21 Mar TEVILAHS KEILIM: WHAT REQUIRES TEVILAH

Many times one is faced
with different questions
as to what requires
tevilah. For example,
glass, china, stoneware
etc. The halachos of
how to tovel were dealt
with in a previous issue.
In this issue we will
discuss which materials
and items require

tevilah.
The Source – Reason After the war with
Midyan the posuk explains how the keilim
taken from the midyanim were to be prepared
for use. Utensils that were used over a fire
should be kashered through fire and purified
with a sprinkling of water. Keilim which did
not come in contact with fire only need to be
toveled in water. The reason for doing tevilas
keilim is to bring kedusha to the utensil by
removing the impurity of the goyim. This
tevila is similar to what a goy does when he
wants to become Jewish.
Materials Requiring Tevilah Metal- Items
made of metal (gold, silver, copper, steel, tin or
lead) are required to be immersed m’doraisa.
Glass Since glass is similar to metal in
that it can be melted down and reformed, it
requires tevilah.There is a big discussion in
the poskim if glass requires tevilah m’doraisa
or m’rabbanan.Nonetheless, glass must be
toveled with a beracha.
Wood Items made from wood do not require
tevilah.
Porcelain-Earthenware There is a discussion
in the poskim if an item made from porcelain
requires tevilah. The custom of most people
is not to tovel any item made from porcelain
or earthenware. Some tovel porcelain without
a beracha.
Aluminum Whether or not aluminum (not
disposable) requires tevilah is a matter of
dispute among the poskim. Some say it should
be toveled with a beracha, while others say
there is no requirement to tovel it at all. Some
suggest that one tovel an aluminum utensil
after one has already recited the beracha on a
metal or glass utensil.
Plastic / Rubber The consensus of the
majority of the poskim is that utensils made
from plastic do not require a tevilah prior
to use. An example of this is Tupperware
utensils. There are some poskim who say that
fortunate is the one who is careful to tovel
plastic. The same holds true for utensils made
from rubber.
Paper / Styrofoam Utensils made from paper
or styrofoam do not require tevilah.
Pyrex / Duralex / Corelle Since Pyrex,
Duralex and Corelle are made from glass they
all require tevilah.
Enamel Although Enamel is a glass like
substance, there is a dispute among the
poskim if this item should be toveled at all.
Therefore, one should tovel Enamel utensils
without a beracha.

Teflon Teflon is comprised of a metal
substance and is coated with a special type of
plastic which is slippery. Some poskim feel
that items made from this material require
tevilah.
Glazed Items A utensil which is made from
a material which does not require tevilah may
still be obligated in tevilah if it is glazed with a
material which does require tevilah. A utensil
which is glazed from the inside requires
tevilah, while a utensil which is glazed from
the outside does not require tevilah. However,
others say one should tovel a utensil which
is glazed from the outside without a beracha
if it is made to hold the utensil in place. Any
utensil which is heavily glazed would require
tevilah. Some say one should tovel any glazed
utensil after toveling a utensil that requires a
beracha.
China / Stoneware Some poskim feel that
china which is glazed with a very thin layer
does not require tevilah.However, other
poskim feel that china should be toveled but
without the reciting of a beracha. The same
is true for items made from bone china and
stoneware.
Some inexpensive mugs may seem like they
are coated with glass but in reality they are not
and therefore no tevilah is required.
Food Utensils Only The Gemorah says that
only utensils used for food require tevilah.
There are a number of different categories
which apply to these types of utensils. Each
one will be discussed below. (Please note: the
obligation to tovel the items discussed in the
following paragraphs is only where they are
made from a material which requires tevilah).
Utensils Used Directly for Eating Purposes
Utensils which come into direct contact with
food and are used for eating purposes require
tevilah with a beracha. An example of this
would be knives, forks, or spoons. A utensil
which does not touch the food does not require
tevilah. An example of this is a serving tray on
which one places dishes. If the food is placed
directly on the tray (even if the tray is covered
with silver foil) then the tray requires tevilah.
Utensils Used for the Preparation of Food
A utensil used for the preparation of food
would only require tevilah with a beracha
if it is used for food which is edible, or if
the utensil itself makes the food edible.For
example, a frying pan or sandwich maker.
A utensil would still need to be toveled with a
beracha even if after the food or drink is edible
more preparations will be done to the food.
For example, a water urn requires tevilah even
though one will add tea or coffee to the water
before drinking it.
Utensils Used When Food Is Inedible and
Edible A utensil which is used for food at
a stage when the food is not edible but can
also be used when the food is edible requires
tevilah without a beracha.This is even if the
utensil is not normally used at the later stage.
An example of this would be chicken scissors
used for trimming chicken. They are normally

used when the food is raw but can also be used
when the food is eatable.
Utensils Used For Raw Food A utensil which
is used for raw food does not require tevilah
at all. However, this is only if the utensil can
not be used at all when the food is edible. An
example of this would be a rolling pin which
is used for dough. Some say one should tovel
such utensils without a beracha. This is how
many people are noheg.
Storage Utensils Utensils which are used for
storing food which is edible, but are brought to
the table should be toveled without a beracha.
Electric Items There is a dispute among
the poskim if electric utensils require
tevilah. Some say electric appliances are not
considered utensils and do not require tevilah
at all since they are regarded as being attached
to the ground (while plugged in).Others say
being plugged in is not considered attached
to the ground. Others say since electric
appliances may get ruined by toveling them
there is no obligation to do so. Others say one
should take it apart and have a yid should put
it back together. In this situation one would
not be obligated to tovel the utensil since it is
considered as if the yid created a new utensil.
Others say that one should tovel such utensils
and they will not get ruined if they are left to
dry for 24 hours before being used. This is the
custom of many people.
List of Common Items Based on the
aforementioned guidelines the following is
a list of items which require tevilah with a
beracha, without a beracha or do not require
tevilah at all.
Apple Slicer– an apple slicer requires tevilah
with a beracha since it touches the food at a
stage when the food is edible.
Barbeque Grill– only the grill itself requires
tevilah since it touches the food when the food
is edible.
Blech– a blech does not require tevilah since
it does not touch the food. One who places
challah directly on the blech should tovel the
blech with a beracha.
Can Opener– A can opener does not require
tevilah since it does not touch the food.
Cake Plate Cover– does not require tevilah
because it does not touch the food.
Chopper– a chopper requires tevilah with a
beracha because it is used for food which is
edible.
Cookie Shaper– does not require tevilah
because it touches the food when the food
is raw. Some say one should tovel this item
without a beracha.
Cooking Baking Sheet– requires tevilah with
a beracha because it touches the food when it
is edible.
Corkscrew– does not require tevilah because
it does not touch the food.
Corn on the Cob Holder– requires tevilah
because it touches the food when the food is
edible.
Crock-pot– a ceramic insert does not require
tevilah with a beracha. However, a metal insert

requires tevilah with a beracha.
Cutting Board– does not require tevilah since
it is usually wood or plastic.
Egg Yolk Brush– does not require tevilah since
it touches the food when the food is not edible.
Grater- a grater is used for foods which are
eaten raw and not raw therefore one should
tovel it with a beracha.
Hotplate– does not require tevilah since it does
not touch food.
Kiddush Cup– requires tevilah with a beracha.
Metal Flour Sifter- requires tevilah without a
beracha.
Metal Ice Cream Scooper– requires tevilah
with a beracha because it comes it contact with
edible food.
Microwave Oven Tray– A glass microwave
oven tray does not require tevilah if no food
actually touches the glass. If food is placed
directly on the glass piece then the tray should
be toveled with a beracha.
Nutcracker– requires tevila without a beracha
even though it does not touch the actual food.
Oven Rack– does not require tevilah since the
food does not go directly on it.
Pesach Plate – K’ayra- although some people
are not aware of this a Pesach plate should be
toveled with a beracha.
Pizza Cutter– requires tevilah with a beracha
since it is used at a stage when the food is
edible.
Pocket Knife– if a pocket knife is not used for
food then it does not requite tevilah.
Pot Cover– requires tevila with a beracha.
Potato Peeler– A potato peeler which is
normally used for foods which are eaten raw
should be toveled without a beracha. If the
peeler is only used occasionally for food that
is ready to be eaten like apples then one should
tovel it with a beracha.
Refrigerator Shelves– If the food is not
placed on these shelves directly there is no
requirement for tevilah.
Salt Shaker– needs tevila with a beracha.
Skewer– if it is made of metal then it requires
tevilah with a beracha.
Spatula- if it is metal it requires tevilah with
a beracha.
Stove Grates– no tevilah is required because
food does not touch the grates.
Table– no tevila is required even though food
is placed on it.
Toaster– a toaster requires tevilah with a
beracha according to some poskim. Others
say it does not since the bread is edible even
without the toaster making it into toast, but
one should still tovel the parts which touch the
bread. Many have the custom to tovel a toaster.
Toaster Oven– the rack would require tevilah
with a beracha if food is place directly on the
rack.
Tongs– require tevilah with a beracha since
they touch food when it is edible.
Urn– requires tevila with a beracha.
Washing cup– does not require tevilah since it
is not a utensil used at a seuda.