Talk:Mikvah

1) There is a Mitzvah (commandment) to immerse all metal and glass utensils that are used in food preparation and consumption into a ritual bath (“mikveh”.). This is referred to as “tevilah” (immersion).

a) This mitzvah is learned from the story of the war against Midian (Numbers chapter 31). In this story, the Jewish People captured dishes among the spoils of war. The Torah commands us to both kasher and immerse the dishes.

i) According to some opinions, this constitutes a sort of sanctification and “conversion” for the dishes. (Others maintain that this is a Torah command whose reason remains hidden.)

ii) Thus, it need only be done when a Gentile previously owned the dishes. If the dishes were made by Jews (Israeli factory and a Jewish store) or owned by Jews who immersed them, then there is no need to immerse.

b) One is not allowed to use utensils that have not been immersed, but if they are used - the food is still kosher. This procedure is completely separate from the process of kashering dishes and keeping kosher. It is an independent commandment regarding one’s dishes.

c) This is a “one-shot deal.” The mitzvah is performed once per utensil, and that’s it.

i) Even if the utensil subsequently becomes non-kosher, it does not need to be immersed again - as long as it remained in your possession.

ii) If a utensil requires both kashering and immersion, kashering is done first.

2) Materials subject to immersion

a) This commandment only applies to metal and glass utensils. Thus:

i) Immersion with a blessing: metal, glass, pyrex, duralex, corelle, bone china (it’s glass).

ii) Immersion without a blessing: corningware, enamel, etc.

iii) Do not require immersion: plastic, wood, stone, styrofoam, earthenware (including glazed china [the glaze is too thin]), paper, etc.

3) Types of utensils subject to immersion:

a) Immersion with a blessing: all utensils used to make food available or ready to eat.

i) Examples: dishes, flatware, glasses, knives, and even appliances.

ii) Appliances can be tricky - one doesn’t want to ruin an electrical appliance. 3 options:

(1) If the part of the appliance that comes in contact with food is removable, then that is the only part that requires immersion. (i.e.- toaster oven racks)

(2) Anecdotal evidence indicates that most appliances can be immersed and will be fine if allowed to dry out for a few days before usage. It is recommended to dry them out on a heater, and do not be alarmed if a little bit of smoke comes out during their first usage. If a lot of smoke comes out, discontinue usage.

(3) If one takes the appliance apart to the point that it is not useable and then reassembles it, then it was “constructed” by a Jew and does not require immersion.

b) Immersion without a blessing: utensils that do not make food immediately ready to eat are immersed without a blessing (i.e.- storage containers, mixer beaters, etc.)

c) Do not require immersion: utensils that do not come in contact with food (i.e. - can-openers, the body of an oven [racks require immersion], etc.)

4) If only part of the utensil is metal/glass, then it only requires immersion if that part is the part that touches the food.

a) Example: A wooden salad bowl with metal handles does not require immersion.

5) Procedure:

a) Make sure that the utensil is clean of debris and stickers

i) Soapy water is very effective at removing the stickers

ii) If a sticker is difficult to remove and you wouldn’t remove it before serving special company, then it need not be removed.

b) Go to a ritual bath (“mikveh.”)

c) Just before beginning to immerse utensils, one recites the following blessing:

i) “Baruch Atah Ado-nai E-loheinu Melech HaOlam Asher Kidshanu B’Mitzvosav V’Tzivanu Al Tevilas Keilim” (if only one, substitute “Kli” for the last word.)

ii) ”Blessed are you Hashem, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us regarding the immersion of utensils” (if only one, substitute “a utensil” for the last word.)

iii) One blessing is sufficient to cover all the utensils being immersed at one time. One should avoid talking between the recitation of the blessing and immersing the vessels.

d) Dunk the utensils

i) It is very important that the utensil be exposed to water on all sides at once.

ii) One should make sure that there is no air trapped in the utensil

(1) Ritual baths usually have a rack or bucket available, so that the utensils can be dropped in (to ensure that water touched them on all sides.) If not, then wet your hands before dunking and hold the utensil loosely.

e) Utensils need only be exposed to the water for an instant.