Possible Spiritual Impurity
Question
Hello from AZ 🙂 Firstly, Thank you for taking the time to help me with this question. My Husband, I, and two kids are currently on an RV trip in Texas. As part of the trip we made a stop to The Houston Museum of Natural History today where they have an exhibit of Egyptian artifacts pertaining Tutankhamun. As we walked the exhibit and passed different pictures and displays of various items, we entered a section that had a few mummies here and there that were encased in glass. I looked at one and then panicked when I remembered that there’s a chance I may be pregnant (too early to take the test) If I were I would be 3 weeks. when I realized this, I left the room and Went to the first floor to wash my hands (netilat Yadaim – the one done in the morning with the bracha, as well as a little prayer). Is this something I need to worry about or is there something I should do?
Again, Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Velvet
Answers
I do not think that there is any need for concern. If you would have asked beforehand, I would have suggested that you not go to the exhibition, but now that you were there, I think that what you did was fine. In truth, the exhibits are kept behind thick glass that is certainly a Halachic separation, so I think that washing your hands and adding a “little prayer” were just the right things to do.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team