The  Basur  IS  Asur

Tevilat Kelim

by Alyssa Weinblatt

            What does tevilat kelim mean? Tevilat Kelim is an additional purification for vessels that are beyond kashering by fire and is done in a mikvah. We learn the source of tevilat kelim from the war that was fought with midyan and there was question about the kashering of the spoils of war and the pasuk says: “Everything that may come into fire you shall pass through the fire and they shall be clean, except it must be cleansed with the water of separation.” (Bamidbar 31:23) 

            In 75b it says the tevilat kelim only applies to utensils that are used in preparing food (or eating) and those utensils that come into direct contact with food. The cdj yrp, hud hrwy 120:1, citing the abcr, explains that we learn this from the pasuk: “Whatever was used over fire must be put through fire and purged.” Only food utensils are used over fire and they alone absorb the forbidden food which therefore requires tevilah. The ryzn ynba adds that utensils which were not used for food by a non-Jew before the Jew purchased it does not need kashering, however it does require tevilah if it will be used in the preparation of food.

            The armg further adds that since the pasuk in the torah refers only to metal utensils, only metal utensils need tevilah. Also since the pasuk only refers to utensils captured as spoils of war, which then become the property of the victors, tevilat kelim therefore only applies when there is an actual transfer of ownership fro a non-Jew to a Jew. Therefore exempting lent or rented utensils. In regards to glass utensils, the armg says that Rav Ashi says that glass utensils do require tevilah since they can be repaired in the same way as metal utensils using fire.

            Eating and drinking utensils which require tevilah include the following: plates, glasses, cups, cutlery and utensils used for cooking, frying and baking ( pots, pans, ladles and skewers). Theses utensils require tevilah only if manufactured or purchased by a non-Jew. Whether the utensils are new or old, used for hot or cold it doesn’t matter, if manufactured or purchased by a non-Jew, it requires tevilat kelim.

            Utensils made from metal, meaning anything made of aluminum, iron, tin, gold, copper, silver, steel, lead and others from glass and earthenware require tevilah (only those actually used for food and that come in direct contact with food require tevilah). Those utensils used in the initial stages of food preparation such as, kneading utensils, meat grinders and hfyjc knives should be immersed in the mikvah without a blessing. The ]wru  jlc 120:5 says that some exempt a hfyjc knife from tevila, but he says others disagree and say it does require tevila, so he says it is best to immerse the knife with a blessing.

            If you have a utensil which is made of 2 different materials and only one of those materials require tevilah, such as, wood and metal it requires tevilah only if the non-exempt material comes into direct contact with food and without the metal it would be unfunctional. The amr 120:7 says, that a wooden utensil with a small amount of iron on the inside doesn’t require tevilah if it can function without the iron. However, if the utensil is held together with nails on the inside it requires tevila since it can otherwise not function. Also, if you have a utensil made of a material that does not require tevila, such as earthenware and is coated inside and out with metal, this requires tevila as well. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach says, that paint is considered a part of the utensil and that added color is insignificant.

            Bottles or containers used for storing food or drink require tevila if the food stored in them is unwrapped. Also shape doesn’t make any impact as to whether or not the utensil requires tevila. A portable utensil or a utensil that is secured to the floor or wall requires tevila. Some poskim don’t require tevila for utensils which are designed to function more effectively when “fastened to the ground.” The Mishnah says that since those utensils manufactured specifically to be secured to the floor or wall are not susceptible to hamwf therefore not requiring tevila.

            If a utensil was manufactured in a factory owned by a non-Jew is bought by a Jew, it requires tevila without a blessing. It doesn’t matter if the factory is owned by a public corporation, a private corporation or the government (according to the hud hrwy, trga hcm #239 even if not an individually owned factory it’s owned by a non-Jewish state therefore it’s considered as if the factory was owned by non-Jews, that’s what being owned by the government means) or if the workers are Jewish. However, if you purchase a utensil from a factory owned by a Jew it does not require tevila even if the employees are composed of non-Jewish hourly workers, but if the employees are non-Jewish piece workers then tevila without a blessing is necessary. If the factory is owned by both a Jew and a non-Jew, the utensil would require tevila with a blessing. Meaning if a utensil is manufactured in a factory owned by a public or private corporation, that has Jewish and non-Jewish shareholders, tevila with a blessing is necessary. The amr 120:11, says that tevila is not required when a Jew and non-Jew purchase a utensil together. The ]c 120:6, however says that if the Jew purchases the share of the non-Jew at a later point in time, tevila with a blessing is required. The argh yqsp and \th rpws say that from this we see that when a Jew purchases a utensil partially owned by a non-Jew, it requires tevila with a blessing. The hcm trga says, that if you are unable to identify the manufacturer, tevila is required whether the majority of factories in the country are owned by Jews or non-Jews. The blessing is only recited if majority of the factories are at least partially owned by non-Jews. For example, if you have utensils from China and Japan it requires tevila with a blessing but, utensils that come from Israel don’t need tevila, as long as it wasn’t purchased from non-Jewish middlemen.

            If a utensil commissioned from a non-Jewish artisan and is made from metal which was supplied by a Jew it requires tevila without a blessing. However, most poskim say, if part of the metal was supplied by a non- Jew it requires tevila with a blessing. If most of the metal was supplied by a non-Jew all poskim require tevila with a blessing. The zf 120: 12 says, that if non-Jew supplies a small part of metal, his share is insignificant therefore no blessing is required. However, the ]c 120:22 says, that once the non-Jew supplies part of the metal, it’s a significant share and therefore requires a blessing.

            If a utensil is damaged to the extent, that it can no longer perform it’s designated function (like a bowl with a hole, that it can’t hold fruit or a drinking utensil that can’t even hold a tyuybr of liquid), it’s no longer considered a utensil. However, if it’s repaired by a non-Jew with his own metal then you need tevila with a blessing and if the metal is supplied by a Jew you need tevila without a blessing.

            If a utensil whose original design included holes, it does not require tevila if the holes are filled in by a non-Jew. According to the [swy dy cited by the hbwct ykrd 120:54, since the utensil was not broken, by filling in the holes it’s not considered manufacturing. A utensil coated by a non-Jew with material that requires tevila like re-silvering, should be immersed without a blessing . The ]wru  jlc 451:70 and the hrwrb hncm 451:77 say that it’s tevila without a blessing because there is a tqwljm as to whether the coating changes the status of the utensil.

            A drinking utensil with holes that’s being used for another purpose, like to hold fruit does not require tevila when repaired by a non-Jew even if later that utensil is used for drinking once again. If the handles of the utensil are repaired by a non-Jew, it should be immersed with a blessing.