Tevilas Keilim, or immersing utensils in a mikveh, is a Torah commandment required before using new glass, metal, or certain other utensils for food preparation in a kosher kitchen. This immersion transfers the utensil into Jewish ownership with holiness, preparing it for kosher use.
The source for this mitzvah is found in Bamidbar 31:23, and the Gemara (Avodah Zarah 75b) explains that this purification process is through mikveh immersion (which must be done in a kosher mikveh or the ocean, and not in a regular swimming pool). The Shulchan Aruch rules this mitzvah is a Torah obligation, and it is not to be taken lightly. One may not use a utensil even temporarily before it has been properly toiveled, and if there is doubt whether it was immersed, it requires tevilah out of doubt and cannot be used until immersion.
Utensils that require tevilah include metal and glass utensils that come into direct contact with food. Wood and plastic do not require tevilah. Fine china glazed with glass should be immersed without a beracha. If a used utensil is purchased, it must first be kashered before being brought to the mikveh.
Before toveling, the utensil must be thoroughly cleaned of stickers, glue, and residue. The full bracha to recite before immersion is:
“Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Asher Kidshanu B’Mitzvosav V’Tzivanu Al Tevilas Keli/Kelim”(“Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the immersion of a utensil/utensils.”)
Use “al tevilat keli” if immersing one utensil and “al tevilat kelim” for more than one. The entire utensil, including handles, must be submerged at once, ensuring water touches every part. If holding the utensil during immersion, wet your hand with mikveh water beforehand and hold it very lightly to avoid a chatzitzah (separation).
If you are unsure whether a utensil requires tevilah, consult your rabbi or contact us for guidance before use to ensure your kitchen remains kosher. When in doubt, do not recite the berocha, as per the rule of ‘safek brachos lehakel’ (when in doubt regarding blessings, we rule leniently and do not say the berocha).
