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How to do Hagala:

*Important not: The laws here apply both to the regular Hagala, and to Iruiy Keli Rishon with Even Meluban, which can be done as an alternative to Hagala, when Hagala is not feasible.

 

Having an expert do the Hagala:[1]

The laws of Hagala involve many details, and hence should only be performed by one who is expert in its laws.

 

When to perform Hagala:[2]

It is proper for a person to be careful to perform Hagala to his vessels prior to the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach [i.e. Sof Zman Achilas Chametz], in order to avoid the issues to be mentioned. Some (meticulous) individuals are accustomed to perform Hagala three days before Pesach. This applies likewise when performing Iruiy Keli Rishon with Even Meluban instead of Hagala.

Kashering on Erev Pesach past the 5^th hour of the day: When doing Hagala to vessels on Erev Pesach past the 5^th hour one must beware of the following issues from the letter of the law: 1) The vessel which is holding the Hagala water may not be Ben Yomo. If it is Ben Yomo it must be Kashered beforehand.[3] 2) If a Ben Yomo Chametz vessel is being Kashered, there must be a total of 60x in the Hagala water versus all the Ben Yomo vessels which are being Kashered in it.[4] 3) One is Lechatchila required to remove the vessel from the water as soon as one has estimated that it has finished expelling its absorbed taste. Likewise, it should be inserted and removed from the water while the water is still boiling. This applies even if the vessels are not Ben Yomo, and there is 60x in the water.[5] 4) One is Lechatchila not to immerse a vessel more than one time.[6] 5) One is Lechatchila not to immerse more than one vessel at a time if they absorbed a different amount of Issur.[7]

Kashering on Chol Hamoed Pesach:[8] One is unable to Kasher his vessels through Hagala once the night of Pesach enters being that Chametz is not nullified even in 1000x. This applies even if the vessels are not Ben Yomo and there is 60x in the water. Nonetheless, one may Kasher a vessel through Libun even on Pesach.

 

Not to use the vessel for Chametz 24 hours before Kashering:[9]

The custom is to only do Hagala to vessels which are not Ben Yomo, which means that they have remained without use of hot Chametz, or soaking Chametz, for 24 hours. When Kashering on Erev Pesach past the 5^th hour of the day, then from the letter of the law the vessels may not be Ben Yomo, unless one has a total of 60x in the Hagala water versus the total amount of vessels being Kashered. [Some Poskim[10] write that initially the vessel is to wait 24 hours from after it is cleaned. Other Poskim[11] rule this is not necessary.]

 

Cleaning the vessels before Hagala:

All vessels must be scrubbed and washed well prior to Hagala in order so they contain no Chametz attached to them.[12]

Cleaning rust: One must remove any rust and dirt patches that are on the vessel prior to doing Hagala to it.[13] If one cannot remove the rust by hand, then one is to place a coal or flame on the rust spot until the other side becomes “Yad Soledes Bo”, or until a piece of paper touching the exterior gets scorched.[14] Only the rust that is on the inside of the vessel needs to be removed[15], and only if it has substance to it. However, if it is just coloring or a stain, then it does not need to be removed at all.[16] Bedieved, if one did the Hagala prior to the Libun, it remains valid.[17]

Cleaning cracks: If the vessel contains a crack which cannot be properly cleaned, then Hagala does not help for such a vessel until one first does Libun Kal to the crack.[18] This, however, only applies if the crack is in the interior of the vessel where it contacts food, however, a crack on the exterior of the vessel does not need to have Libun performed on it.[19] [Thus, for example, the company trademark that is on the interior of the vessel needs to be cleaned well, or have Libun Kal performed to it.] Bedieved, if one did the Hagala prior to the Libun, it remains valid.[20] If there are cracks in the vessel with Chametz in them, and they cannot be reached or burned then the vessel should be sold to a gentile over Pesach.^[21]

Paint:^[22] Paint is an interval between the water and the vessel, and prevents the taste from being expelled from the vessel as a result of the water. Thus, a vessel which has paint in its interior, and the paint was placed after it was already used, then it is to have Libun[23] performed to the painted area and only afterwards have Hagala performed. However, if the paint is only on its exterior where it is not used with food[24], or was placed when the vessel was new, then it does not require Libun and Hagala suffices in all cases.[25] The above only applies to actual paint, however if it is simply ink, such as a marker, then it may be Kashered through Hagala in all cases.[26]

 

Drying the vessel before Hagala:[27]

After cleaning the vessel, it is to be dried very well before doing Hagala.[28]

 

The Hagala vessel:

Kashering the vessel before the Hagala:[29] From the letter of the law, when Kashering prior to the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, one is not required to first Kasher the pot being used for Hagala even if it is Ben Yomo.[30] Nevertheless, the custom is to Kasher the Hagala vessel prior to using it, if it was used for Chametz, even if it is not Ben Yomo.[31] One is to spill out this water, and then reboil water in it for the Kashering.[32]

Kashering the vessel after the Hagala if wants to use on Pesach:[33] From the letter of the law, when Kashering prior to the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, one is not required to Kasher the Hagala pot a second time after the Kashering is finished, if it was already Kashered prior to the start of the Kashering [as explained above]. Nevertheless, the custom is to Kasher the Hagala vessel a second time after one finishes Kashering with it, if one plans to use it on Pesach. Thus, the vessel is Kashered twice; once before and once after the Kashering. This applies even if the Kashering was done before the 5^th hour, and the vessels were not Ben Yomo, and one had 60x in the water. This applies even if the Hagala pot is only being used for Iruiy Keli Rishon.[34] It is not necessary to spill the Hagala water and reheat new water in the pot for the sake of the second Hagala, and rather one ay use this same water to use the Even Meluban to overflow it, as explained next.[35]

How to Kasher the Hagala pot:[36] Due to the size of the Hagala pot, it often cannot be Kashered through entering it into a larger pot of boiling water. Rather, it is to be Kashered through boiling water inside of it until its very top and then throwing into the boiling water an Even Meluban [red hot stone or slab of metal] which will cause the water to overflow and splash beyond the rims of the pot.

 

The Hagala water:

Water versus other liquids:[37] It is disputed as to whether Hagala is valid inside liquids other than water.[38] Accordingly, one is to only perform Hagala in water, although Bedieved, it was performed in other liquids it is valid. Due to this, one is initially not to place ash [or any other substance] in the Hagala water, as they may neutralize the water’s ability to extract the taste from the vessels.[39] [Nonetheless, some are accustomed to place a spoiling agent, such as soap, into the water prior to Hagala, in order to make the water Pagum.[40]]

How much water:[41] If the vessels are not Ben Yomo, there is no need to have 60x in the water versus the vessels.[42] If the vessel is Ben Yomo, then if one is Kashering after the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach[43], or is Kashering dairy and meat vessels simultaneously[44], then there must be 60x in the water versus the vessels.

Water must be boiling:[45] The water used for Hagala must be boiling, which is defined as bubbles bursting out from the surface of the water. It does not suffice for it to just be Yad Soledes. Furthermore, the water must remain boiling when the vessel is dipped into it. If the water stopped boiling after one vessel, then one must wait for it to boil before placing another vessel into it.[46] The boiling water must be within a Keli Rishon but is valid even if it is off the fire, so long as it is still boiling.[47]

For how long can the same Hagala water be used for?[48] If one Kashered many vessels in the water to the point that the water has the appearance of Tzir/gravy, then the water should no longer be used for Kashering, and is thus to be replaced.

May the Hagala water be used afterwards?[49] The Hagala water is to be spilled out after one completes the Kashering and is not to be used for any other purpose. This applies even if it had 60x the vessels that were inserted into it, and the vessels were not Ben Yomo, [and it is prior to the 6^th hour on Erev Pesach].[50] [However, to make use of the water prior to the 6^th hour on Erev Pesach, for non-Pesach foods, is permitted.]

 

The Kashering:

How to enter the vessel into the boiling water:[51] One can use heat resistant gloves, or pliers, to enter the vessels one at a time into the water. One is to make sure to move the hands/pliers to a different area of the vessel while in the water. Alternatively, one is to use a perforated sack or basket to dip it in. This is the preferred method.

For how long is the vessel to remain in the boiling water? Some opinions rule that one should place the vessel in for as much time as he accesses is needed to remove the foods that it has absorbed. However, the custom is to place it in and then immediately take it out. Nevertheless, one should leave the vessel in the water at least momentarily in order to allow the heat to penetrate the vessels thickness.[52] When Kashering before the 5^th hour, there is no need to be stringent to remove the vessels while the water is still boiling, or to leave the vessels in the water longer then they need to expel their taste.[53] However, when Kashering after the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, one is Lechatchila required to remove the vessel from the water as soon as one has estimated that it has finished expelling its absorbed taste. Likewise, it should be removed from the water while the water is still boiling. This applies even if the vessels are not Ben yomo and there is 60x in the water against them. [54]

Kashering many vessels simultaneously:[55] One may not Kasher many vessels together simultaneously in a sack or bag if the vessels touch each other.[56] One may not Kasher meat and dairy vessels simultaneously if they are both Ben Yomo, unless there are 60x the vessels in the water.[57] When Kashering vessels past the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, one may not immerse more than one vessel at a time if they absorbed a different amount of Issur.[58]

If the vessel is too large to fit into the Hagala pot: If the vessel is long and narrow, and one is able to partially fit into the Hagala pot but is unable to fit it in its entirety into it, then one may do Hagala to one side at a time until the entire vessel has entered into the water. If the vessel is so long that part of its middle area will not enter the pot, then one may do Libun Kal to that area.[59] If the vessel is too wide to fit at all into the Hagala pot, then is to have a direct stream of Iruiy Keli Rishon and Even Meluban performed to it. This means that one pours boiling water onto it from a Keli Rishon without letting the water being poured to be disconnected from the pot. Simultaneously, one takes a heated stone which has turned white and passes it over every area of the vessel while pouring the boiling water over it.[60]

 

Washing the vessel after Hagala:[61]

The custom of all Jewry is to wash the vessel in cold water immediately after Hagala has been performed to it.

 

Hagala checklist: 1.       Review Hagala laws and verify if the vessel is Kasherable through Hagala 2.       Do not use the vessels with hot Chametz, or soaked Chametz, for 24 hours before Kashering. 3.       Clean the vessel with scrub and water. Remove rust and clean cracks, and do Libun Kal to required areas. Some say this should be done before it waits 24 hours. 4.       Dry the vessel well. 5.       Kasher the Hagala vessel [if was used for Chametz] during the year, prior to placing Hagala water inside. 6.       Place clean water into Hagala pot without any other substance, and bring to a boil. 7.       Prepare a second pot with cold water. 8.       Insert the vessels to be Kashered into the boiling water. Only insert while boiling. 9.       One can use heat resistant gloves, or pliers, to enter the vessels one at a time into the water. One is to make sure to move the hands/pliers to a different area of the vessel while in the water. Alternatively, one is to use a perforated sack or basket to dip it in. This is the preferred method. One may insert many vessels at same time. One may insert meat and dairy utensils at same time if not Ben Yomo. May not insert many vessels in sack or box if touching each other. 10.   By a public Hagala, it is best to have two pots, one for meat and another for dairy vessels, or to never immerse more than one vessel at a time, or to make sure that all the vessels being immersed at one time are only meat or dairy, or are not Ben Yomo. 11.   The vessel is to remain a few moments in the boiling water. 12.   Immediately after removing the Kashered vessel from the boiling water, place it in cold water. 13.   Kasher the Hagala vessel if one wants to use for Pesach. 14.   Spill out the Hagala water to the drain.   Additional matters to beware if doing Hagala after 5th hour on Erev Pesach: 1.       Initially, always do Hagala before 5th hour on Erev Pesach. 2.       Remove the vessel from the water as soon as one has estimated that it has finished expelling its absorbed taste. 3.       The vessel should be inserted and removed from the water while the water is still boiling. 4.       The vessel is not to be inserted twice. 5.       One is not to immerse more than one vessel at a time if they absorbed a different amount of Issur.   Iruiy Keli Rishon with Even Meluban [i.e. counters/tables] checklist:[62] 1.       Review Hagala laws and verify if the vessel is Kasherable through Hagala 2.       Do not use the vessels with hot Chametz, or soaked Chametz, for 24 hours before Kashering. 3.       Clean the vessel with scrub and water. Remove rust and clean cracks, and do Libun Kal to required areas. Some say this should be done before it waits 24 hours. 4.       Dry the surface well. 5.       Kasher the Hagala vessel [if was used for Chametz] during the year, prior to placing Hagala water inside. 6.       Place clean water into Hagala pot without any other substance, and bring it to a boil. 7.       Prepare a second pot with cold water. 8.       Pour the boiling water directly from the Hagala pot onto the surface being Kashered. 9.       Use an iron to then boil/sizzle the water that was poured. Make sure to pass through every area of the surface. Alternatively, use an electric water boiler [“Kumkum”], while the heating coils are still on and the water is boiling. 10.   Immediately after finishing with the iron and hot water pouring, pour cold water onto it. 11.   Kasher the Hagala vessel if one wants to use for Pesach. 12.   Spill out the Hagala water to the drain.

 

__________________________________________________________________________

[1] Admur 452:30

[2] Admur 452:21

[3] Admur 452:8; However, if the vessel used for the Kashering is not Ben Yomo, then from the letter of the law it does not to be Kashered beforehand, [Admur 452:12] although the custom is to do so even before the 5^th hour of the day. [Admur 452:15]

The reason: As a Ben Yomo vessel can forbid the water that is in it, and thus forbid all the pots that are placed inside to be Kashered. [Admur ibid]

[4] Admur 452:9-11

If one removes the vessel right away or water is boiling: Some Poskim rule that when Kashering Ben Yomo vessels past the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, there must always be 60x in the water against all the vessels even if the water is boiling and one removes the vessel right away. Other Poskim, however, rule that as long as the vessels do not stay longer than estimated in the boiling water, it is not necessary to have 60x in the water against all the vessels. This is due to the rule is that so long as the vessel is expelling its absorbed taste, it will not absorb anything else. However, if the vessels do stay longer than needed to expel their absorbed taste, then even according to this opinion, there would need to be 60x in the water versus the total amount of vessels. However, there are Poskim who rule that even if the vessels stay in the water longer than needed to expel their taste, it is not necessary to have 60x in the water against them, so long as the water is boiling, as when the water is boiling it cannot transfer taste into the vessels. However, even according to this opinion, if the water stops boiling, then it absorbs. Thus, one must be careful to remove the vessels before the water stops boiling. Practically, we follow the first opinion. As well, Lechatchilah we are stringent like the latter two opinions and require that the vessel does not stay in the water longer than needed for it to expel its taste, as well as that it should be entered and removed from the water while it is boiling, in all cases even if the vessels are not Ben Yomo and have 60x in the water. Thus, we do not place into the water simultaneously, two vessels which have a different amount of time needed to expel their taste. [Admur 452:16-21]

If the vessel is not Ben Yomo: If the vessels are not Ben Yomo, then there is no need for there to be 60x in the water against them, being that its “Nat Bar Nat Dihetera/pgam.” [Admur 452:11]

[5] See previous footnote

[6] Admur 452:17 and 21

[7] Admur 452:17 and 21

[8] Admur 452:19 and 20 that we rule like first opinion

Other opinions: According to the two other opinions mentioned in the previous footnotes, it is possible to Kasher a vessel even on Pesach if it is not Ben Yomo, or there is 60x, and one removes the pot while the water is boiling, or removes it prior to finishing its expelling. [Admur 452:19] We do not rule like their opinion. [Admur 452:20]

[9] Admur 452:9-15; Rama 452:2

Background: From the letter of the law, the Chametz vessels being Kashered before the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach may be Ben Yomo and even in such a case it is not necessary for there to be 60x amount of water in the Hagala vessel versus the vessel being Kashered. The reason for this is because Chametz before the 5th hour is still permitted, and thus it has the status of Nat Bar Nat Dihetera. [Admur 452:13] However, the custom is to that all vessels being Kashered are to be not Ben Yomo, even when Kashering before the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach and even if there is 60x the amount of water against all the vessels. The reason for this stringency is because we suspect that perhaps one of the vessels may have absorbed Issur, and is Ben Yomo, in which case if there is not 60x in the water then it forbids all the other pots, as it is a case of Nat Bar Nat Dissurah. [Admur 452:15] If, however, one is doing Hagala after the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, then the vessels may not be Ben Yomo unless there is a total of 60x in the water. [Admur 452:9-10]

Kashering meat and milk vessels: Even before the 5^th hour, if the vessels are Ben Yomo and there is not 60x in the water against the total amount of vessels being Kashered, then one must be careful to not kasher milk and meat vessels simultaneously. However, they may be placed one after the other, as its Nat Bar Nat Dihetera. [Admur 452:14]

[10] M”B 452:20

[11] Implication of Admur ibid; Chok Yaakov, brought in Shaar Hatziyon 452:25

[12] Admur 452:7; However, from the letter of the law, Stam Keilim are considered clean. [Admur ibid in parentheses]

[13] Admur 451:15

The reason: The reason for this is because we suspect that perhaps some food has been left on the vessel, under the dirt or rust. [Admur ibid]

[14] Admur 451:16

[15] Admur 451:17

[16] Admur 451:18

The reason: As there is no suspicion that there is any food stuck under it. [Admur ibid]

[17] Admur 451:19

[18] Admur 451:19

[19] Admur 451:17 regarding rust

[20] Admur 451:19

^[21] Admur 451:51                                                      

^[22] Admur 451:38-40 regarding a metal patch; See Admur 451:18; Nitei Gavriel 68:10

[23] Some Poskim rule it requires Libun Gamur. Other Poskim rule it requires Libun Kal. Practically, we rule like the lenient opinion, although it is good to be stringent like the first opinion if possible. [Admur 451:38]

[24] Admur 451:38 in parentheses and 17 regarding rust

[25] Admur 451:38

[26] See Admur 451:18

[27] Admur 452:7

[28] The reason: As if they are wet, their cold water will cool off the Hagala water. [Admur ibid]

[29] Admur 452:13 and 15; 451:59 regarding vessel used for Iruiy Keli Rishon

Background: From the letter of the law, before the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach the Chametz vessel being used to hold the boiling Hagala water may be Ben Yomo and does not need to be Kashered prior to use. The reason for this is because Chametz before the 5th hour is still permitted, and thus it has the status of Nat Bar Nat Dihetera. [Admur 452:13] However, the custom is to Kasher the vessel being used for the Hagala even if it is not Ben Yomo, even when Kashering before the 5^th hour on Erev. [Admur 452:15] Past the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, then from the letter of the law the vessel must be Kashered prior to use if it is Ben Yomo. [Admur 452:8] Furthermore, it is to have Hagala performed onto it two times if one desires to use it on Pesach, if one is Kashering it through boiling water inside of it. [Admur 452:2 and 22 in parentheses]

[30] Admur 452:13

[31] Admur 452:15

[32] Admur 452:8

[33] Admur 452:22

Background: From the letter of the law, before the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach the pot never needs to be Kashered a second time if it was Kashered before the Hagala. However, the custom is to Kasher the vessel that was used for the Hagala a second time even if its Kashered vessels were not Ben Yomo, and the Kashering was done before the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, and the vessel itself was not Ben Yomo when it was first Kashered. However, when Kashering past the 5^th hour on Erev Pesach, then from the letter of the law the vessel must be Kashered a second time after the Kashering, if it had Chametz Ben Yomo vessels Kashered in it and did not have 60x them in the water, or if the pot was Ben Yomo and one Kashered it the first time through boiling water inside of it. [Admur ibid]

[34] Admur 451:59 regarding the custom of women not to use it on Pesach

[35] Admur 452:24

[36] Admur 452:1 and 24

[37] Admur 452:28

[38] The debate is regarding if other liquids have ability to extract the taste from the vessel. [Admur ibid]

[39] Admur ibid; M”A 452:10; M”B 452:27; Kaf Hachaim 452:53; Nitei Gavriel 71:1; Piskeiy Teshuvos 452:5-2

[40] Michaber Y.D. 95:4 and so is the custom of Sephardim as heard from Rav Yaakov Yosef; Poskim in Nitei Gavriel ibid

[41] Admur 452:9-13

[42] Admur 452:11; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 452:5-5

[43] Admur 452:10

[44] Admur 452:14

[45] Admur 452:3

[46] If the water was not boiling and one placed in it a [Ben Yomo Treif] vessel which had majority of its use as a Keli Rishon, then the water becomes forbidden [if there is no 60x] and the vessels is not Kashered. [Admur ibid]

[47] Admur 451:14; When Kashering for Chametz and Basar Bechalav it suffices to use a boiling Keli Rishon even if is off fire. When Kashering a vessel from other Issurim one is to be stringent that the pot of boiling water be on fire. [Admur ibid]

[48] Admur 452:29

[49] Admur 452:6

[50] The reason: As if one would benefit from the water it would be considered Bittul Issur Lechatchilah. [Admur ibid]

[51] See Biur Halacha 452 1 “Tzarich”; Piskeiy Teshuvos 452:5-9

[52] Admur 452:4

[53] Admur 452:21

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one is to be stringent in this matter even when Kashering before the 6^th hour. [See M”B 452:13; Piskeiy Teshuvos 452:5]

[54] Admur 452:21 in conclusion to be stringent like both opinion; See footnotes in B!

The reason: As we suspect for the opinions who rule that the vessel will begin reabsorbing their expelled taste if removed after they stop expelling or after the water stops boiling, and it is forbidden to initially cause an Issur even if not Ben Yomo. [Admur ibid]

[55] Admur 452:25

[56] The reason: As the Hagala water must reach all areas of the vessels, and the boiling heat of the water is unable to penetrate in the areas that the vessels are touching each other. [Admur ibid]

[57] Admur 452:10

[58] Admur 452:17 and 21

[59] Admur 451:37

[60] Admur 451:27

[61] Admur 452:5

[62] See M”B 452:20

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