In this week’s sedra we learn all about tumas mes [spiritual defilement of a corpse]. The pasuk says: זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל כל הבא אל האהל וכל אשר באהל יטמא שבעת ימים - “This is the Torah: If a person dies in a tent, everything that enters the tent, and all that there is in the tent, shall be defiled for seven days” (Bamidbar 19:14).
One of the special halachos relevant for kohanim today is the halachos of tumas mes. Kohanim are forbidden to become tomei nowadays through contact with a corpse. A question was raised: How is it that kohanim are permitted to embark on flights leaving Ben Gurion airport that pass over the cemetery in Holon?
A tent that forms a partition
The Mishnah (Ohalos 8:1) teaches that there are items that form a partition in the face of tumah. An airplane is on the one hand a (large) utensil, and it is possible that it receives tumah. On the other hand it is clearly formed as a tent, possessing walls and a roof, and therefore it would seem that, according to some poskim, the airplane will form a partition.
Ohel zoruk – A “thrown tent”
Some want to be lenient with an airplane based on a concept known as ohel zoruk, a “thrown tent.” The Rashba holds that a ohel zoruk is considered a full halachic tent. However, the Rambam rules that a ohel zoruk is not considered a halachic tent regarding certain defilements.
Conclusion
The foremost halachic authority to discuss the question of kohanim flying over graves is the Chazon Ish, who was stringent. Therefore, although some poskim have written that one can be lenient under extenuating circumstances, it’s difficult to rely on them. One should certainly make every effort to avoid the issue.