Since many people purchase new utensils before Passover, we present here the laws of Tevilat Keilim, immersing utensils in a mikveh prior to their use.
Utensils that need tevilat keilim:
1 The Torah teaches that food utensils acquired from a non-Jew must undergo tevilah, that is, ritual immersion in a kosher mikveh. Even utensils bought from a Jewish store must undergo tevilah if at some point they were owned by a non-Jew. When one is genuinely in doubt, tevilah should be done without a brachah.
2. The Torah lists six metals that require tevilah: gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead. Newer metals such as aluminum, as well as hybrid metals such as steel, are generally assumed to require tevilah as well.
3. Because glass shares certain properties with metal, we are obligated by the Rabbis to tovel glass as well. All types of glass are toveled with a brachah including crystal, Pyrex, and Corelle.
4. Wood, ceramic, stone, rubber, and all types of plastics do not require tevilah.
5. The need to tovel glazed china and porcelain is debated amongst the poskim. Many are of the opinion that these items should be toveled without a brachah.
6. If a utensil is made of a substance that is exempt from tevilah, but is held together with metal screws or rings, then this utensil requires tevilah. If the metal does not come in contact with the food, then a brachah should not be recited.
7. Metal utensils that are coated with other materials that do not require tevilah, such as a Teflon coated frying pan, should be toveled without a berachah.
8. Utensils used to prepare food while it is still in an inedible state should undergo tevilah without a brachah.
9. Disposable, single-use aluminum pans, according to many opinions do not require tevilah. If intended for multiple uses, they do require tevilah even before their first use.
10. If one buys a glass bottle of food or drink, this bottle may be reused without tevilah (Iggerot Moshe). If the jar is made of metal, some authorities require tevilah without a brachah. Metal cans opened by a Jew may be reused without tevilah.
11. Utensils that do not come in direct contact with food do not require tevilah. Therefore, oven racks, stove top grates, crock pot shells and can openers do not require tevilah. Additionally, utensils that are always lined with paper or foil are not obligated.
12. Electronic appliances, such as urns and grills, require tevilah. In many cases, when left to dry properly, it has been demonstrated that contact with water is not detrimental.
13. If one absolutely needs a utensil and for some reason it cannot be toveled, a Rabbi should be consulted.
Procedure for tevilat keilim:
1. Utensils must be cleaned from any dirt, glue, or residue.
2. All adhesions such as stickers and labels that are not intended to remain on the utensil must be removed.
3. If the utensil requires kashering then this must be done before tevilah.
4. Utensils should be brought to a kosher mikveh (note that not all men’s mikva’ot are kosher for tevilat keilim), or to the ocean, sea, or a non-flowing lake.
5. Rivers and streams are flowing bodies of water. Their permissibility is complex and would require a ruling by a Rabbi who is knowledgeable in the laws of mikva’ot and the properties of the river.
6. Anyone can do the actual immersion, even a child or a non-Jew. However, the tevilah must be done in the presence of a Jewish adult who can verify that it was done properly. Additionally, it is not considered correct to have a non-Jew do the tevilah if it means that a brachah will not be recited.
7. The entire utensil must be submerged in such a way as to enable water to touch all parts of the utensil simultaneously. One must therefore be careful that ensures that no air pockets remain. Even one’s hand cannot come between the water and the utensil. Therefore, either pre-wet your hand so that a layer of water separates your hand from the utensil, or submerge the utensils in a basket.
8. One may not pile up dishes and immerse them all at once, since the weight of the dishes will block the water.
9. The brachah, “. . . al tevilat kelim,” should be recited before the tevilah, and one should not talk or do other things until all of the toveling has been completed. If one is immersing only one utensil then the proper berachah is “. . . al tevilat kli”.