Tevilas Keilim

TEVILAS KEILIM GUIDELINES

Utensils that need to be immersed Instructions

• Utensil to be immersed must be completely clean – free of dirt, dust, rust, stickers, labels or glue. (Practical Tip: WD-40 is very effective in removing adhesive)
• One wets one’s hands in the mikvah water, holds the vessel in the wet hand and says Baruch…Asher Kidshanu B’Mitzvosav V’Tzivanu Al Tevilas Keili (Keilim for multiple utensils) and immerses the vessel(s).
• If one forgot to make the brocha, the immersion is valid.
• The entire vessel must be under water at one time, but does not have to be submerged for any prolonged period of time.
• If a basket or net is used to hold small utensils, the basket should be immersed in the water, the utensils placed in the basket, and the basket swirled under the water, so that the water will touch all areas of the utensils.
• The cover can be immersed separately if it is removable.
• A pocket knife should be immersed in its open position so that the water will touch all areas of the blade.
• Thermos bottle liners do not need to be removed before immersion.
• A narrow necked bottle should be immersed neck up so that the inner surface of the bottle will fill completely with mikvah water.
• Care must be taken that no air is trapped in the submerged vessels.
• Anyone may toivel keilim, including a small child or a gentile, however, a Jewish adult must be present to verify that it took place. The recitation of a brocha can only be done if a Jew does the immersion. Therefore, if many utensils are to be immersed with the help of a child or a gentile, the owner should first immerse a few vessels with a brocha and then the child/gentile can take over.
• Utensils require tevilawith a brocha when they have direct contact with food during preparation or meal time and are made from metal such as aluminum, brass, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, steel, tin, or glass including pyrex, duralex, and corelle.