Question:
In an open field, how close can a person get to a Niftar/Nifteret before he contracts Tum’ah?
Answer:
If the person is not a kohen he will not become tameh until he either walks or puts his hand above the niftar or touches the niftar.
Regarding a kohen, he may not go within 4 amos of a buried person, unless there is a fence hat is 10 tefacim high seprating between them, and even then he may only go up to 4 tefachim away. If the meis is lying in a feild and this is not his permenent rsting place, i.e. by the funeral, according to some poskim the kohen has to stay 4 amos away, and according to some poskim it is only 4 tefachim away. The minhag however is that kohanim make sure to stay 4 amos away from the niftar.
Sources:
Y:D 371-5, Shach ibig 18, Aruch Hashulchan ibid 27.
Thank you. Everyone would agree though that it’s definitely a problem in a closed room, no matter how large the room is, and no matter the distance between the Niftar and the person in that room.
Correct
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