Masmidim at the Beach

Question

I am proud to say that I am a bochur who is known to be a masmid atzum, and during the zeman I learn all day and almost never take a break for anything. However, it has been a very long year, and at this point I feel like I really need a break. My chavrusah told me that he will be going to the separate beach in Ashdod and invited me to come with him.

This offer sounds tempting, but since I never take a break for anything, I have the following concern: Would it be bittul Torah for me to go the beach during bein hazemanim? If I do decide to go to the beach, may I do so during the Three Weeks and the Nine Days, and do I need to wear a yarmulka while I am in the water?

Thanks.

Meir

Rav Auerbach 

I certainly commend your great hasmadah. From the depths of my heart, I give you a brocha that Hashem should give you the brias hanefesh vehaguf, the health of mind and body, to continue learning with such great diligence.

My father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, was also known to be a masmid atzum. Even after he passed the age of 100, he still continued to get up at 2 a.m. every morning to learn before davening. He almost never took an official vacation, but he held that going the beach was a devar tov, a good thing, and many times we went together.

While on the beach, the rov often brought a copy of Mishlei with the commentary of the Vilna Gaon. He would study from the sefer before going into the water and continue to think about it while in the water. He personally did not wear a yarmulke while in the water.

I believe that if Rav Elyashiv felt that it was not bittul Torah to go to the beach, then you can follow his example. Most yeshivos do not have sedorim on Friday afternoons, so that is the optimal time to go. If you were invited to go during bein hazemanim when most yeshivos are not in session, this is certainly a good time.

It is permitted to go to the beach during the Three Weeks when there is no prohibition against bathing, but the Steipler Gaon advised not to go too far out, because one has to be very careful to avoid dangerous activities during this time. However, you should not go to the beach for the duration of the Nine Days, since it is forbidden to bathe in cold water during this time.