עברית
Halachot and Customs
Which Utensils Require Immersion?
Question
Greetings, A. I am not sure if the utensils in my home (metal and stainless steel) require immersion? Under what circumstances do they need immersion? B. Assuming they do require immersion, is it completely forbidden to use them? (Does it matter whether they belong to my parents or to me?) What can I do if I have used them until now? C. During Passover, we forgot to clean / kosher the grates on the stove and also the iron rods resting on the grates. Are they forbidden to use? What should be done? (Please elaborate...) I would greatly appreciate a response to every detail mentioned here... Thank you very much!
Answer
Hello
A. If the utensils are imported, it is assumed they are made by non-Jews, and therefore it is a biblical obligation to immerse metal utensils—stainless steel, as the sages instituted that glass utensils also require immersion. Both types are immersed with a blessing: ‘Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the immersion of utensils.’
B. Utensils made by Jews do not require immersion; however, utensils made in a factory where it is known that the owners and workers are non-Jews must be immersed.
C. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt"l, ruled that utensils coming from China, Japan, and Taiwan are clearly made by non-Jews, and they must be immersed with a blessing. Similarly, utensils from European countries can be immersed with a blessing, as it is nearly certain they are made by non-Jews. However, according to his implications, utensils from the United States should not be immersed with a blessing, as many utensils are made by Jews, particularly when the production is in New York, where there are many Jews.
D. Once you determine that the utensils indeed require immersion, the sages forbid using them even once without immersion. If it's not possible to immerse them at the moment and there is a strong need to use the utensil, one can give the utensil as a gift to a non-Jew and then borrow it back for use, and at the first opportunity to immerse it, ask the non-Jew to return the utensil as a gift, and then immerse the utensil according to halacha.
E. Even if you have been using the utensil for a long time without immersion, the commandment of immersion still applies as it does for new utensils. However, before immersing used utensils, they must be thoroughly cleaned in all corners and connected parts, and any rust that has accumulated in any hidden corner should be removed.
F. Utensils belonging to your Jewish parents also require immersion, and you may not use them without immersion. If you have used them until now out of ignorance, from this point on, ensure that the utensils are immersed. Hashem will forgive for the past because the prohibition of using utensils without immersion is a rabbinical prohibition, and if it was done out of ignorance, it suffices to rectify the matter from here onwards. [In every city and settlement, there is a possibility to immerse utensils, and this is not complicated at all; I would be happy to guide you in detail when you specify your location, etc.].
G. At present, there is no problem using the grates that were not koshered in time for Passover; however, there is a question regarding the utensils that were kosher for Passover and were cooked on these grates; whether they have become leavened because of this. But halachically, any utensils that were in contact with a non-kosher grate are not deemed leavened, and for the next Passover, you may use the utensils. However, it is important to make sure to kosher the grate properly before the next Passover, as this is the ideal way to do it. I hope everything is clear, and may you have success – Menashe Yisrael
