 | Ch. 37:1-13. The Laws of Immersing Utensils |
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| Ch. 37:1-13. The Laws of Immersing Utensils |
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| 37:1 |
 A person who purchases vessels,
used for a meal, from a idolator,
even if they are new,
if they are metal utensils
or glass,
may not use them
at all, even for cold (foods),
until he immerses them in a spring
or in a mikvah
in a place that is suitable for immersing*
a Niddah woman (for purification).
(In order to take the utensil from the impurity
of a idolator
to the holiness of a Jew.)*{Certain leniencies are permitted in the construction of a mikvaos used by men for immersion.}
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| 37:2 |
Since these utensils require immersion
only in a place
which is suitable for the immersion of women,
one should take care not to immerse them
in rivers which have swollen
because of rain or the melting of snow.*
This problem frequently occurs before Pesach,
when the rivers swell,
and utensils are immersed in them,
and this is incorrect. (See also Ch. 162:12 and 13). *{See also Shulchon Oruch, Yoreh Be'oh 201:2. Because of the difficulty involved in determining whether a stream is acceptable or not, it is preferable to avoid this issue and immerse these utensils in a kosher mikvah} |
| 37:3 |
Wooden vessels need not be immersed.
If they are held together by metal hoops (e.g., barrels),
they should be immersed without a blessing.
Earthenware vessels also
need not be immersed.
If they are coated inside
(what we termed "glazed"),
one should immerse them without a blessing.
The same rule applies to porcelain. |
| 37:4 |
An old utensil
which was used by a idolator
in a way that requires them (now) to be kashered
by either Hagala (purging in boiling water)
or Lebun (being heated red in a fire),
must first be kashered
and afterwards immersed. |
| 37:5 |
If one borrowed or rented a utensil
from a idolator
it need not be immersed.
(If one borrows or rents utensils
from a Jewish merchant [who bought from a idolator],
he should immerse them without a blessing.
The merchant should inform
the subsequent purchasers (of these utensils),
lest they immerse them a second time with a blessing.) |
| 37:6 |
A factory owned by a Jew,
which produces glassware,
and the workers are non-jews,
the utensils which are made there,
should be immersed without a blessing. |
| 37:7 |
A Jew who gave silver
or other raw metals
to a idolator craftsman
to fashion for him a utensil,
(or employs a idolator) to repair a vessel
with a leak
(that) stops it holding a revi'is (of liquid),
he should immerse it (after the repair)
without a blessing. |
| 37:8 |
Immersion is not required
except (for) utensils (or vessels)
which are used for food
that can be eaten immediately
without any other preparatory steps.
Thus, the iron tools used to prepare matzos
and which are used to cut the dough,
and the needle used to sew
stuffed foods, and the like,
need not be immersed.
Nevertheless, a slaughtering knife
and, similarly, the knife used to skin (an animal),
since these knives can also be used
for food that has been cooked,
and similarly the trays
upon which matzos are placed,
(all these) must be immersed
without a blessing.
A tripod on which pots are placed,
since the food itself does not touch it,
does not need to be immersed.
However, a metal spit
used to roast meat
should be immersed with a blessing.
Some opinions maintain
that large glass vessels
(such as bottles)
that one does not drink straight from them,
rather use them to hold liquids
and pour from them into cups,
are not considered to be vessels used for a meal
and need not be immersed.
Others
require that they be immersed.
Hence, they should be immersed a blessing. |
| 37:9 |
A pepper mill
must be immersed
because of its metal parts.
However, the lower receptacle
into which the spices fall,
because it is made of wood,
need not be immersed.
(Coffee grinders
should be immersed without reciting a blessing.) |
| 37:10 |
Before immersing (a utensil or vessel), one should check
that it is clean
and is not coated with dirt
or rust.
(A mere shade of rust
or black spot,
since this is common
and is ignored by most people,
is not significant. )
The entire utensil must be immersed
at one time
so that it is all under water [and not in two halves].
If a utensil has a handle,
the handle must be together
at the same time (as the utensil itself)
and all under the water.
The person doing the immersing,
and holding the utensils in his hand,
he should first immerse
his hand in the water.
He should not hold the utensil tightly.
Rather, he should hold it with an average grip.
If he immerses them
by tying a rope to them
and, for example, submerging them in a well,
he should take care
to tie them loosely
so that the water can reach
every portion of the utensil.* *{The general practice is to place the utensils in a porous container and to submerge that container with the vessels in the mikvah's waters.} |
| 37:11 |
When immersing vessels with a narrow aperture,
care should be taken
that they are kept in the water
until they become full,
for the water must cover the entire vessel,
both inside and outside. |
| 37:12 |
A male or female minor,
can not be trusted
with immersing utensils, (and so are not allowed).* *{However, they may immerse utensils under the supervision of an adult.} |
| 37:13 |
It is forbidden to immerse a utensil
on the Sabbath or a festival.
If one forgot to immerse (it)
beforehand (but needs to use it)
one should give it to a gentile as a present
and then borrow it back from him.
Alternatively, if the vessel is fit to carry water,
in a place where one can carry,
one may use it to draw water (from a well)
and bring it to his home,
so it will not appear as immersion.
(In this instance), a blessing should not be said.* *{If the utensil was given to a gentile as a present, and then borrowed back from him, it should be immersed after Shabbos without a blessing (Shulchan Oruch HoRav 323:8). The Mishnah Beruroh 323:33 allows the immersion on the Sabbath of a utensil concerning which a question exists of whether or not it must be immersed.} |