Have Questions or Comments?
Leave us some feedback and we'll reply back!

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Phone Number)

    In Reference to

    Your Message


    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