Immersion in a Spring during the Thirty Days of Mourning
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Question
Is it permissible to immerse in a stream during the thirty days of mourning?
Answer
Ashkenazim are prohibited from going to a spring for pleasure. Although in Eretz Yisrael and in hot places, bathing in cold water is permitted, this applies only to regular bathing, but bathing for pleasure in rivers is prohibited.
Source
In the Rema, Siman 581, paragraph 1, there is a version that states "but it is customary nowadays to prohibit all bathing for all 30 days," and in the Shach, it is written that this is a scribal error and should state "to prohibit bathing for all 30 days," since it is permitted in cold water. The rabbis are divided on the Shach's opinion whether he permitted the entire body in cold water or only the face, hands, and feet. In the Reak and Dagmar, it is written that the Shach intended to permit the face, hands, and feet in cold water, however, in the Aruch HaShulchan Siman 548, letter 9, and in the Tiferet Moshe, it is written that the Shach intended that even the entire body is permitted in cold water. Practically, in the Pitchei Teshuva, it is written: "See in Teshuvot Teshuvat Chen, Siman 31, where this is discussed in detail, and it is concluded that a God-fearing person should refrain from bathing the entire body even in cold water, but for others, it is permissible to be lenient, especially on the eve of Shabbat when there is some mitzvah need, but bathing for pleasure in rivers should be prohibited."