Is it necessary to immerse a new toaster?

Greetings,

1. According to Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, of blessed memory, it is preferable to be stringent and immerse an electric kettle. If one is concerned that immersing it in water may damage the kettle, it is advisable to give it as a gift to a non-Jew, and then ask the non-Jew again because one is exempt from immersing items borrowed from a non-Jew, as they did not acquire them for themselves (Lihagot Olam, part 7, pages 265-266), and his words are relevant also regarding the immersion of a toaster.(Yet see Responsa Igrot Moshe, Yoreh De'ah part 3, section 24, which exempts a toaster from immersion; however, according to most poskim, it is required to be immersed, as stated in Responsa Bereish Moshe, part 4, section 100, Responsa Mishnah Halachos, part 9, section 125, and Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanagot, part 1, section 525).

However, this advice is not effective according to all opinions.(See Taz, Orach Chaim, section 263, paragraph 6, and Yoreh De'ah, section 120, paragraph 18, where this advice is only valid temporarily, meaning for that Shabbat or during the week when there is no mikveh available. But after Shabbat or if it becomes possible for them to have a mikveh, since it is permanently acquired by a Jew, it certainly requires immersion, though since this is not explicitly mentioned in the poskim, one should be careful to immerse another utensil with it because of the concern of a possible blessing over a doubt. This is mentioned in the Mishnah Berurah, section 263, paragraph 30).

2. Another suggestion is to give the toaster to an electrician who will disassemble part of the appliance in such a way that the status of a utensil is rendered void, and in a manner that only an electrician knows how to reassemble this part (however, if anyone can reassemble it, it is not effective), and then a Jewish electrician will assemble it anew, whereby it will be considered as a utensil made by a Jewish artisan, which is exempt from immersion. (The basis of this advice is according to what was written in Chochmat Adam, section 62, paragraph 13, referenced in Pithchei Teshuvah, Yoreh De'ah, section 120, paragraph 1. This is also found in his book Binat Adam, Gate of Prohibition and Permissibility, response 66. This advice regarding electrical appliances is mentioned in Responsa Kitzur Teshuvot, part 1, section 3, paragraph 2, Responsa Menchat Shlomo, part 2, section 256, paragraph 4, Responsa Bereish Moshe, part 4, section 100, Responsa Even Yisrael, part 9, section 103, and Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanagot, part 1, section 525. However, it should be noted regarding the response of Rabbi Moshe Klein, of blessed memory, in Kitzur Mibeit Levi, part 14, pages 68-70, and according to him, this advice is not effective. Rabbi Shmuel Wozner, of blessed memory, agreed with him in his response there, pages 70-71. This is also found in his book Responsa Shevet Halevi, part 10, section 128).

This advice is effective only if the electrician disassembles and reassembles within the appliance itself, such as the heating element, but regarding external parts such as the wire or plug, it does not void its status as a utensil, and it remains obligated in immersion. (Responsa Menchat Shlomo there, and Shulchan Aruch HaMikutzar, part 4, section 138, paragraph 10).

3. However, as far as I know, there is no concern with immersing the toaster in water, as long as one waits a day or two afterward for all its internal parts to dry; it will not be damaged at all (it is also possible to dry the toaster using a hairdryer or similar); as mentioned in the book on kashrut (chapter 4, note 88), experience shows that usually the appliance does not get damaged at all, and from hundreds and thousands that have been immersed, they entered and left without harm. Thank you.

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs