and edited from the Q&A section on the Hidabroot website.