Can a man immerse in the sea?

Greetings,

A. Although a woman must immerse in a mikveh specifically and should not immerse in the sea for several reasons (see Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah, Siman 198, sections 33, 34, 40), it is permissible for a man to immerse in the sea.

B. It is sufficient for a man to immerse once in a mikveh, even on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (see Rema at the end of Siman 586 and Siman 618, section 4). Some say that one should immerse three times on the eve of Rosh Hashanah (see Mahari”l, laws of Erev Yom Kippur, who would immerse three times on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, cited in Elyah Rabbah, Siman 586, note 24. And so wrote in Mateh Ephraim, there, section 53).

Similarly, on the eve of Yom Kippur, one needs to immerse only once (Rema, Siman 618 there), and some say one should immerse three times (see Mahari”l there and Mishnah Berurah, note 21).

The Ben Ish Chai (year two, Parashat Lech Lecha, section 16) wrote according to kabbalistic tradition that one should immerse five times on the eve of Shabbat, though some practice to do so three times. See there regarding Shabbat morning. He also wrote (year one, Parashat Nitzavim, section 3) that on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, one should immerse five times.

C. There is no blessing recited for a man's immersion.

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs