Question: What are the guidelines for utensils that must be immersed in a mikvah? Submitted by Cynthia Tobias

Answer: Below is a concise, but not thorough, guide to the laws of tvilat keilim (mikvah immersion of utensils).

THE OBLIGATION TO IMMERSE

1. Utensils intended for food consumption made by, or purchased from non-Jews, must be immersed.

2. Utensils requiring immersion include utensils used for eating and drinking (such as plates, cups and cutlery).

3. The obligation to immerse utensils applies equally to new and old utensils as well as utensils that are used for hot and/or cold foods/beverages.

4. Only utensils made of metal, glass or glazed earthenware must be immersed. Utensils made of wood, clay or bone need not be immersed.

5. Only utensils that will come in direct contact with food must be immersed.

Utensils intended for one-time use, such as disposable aluminum pans do not require immersion.

THE METHOD OF IMMERSION

1. The entire utensil must be immersed at one time in water. The water must come in direct contact with all the surfaces of the utensil during its immersion.

2. During immersion the utensil must be clean without anything on any of its surfaces. Care should be taken to assure, prior to immersion, that the utensil has no rust, dirt or labels adhering to any of its surfaces.

3. A utensil may be “held loosely” at the time of immersion. Thus a utensil may be placed within a mesh basket and immersed. In this way the mikvah water will come in contact with all its surfaces. Holding a utensil with a firm grasp during immersion would be prohibited.

4. Care should be taken when immersing cups, bottles, or other items with narrow necks, to assure immersion of the entire inner surface(s).

5. A utensil consisting of parts subject to the laws of immersion (made of metal, for example) and of parts not subject to the laws of immersion (wood, for example), must be immersed only if the parts that come in contact with food/beverage are subject to the laws of immersion.

It is unnecessary to deconstruct utensils consisting of multiple parts prior to immersion.

THE BLESSING PRIOR TO IMMERSION

Prior to immersion a blessing is recited – Boruch…asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al tvilat keli. When more than utensil is being immersed the last word is replaced with the word keilim.