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The Brochah (Blessing) Before Tevilah
- The blessing recited before immersion of a utensil requiring a blessing is: Baruch Ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech haolom asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al tevilat keili. If more than one utensil is to be immersed the last word is changed to “keilim” (instead of“keili”). [Translation: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the immersion of a vessel (vessels).]
- There should be no talking or unnecessary delay between the completion of the blessing and the immersion of the utensil. If more than one vessel is being immersed there should preferably be no unnecessary interruption between the blessing and the immersion of all the utensils.
- A utensil that does not require a blessing should preferably be immersed together (and after) a utensil that does require a blessing. This is particularly so if there is a question as to if a blessing needs to be recited or not. In such a case one may recite the plural form of theblessing even if there is only one vessel that definitely requires a blessing.
- There are restrictions regarding reciting the blessing in a mikveh that people use regularly in a state of undress. Consult your Rav for the conditions required in such circumstances.
The following list of halachos and “vessel classification” is based upon the wonderful work of Rabbi B. Forst sh'lita, who drafted the list with his high school class in The Torah Academy for Girls, Long Island, NY. I have made my own changes, and accept full responsibility forthat which follows.
—Rabbi Sprung
| Utensil | Req tevilah | Req brochah | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | tevilah | no b'rachah | 1 |
| Apple slicer/corer if made of metal | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Apple slicer/corer if made of plastic/wood | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Barbecue grill | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Blender (blades) | tevilah | b'rachah | 2 |
| Bone china (glazed) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Bottle warmer | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Bottles (glass) being reused | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Bowl (metal or glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Brass | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Bread box (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 5 |
| Broiler tray (steel) | tevilah | b'rachah | 6 |
| Butter dish (glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Cake decorator with metal spout | tevilah | b'rachah | 7 |
| Cake plate cover | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Can opener | no tevilah | 8 | |
| Canister (storage) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 5 |
| Canister cover | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Cast iron pots | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Cheese slicer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Chicken shears | tevilah | b'rachah | 9 |
| Chopper | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Coffee pot | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Coffee mill | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Coffee maker | tevilah | b'rachah | 11 |
| Colander | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Cookie baking sheet | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Cookie shaper | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Cork | no tevilah | ||
| Corkscrew | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Corn popper | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Corn-on-cob holder | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Corning ware | tevilah | no b'rachah | 29 |
| Creamer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Creamer (ceramic) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Crock pot (glazed) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 12 |
| Crystal | tevilah | b'rachah | 13 |
| Cutting board | no tevilah | 14 | |
| Decanter (glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Disposable goods not being reused | no tevilah | ||
| Double boiler | tevilah | b'rachah | 15 |
| Dough hook (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Drinking glasses | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Earthenware | no tevilah | ||
| Egg yolk brush | no tevilah | ||
| Egg cup (ceramic) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Egg beater | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Egg separator (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Egg slicer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Electric Knife | tevilah | b'rachah | 16 |
| Electric Urn (see important note) | tevilah | b'rachah | 30 |
| Enameled pots | tevilah | no b'rachah | 17 |
| Flatware (stainless) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Flour canister (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 5 |
| Flour sifter (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Food processor | tevilah | b'rachah | 16 |
| Fork | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| French fry cutter | tevilah | b'rachah | 18 |
| Fruit basket (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Frying pan (teflon) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 17 |
| Frying pan | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Glass | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Grater | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Grill (barbecue) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Honey dish (china) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Honey dish (glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Hot water urn | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Hot plate | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Ice cream scooper | tevilah | b'rachah | 19 |
| Immersion heater | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Ivory | no tevilah | ||
| Juicer (electric) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Kiddush cup | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Kneading hook (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Knife sharpener | no tevilah | ||
| Knife | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Ladle (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Measuring cup (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Measuring spoon (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Meat grinder | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Meat tenderizer | tevilah | no b'rachah | 10 |
| Meat slicer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Meat thermometer | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Melon baller (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Mir | tevilah | b'rachah | 20 |
| Mixing spoon (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | 21 |
| Nut cracker | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Onion chopper | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Oven rack | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Pancake flipper (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Parsley shredder | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Pasta machine | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Peeler (electric) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Peeler made entirely of metal | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Peeler made mostly of plastic/wood | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Pepper mill | tevilah | b'rachah | 22 |
| Percolator | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Pizza cutter | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Plastic | no tevilah | ||
| Pocket knife | no tevilah | 23 | |
| Porcelain | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Pot cover | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Potato peeler | tevilah | b'rachah | 18 |
| Poultry shears | tevilah | b'rachah | 9 |
| Pyrex | tevilah | b'rachah | 24 |
| Pyrex kettle | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Rolling pin | no tevilah | 25 | |
| Rubber | no tevilah | ||
| Salt shaker | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Sandwich maker | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Saucer | no tevilah | 26 | |
| Scale (for food, metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Shabbos blech | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Shredder | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Sieve | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Silver | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Skewers (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Spatula (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Spoon (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Spoon rest (metal) | no tevilah | ||
| Stone | no tevilah | ||
| Stoneware (glazed china) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Stove grate | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Strainer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Sugar canister (metal) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 5 |
| Sugar bowl (metal, glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Tea kettle | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Tea cups (glass) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Tea cups (china) | tevilah | no b'rachah | |
| Tea pot (ceramic) | tevilah | no b'rachah | 3 |
| Tea pot (metal) | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Teflon coated pan | tevilah | no b'rachah | 17 |
| Thermos bottle | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Toaster | tevilah | no b'rachah | 27 |
| Toaster oven | tevilah | b'rachah | 28 |
| Tongs | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Tray | no tevilah | 4 | |
| Tupperware | no tevilah | ||
| Vegetable steamer | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Waffle iron | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Washing cup | no tevilah | ||
| Wine bottle | tevilah | b'rachah | |
| Wood | no tevilah |
Notes
- There is reason to question whether aluminium requires tevilah, therefore a b'rachah should not be recited (R' S. Z. Auerbach zt"l).
- The blade and glass jar only.
- Porcelain and china require tevilah without a b'rachah, see section a.
- A vessel that does not touch the food requires no tevilah, see section c.
- A vessel that is used for storage only requires tevilah without a b'rachah, see section e.
- A disposable pan requires no tevilah.
- See section b.
- It is not meant to touch the food.
- Assuming it is used for roasted chicken as well. If, however, it is used for raw chicken only, a b'rachah is not recited.
- See section d.
- Electric coffee makers (e.g., Mr. Coffee) require tevilah.
- Ceramic insert only. A glass or metal insert requires tevilah with a b'rachah.
- Crystal is glass.
- If wood or plastic.
- Often the bottom pot is used for food as well, if not, no tevilah is required.
- Blades only.
- The surface that touches the food is not a material requiring tevilah.
- If used to cut other vegetables as well. If, however, it is used exclusively for potatoes, no b'rachah is recited on the tevilah.
- If metal.
- Only the beaters.
- If wooden, no tevilah is required.
- Some poskim contend that a b'rachah should not be recited.
- If one plans to usually use it for food, tevilah is required.
- Pyrex is glass.
- If wooden or plastic.
- If to be used as saucers only. If, however, they will be used as plates, tevilah is required.
- Some poskim contend that it requires no tevilah.
- Only the shelf and tray.
- White CorningWare shares characteristics of both glass and earthenware.
- In situations where one is concerned with electrical hazard, electric urns need not be immersed (relying upon the electrical conection as rendering the vessel halachically connected to the ground.