Tevilat Keilim: Difference between revisions

 

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==Basics==

# It is actually a matter of dispute amongst the authorities whether the mitzva of tevilat keilim has the status of a Torah commandment<ref>Rabbenu Tam (Tosfot Yoma 78a), Rashba (Torat Habayit Ha'aroch 125b) </ref> or a rabbinical one.<Ref> Ramban on Parashat Bamidbar 31:23. See Yabia Omer Y.D. 2:9 for a list of both opinions. </ref>Nevertheless, most halachic authorities treat tevilat keilim as a biblical mitzva for all intents and purposes. <Ref> Aruch Hashulchan Y.D. 120:4, Sh”t Yechave Daat 4:44 </ref> All poskim agree that glass is only rabbinic.<ref> Pri Chadash 120:3 </ref>

# A non-kosher utensil should first be kashered prior to immersing it.  <ref> Shulchan Aruch YD 121:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:4 </ref>

* The Taz holes that if the hand was wet with mikveh water and didn’t leave the mikveh it is an effective tevilah even if she grabbed tightly. If the hand was wet with non-mikveh water or mikveh water but was removed from the mikveh and then it holds onto the kli tightly the tevilah is ineffective.  

* The Mahari Bruna holds that even if the hand was wetted with mikveh water and didn’t leave the mikveh if it is holding tightly the tevilah is ineffective. The halacha follows the Rama but one should be strict for the Taz unless it is an extenuating circumstance.</ref>

==Who Can Perform the Tevilah==

==Shabbat and Yom Tov==

# According to Sephardim, it is permitted to do tevilat keilim on Shabbat or Yom Tov but initially one should give it to a non-Jew and then borrow it back and at that point it won't be obligated in tevilat keilim<ref> The gemara Beitzah 18a provides four reasons why it is forbidden to do tevilah of a tameh kli on Shabbat or Yom Tov. These include: a person might come to carry in a public domain, if it is clothing one might squeeze it out, one might delay all of one's tevilah until then, and it looks like fixing the kli. The Rif (Beitzah 10a) only records the reasons of squeezing and delaying and the Rambam (Yom Tov 4:17) only the reason of delaying. The Rosh (Beitzah 2:3) writes that according to the Rif it would emerge that it is permitted to perform tevilat keilim on Shabbat. However, the Rosh argues that we should follow the other reasons that gemara gave and so it would be forbidden to do tevilat keilim on Shabbat. Shulchan Aruch 323:7 rules like the Rif and Rambam that it is permitted but initially one should give it a non-Jew and then borrow it back from him, at which point there's no obligation of tevilat keilim.</ref>, but after Shabbat or Yom Tov one should do tevilat keilim on it without a bracha.<ref>Mishna Brurah 323:36, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:13</ref> According to Ashkenazim, one shouldn't do tevilat keilim on Shabbat or Yom Tov. Rather one should give it to a non-Jew and borrow it back. If it is a vessel that one could use to draw water one could use it to draw water from the mikveh and that is effective for tevilat keilim and doesn't appear as tevilat keilim.<ref> The Rama 323:7 writes that one should do it in a way that appears that you're only drawing water from the mikveh. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:13 writes that in general it is forbidden to do tevilat keilim on Shabbat or Yom Tov but rather should give it to a non-Jew and borrow it back. </ref>

# For one vessel the Bracha is Al Tevilat Kli and for multiple vessels the Bracha is Al [[Tevilat Kelim]].<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 120:3</ref> After the fact, if one switched Kli for Kelim or the opposite one has fulfilled one’s obligation.<Ref>Pri Chadash 120:11, Bear Heitiv 120:4, Chelkat Binyamin 120:31, Yalkut Yosef YD 120:7 </ref> Some say that there's a minhag to always recite the text Al Tevilat Kelim.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin 120:31 quoting Knesset Hagedola, Aruch Hashulchan, and Chachmat Adam. He writes that this is also the opinion of the Mordechai, Ritva, and Meiri a"z 75b.</ref>

# If someone is going to be tovel a pot and a cover one should say Al Tevilat Kelim.<ref>Chelkat Binyamin (Biurim 120:3 s.v. shenayim) has a doubt about being tovel a pot and a cover if that's considered one kli or multiple kelim since they function together. He concludes that there's no issue to just say tevilat kelim since many hold to say that even for one kli.</ref>

==Which Vessels require Tevilah?==

# While the immersion of metal utensils is required by Torah law, glass utensils must be immersed only by rabbinic enactment. Glass was incorporated into the mitzva of tevilat keilim because glass and metal share a common characteristic - they are both materials which can be melted and reconstructed when needed. <ref> Pri Chadash 120:3, Aruch Hashulchan Y.D. 120:25 </ref>

# Metal, glass, crystal, pyrex, and duralux require Tevilah. However, plastic, nylon, earthenware, and vessels covered in earthenware do not require Tevilah. <Ref>Sh”t Yabia Omer 4:8, Hilchot [[Tevilat Kelim]] (Rabbi Moshe Fariz, 2:2-3) </ref>

# Plastic or wood cutting boards do not need Tevilah, but those who are strict and do Tevilah for it will be blessed.<Ref> Hilchot [[Tevilat Kelim]] (Rabbi Moshe Fariz, 2:2-4) </ref>

# Anything used to improve the food that is ready to eat needs tevila include a metal noodle strainer.<ref>[https://www.crcweb.org/Tevillas%20Keilim%20(Jan%202019).pdf CRC]</ref> However, a utensil that only prepares ingredients that are not edible after that stage of the cooking require tevila without a bracha, such as a metal flour sifter.<ref>Rama Y.D. 120:5, Tevilat Kelim 11:150, [https://www.kof-k.org/articles/040108090413W-3%20Tevilas%20Keilim.pdf Kof-K]</ref>

# Similarly, jars, bottles, or metal containers which are used only to store food and not used for food preparation or consumption should be immersed without a blessing. Utensils which are only used indirectly with food, such as bottle or can openers, and the like, do not require immersion.<Ref> Shach Y.D. 120:11, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:8-9, [[Shevet Halevi]] 6:245:4 </ref>

# Corelle dishes are halachically similar to glass dishes and should be immersed. According to most poskim they are immersed with a bracha. <ref>[http://www.star-k.org/tevilas%20list.pdf Star K] and [http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/passover/article/tevilat_keilim/ OU] write that corelle dishes require tevilah with a bracha. [http://www.kashrut.com/articles/tevilas_keilim/ Rabbi Binyamin Forst] and [http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5762/vayera.html Rabbi Doniel Neustadt] agree. [http://www.torahlab.org/doitright/dipping_your_dishes/ Rabbi Tzvi Haber of Los Angeles]writes that the obligation to immerse corelle is questionable and so one should dip it without a bracha.  

* [https://www.koltorah.org/halachah//tevilat-keilim-part-ii-by-rabbi-howard-jachter Rabbi Jachter] quotes Rav Teitz and Rav Mordechai Willig as holding that corelle should have tevilah without a bracha. He also cites Ohelei Yeshurun p. 74 that Rav Moshe is quoted as holding that corelle strictly don't need tevilah but should have it without a bracha.</ref>

#Tongs used to do tevilat kelim don't themselves need tevilat kelim.<ref>[https://yeshiva-university.zoom.us/rec/play/uMB7I-D--j83ToDAtgSDUaJ7W9Xueqis0nRK-6FfmUm0VSMBZ1qjYLIbZbHenouY882eTH8fEnI5K7DA?startTime=1585587811000&_x_zm_rtaid=5PWyeRatQdGWZ2q1UH7K6w.1585657713810.05dafc99f0c11cb46ffb1a63ddd87e47&_x_zm_rhtaid=904 Rav Willig (min 1)]</ref>

# A mixer should have tevila without a bracha since it is usually used to mix foods which aren't ready to eat immediately.<ref>Rama Y.D. 120:5 writes that a shechita knife should have tevila without a bracha since it is generally used for shechita and prepare raw meat at which point the food is still not ready to be eaten. An article on [https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/tevilas-keilim-a-primer/ OUkosher.org] compares a mixer to this case.</ref>

===Disposable Utensils===

# The mitzva of tevilat keilim only requires one to immerse those utensils which are intended to be used in food preparation or consumption. Most poskim hold that disposable utensils, such as aluminum pans, need not be immersed<ref> Rambam Keilim 7:5, Igrot Moshe Y.D. 3:23, Minchat Yitzchak 5:32. Or Hahalacha 120:27 writes that this is the majority of poskim.</ref> even if he decides to use it a number of times should do so.<ref>Or Letzion 1:24 writes that disposable containers that you decide to use more than once doesn't need tevilah since it is considered as though the Jew made it into a utensil.</ref> Others argue that disposable aluminum pans require Tevilat Keilim.<ref>Chazon Ovadia (Shabbat v. 2 p. 56) writes that disposable aluminum pans require tevilat kelimim since they are considered a real kli even though they are disposable. Even if they don't have tumah they still require tevilat kelim since it doesn't depend on tumah as the Mahari Asad writes. Biography Pear Hadar p. 230 by Rav Eliyahu Abittan writes that Rav Ovadia regularly ruled this way. [https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=145037 Rav Yitzchak Yosef (Motzei Shabbat Vayikra 5781 min 5)] said that his father was lenient on disposable pans and even though he wrote they needed tevila he meant it is a stringency.</ref>

# Regarding aluminum tins, which are commonly only used once and then disposed of, there is a new point of discussion. Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe YD 3:23) proves from the rishonim that utensils which don’t last for an extended period of time, such as a vessel made from a pumpkin, don’t accept tumah. He assumes that since temporary vessels don’t qualify as a vessel for tumah, it must not also with regards to tevilat kelim. Seemingly, this applies to aluminum pans.<ref>An article on [http://oukosher.org/passover/articles/immersing-ourselves-in-tevilat-keilim/ ou.org] writes that aluminum pans are exempt according to Rav Moshe. Mishneh Halachot 7:111 fundamentally agrees with Rav Moshe but writes that aluminum pans are obligated since it could be reused many times.</ref> Nonetheless, he adds, that vessels which could last a long time but are disposed of because they are cheap would certainly be obligated in tevilat kelim, even for a single use. Some, however, argue that even such vessels don’t qualify as a vessel.<ref>Chelkat Yacov YD 46, OC 152:2, Minchat Yitzchak 5:32</ref> See above [[#Disposable_Utensils]] for general disposable utensils.

====Disposable Grills====

==Electric appliances==

# For the reusable K-Kup coffee filters see discussion page.

#A person should not make his utensils ownerless to avoid the mitzvah of tevilat kelim. In an extenuating circumstance some poskim allow making it ownerless in front of 3 people to use it without tevila. When a person reacquires it he should do tevila with a bracha.<ref>Tevilat Kelim 3:8 and 4:19. In ch. 3 fnt. 14 he cites Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Mishna Halachot 4:107 that in extenuating circumstance it is permitted to make it ownerless and use it without tevila. [http://www.torahweb.org/torah/docs/rsch/RavSchachter-Corona-1-Mar-24-2020.pdf Rav Hershel Schachter (Teshuva dated 28 Adar 5780 p. 1)] applied this solution during covid and the mikvah's were closed.</ref>

==A Convert’s Obligation in Tevilat Kelim==

# There is a mitzvah to dip in a mikveh food utensils that one buys from a non-Jew called [[Tevilat Kelim]]. An interesting case arises when a non-Jew converts to Judaism. Are his pots, pans, and silverware considered as though they were acquired from a non-Jew, requiring [[Tevilat Kelim]]? Or, perhaps the mitzvah only applies when buying utensils and not when the utensils remain in the same domain.  

==If One Didn't Immerse a Utensil==

# One, who for whatever reason, is unable to immerse a utensil which is urgently needed should give the item to a Gentile as a gift and then borrow it back from him.  <Ref>  Rama Y.D. 120:16 </ref>

* Regarding the restaurant owner himself, Rav Shlomo kluger (tuv taam vidaat 3:23) says that a restaurant owner doesn't need to dip, unless most of his customers will be Jewish. Yechave Daat 4:44 is lenient on this as well, even if most of the customers are Jewish, even for metal utensils.</ref>

# Kosher food which was cooked in utensils which were not immersed in a mikva but is then served on dishes that were (or disposable dishes) may be eaten without hesitation.<Ref> Rama Y.D. 120:16, Igrot Moshe Y.D. 2:41 </ref>

# A guest in a home whose owner did not do tevilat kelim should not eat off the utensils but can pour the food onto plastic or paper utensils and eat the food.<ref>Sefer Tevilat Kelim 3:10 citing many poskim who hold that a guest using the utensils is like someone borrowing them and using them without tevilah.</ref>

===If a Pot Got Mixed up with Others===

# If one has utensils that a majority of them had tevilat kelim and one that didn't have tevilat kelim got mixed in and it isn't discernible which didn't have tevilah, one should do tevilat kelim on all of them. If it would be a major exertion of effort ask one's rabbi as there might be what to rely on.<ref>The Teshurat Shay 2:104 writes that if a store bought utensils made by Jews and also utensils made by non-Jews and the majority are from the Jews then still the utensils need tevilat kelim. His reasoning is that it is a dvar sheyesh lo matirin since they can be put in the mikveh (similar to Shulchan Aruch YD 102:3). Even though the Maharshal Chullin 8:86 says that there's no dvar sheyesh lo matirin if an action is necessary that is qualified by the fact that nedarim are a dvar sheyesh lo matirin. Since nullifying a neder is a mitzvah it is a dvar sheyesh lo matirin even though it is an action. So too, to dip utensils in the mikveh is a mitzvah. Anyway, the Maharshal is against the Rashba Torat Habayit Haaruch 12b and Torat Habayit Hakatzar 8a, Shulchan Aruch 102:2, and Shach 102:8. [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=37782&st=&pgnum=263 Ruach Chaim YD 122:1] comes to the same conclusion. Halichot Olam v. 7 p. 276 and Darkei Teshuva 122:36 quote these poskim. Yabia Omer 2:9:3. (See Mayan Omer v. 4 p. 404 who quotes Rav Ovadia that it was only glass then one wouldn't need to actually dip it in a mikveh. In the footnote he discusses it potentially not being a dvar sheyesh lo matirin in light of the Tzlach Pesach 9b.) Nonetheless, it wouldn't be considered a dvar sheyesh lo matirin if it would cost a lot of money to do the tevilat kelim (Shulchan Aruch 102:3). Additionally, in general, Badei Hashulchan 102:33 quotes the Pri Chadash and Chayei Adam that if someone would require a great deal of effort to do it wouldn't be considered a dvar sheyesh lo matirin.</ref> No bracha should be recited.<ref>Har Tzvi 93, Shevet Halevi 4:93. See however, Divrei Dovid 2:23 who argues that one should recite a bracha since we don't accept the Tzlach we hold that it is a dvar sheyesh lo matirin and as such it isn't batel and requires tevilah.</ref>

# If a utensil from a Jew is mixed into a majority of utensils from non-Jews there is an obligation to do tevilat kelim with a bracha. If one is only doing the tevilat kelim on one of the utensils at one time one wouldn't recite a bracha.<ref>Teshurat Shay 2:104 writes that if the majority of the utensils are from non-Jews there is an obligation to do tevilat kelim on all of the utensils. He adds that there’s no bracha for the one which was originally from a Jew since we don’t follow rov for brachot (Zachor Lavraham OC 3:60 s.v. eych). Also, since it is a dvar sheyesh lo matirin bitul is ineffective (see Magen Avraham 513:13 quoting the Maharshal). However, there is still a bracha for the ones that are from a non-Jew.</ref>

==Bodies of Water Fit for Immersing In==

# One shouldn't dip utensils in snow. If there's no other available options one may dip glass utensils in a mikveh.<ref>Mordechai quotes the Rabbenu Shemaryahu who says that one may dip in a mikveh of snow even if it didn't melt. However, Rabbenu Eliezer argued. Bet Yosef YD 201:30 defended Rabbenu Shemaryahu but concludes that for biblical halachot one shouldn't dip a utensil in snow. Pitchei Teshuva YD 120:4 cites the Chachmat Adam who writes that for an extenuating circumstances we can rely on the Rabbenu Shemaryahu to dip utensils in snow that isn't melted. [http://www.toratemetfreeware.com/online/f_01599.html#HtmpReportNum0004_L2 Hilchot Taharat Kelim 5:7] agrees if the snow is collected in a pit.</ref>

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[[Category:Kashrut]]