Tevilat Keilim

From Halachipedia

The Torah commands us to immerse metal [1] utensils that are purchased or otherwise acquired from a non-Jew in a mikva prior to their first use. [2] This mitzva is referred to as "tevilat keilim", the immersion of utensils. It is suggested that tevilat keilim, which appears in the Torah following the battle with the Midianites, was a mitzva intended to remove impurity from the utensils which had been in the presence of the dead. [3]

The mitzva of tevilat keilim is often compared to the conversion of a Gentile to Judaism - just as a conversion to Judaism requires immersion in a mikva, so too a utensil which "converts" from Gentile to Jewish ownership requires immersion, as well. [4] One is not required to immerse utensils which one borrows from a non-Jew. [5]As we will see, the mitzva of tevilat keilim generally applies only to metal and glass utensils.

Basics

  1. Utensils used for a meal that are bought from a non-Jew require Tevilah (immersion in a kosher mivkeh). [6]
  2. Many Rishonim hold that this obligation is biblical, while some consider it only rabbinic. [7]

Which vessels require Tevilah?

  1. Metal, glass, crystal, pyrex, and duralux require Tevilah. However, plastic, nylon, earthenware, and vessels covered in earthenware do not require Tevilah. [8]
  2. Some say that porcelain requires Tevilah, [9]
  3. Plastic or wood cutting boards do not need Tevilah, but those who are strict and do Tevilah for it will be blessed. [10]

Electric appliances

Modern-day electrical appliances present the mitzva of tevilat keilim with its biggest challenge. This is, of course, because water can damage electrical appliances or even cause harm to those who use the item following the immersion. There are differing approaches among the halachic authorities as to how one should to proceed with such items. Some authorities are of the opinion that anything which must be plugged into the wall in order to be used is halachically considered as if it were attached to the ground and anything which is attached to the ground is exempt from tevilat keilim. [11]

Most authorities, however, reject this comparison and require even electrical items to be immersed just like all others. While some of these authorities require the entire item to be immersed along with all its electrical components, others say that only the actual components which come in direct contact with food need be immersed. [12]

Toaster

  1. According to many authorities a toaster requires Tevilah with a bracha. [13]However, some argue that it doesn't require Tevilah. [14] Sephardim hold that that it requires but should be done without a bracha. [15]
  2. If the toaster will brake by being dipped in the mikvah one should either bring it to an Jewish expert mechanic who will take it apart (to the point that no everyone would know how to fix it) and put it back together or to give it to a non-Jew and then borrow it from him. [16]

Sandwich maker

  1. A sandwich-maker needs to be Toveled. [17]
  2. A blender needs Tevilah with a bracha. [18]

Microwave

  1. Some say that a microwave (glass) tray which does not touch food doesn't require Tevilah, and if it does touch food then it requires Tevilah.[19] However, some say that one should dip it without a bracha in all cases. [20]

Procedure of Tevilah

  1. One should hold the vessel loosely. [21]
  2. One must immerse the entire vessel at one time and not half at a time. [22]
  3. One must make sure to sure all stickers, labels, and rust. [23]
  4. One should remove a knife from the case before immersion. [24]
  5. A child under Bar Mitzvah can only do Tevilah in the presence of an adult and he can even make the Bracha. [25]

Bracha

  1. For one vessel the Bracha is Al Tevilat Kli and for multiple vessels the Bracha is Al Tevilat Kelim. After the fact, if one switched Kli for Kelim or the opposite one has fulfilled one’s obligation. [26]

Links

  1. http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/passover/article/tevilat_keilim/

References

  1. ↑ Gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead are all types of metal.
  2. ↑ Bamidbar 31:23;Rashi, Avoda Zara 75b
  3. ↑ Rashi;Bamidbar 31:23
  4. ↑ Rashba;Yevamot 47b,Yerushalmi Avoda Zara 5:16
  5. ↑ S”A Y.D. 120:8, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:5
  6. ↑ S”A YD 120
  7. ↑ Sh”t Yechava Daat 4:64
  8. ↑ Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:8, Hilchot Tevilat Kelim (Rabbi Moshe Fariz, 2:2-3)
  9. ↑ Hilchot Tevilat Kelim (Rabbi Moshe Fariz, 2:6) explains that even though some poskim held that it wasn’t obligated that was only because they were discussing porcelain which was ceramic not covered with glass, however, nowadays the common porcelain is covered with glass and must require Tevilah. Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:8 writes that porcelain doesn’t require tevilah.
  10. ↑ Hilchot Tevilat Kelim (Rabbi Moshe Fariz, 2:2-4)
  11. ↑ Chelkat Yaakov 1:126
  12. ↑ Igrot Moshe Y.D. 1:57-58, Chelkat Yaakov 3:43
  13. ↑ Mishneh Halachot 9:162, Bear Moshe 4:100, Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:450, Sefer Tevilat Kelim 11:52 quoting Rav Shlomo Zalman and Rav Wosner, Bayit HaYehudi 39:6, Kof-K quoting Rav Yacov Kamenetsky that such is the minhag
  14. ↑ Sh"t Igrot Moshe YD 3:24
  15. ↑ http://halachayomit.co.il/QuestionDetails.aspx?ID=160 which is based on the opinions of Rav Ovadyah Yosef
  16. ↑ http://halachayomit.co.il/QuestionDetails.aspx?ID=160, http://www.moreshet.co.il/web/shut/shut2.asp?id=118646
  17. ↑ Rabbi B. Forst http://www.kashrut.com/articles/tevilas_keilim/
  18. ↑ Bayit HaYehudi 39:6, Tevilat Kelim 11:14, Mishneh Halachot 2:32
  19. ↑ Kof-K
  20. ↑ Star-K
  21. ↑ Halichot Olam (vol 7, pg 253), Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A YD 120:5)
  22. ↑ Halichot Olam (vol 7, pg 253), Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A YD 120:5)
  23. ↑ Yalkut Yosef YD 120:6
  24. ↑ Yalkut Yosef YD 120:6
  25. ↑ Yalkut Yosef YD 120:25, Sh”t Yabea Omer 2:9(8)
  26. ↑ Yalkut Yosef YD 120:7
Retrieved from "http://localhost:80/index.php?title=Tevilat_Keilim&oldid=3350"