Must one immerse electric appliances?

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Must one immerse electric appliances?[1]

Electrical appliances which are used to cook food, and come in direct contact with food, are obligated in immersion in a Mikveh with a blessing. This includes toasters[2], sandwich makers, water urns and the like. 

How to immerse and avoid damage: One is to immerse it fully and not use it for 24 hours in order so it dry.[3] One may also choose to disassemble the item and immerse only the parts that come in contact with the food and require Tevila [such as the grates of a toaster, and knives of a blender].[4]

Other alternatives: If immersing the vessel will damage it, then there lies only one other alternative, and that is to give it to a Jewish professional take it apart and reassemble it.[5] It does not suffice for one to give it to a gentile as a present and borrow it back from him for permanent use.[6]

 

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[1] Igros Moshe Y.D. 1/57; 3/24; Chelkas Yaakov 1/126; 2/62-3; Minchas Yitzchak 2/72; Shevet Halevi 2/57-3; Beir Moshe 4/100; 7/57; Kinyan Torah 4/90; Sharaga Hameir 4/105; Mishneh Halachos 9/162; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1/450; Rav SZ”A in Sefer Tevilas Keilim p. 185; Hakashrus 4 footnote 88; Kashrus Halacha Lemaaseh p. 275-277

Other opinions: Some say that since electrical appliances are plugged into the ground, they therefore do not require immersion. The Poskim ibid negate this opinion.

[2] Beir Moshe 4/100; Mishneh Halachos 9/162; Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1/450; Rav SZ”A in Sefer Tevilas Keilim p. 185; Hakashrus 4 footnote 88; Kashrus Halacha Lemaaseh p. 275-277

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule a toaster does not need to be immersed as it is not a table vessel [Klei Seuda] and is not a true cooking vessel being the bread is already edible prior to the toasting.. [Igros Moshe 3/24; Rivivos Efraim 4/405]

[3] Kinyan Torah 4/90; Beir Moshe ibid

[4] See Hakashrus Kehalacha chapter 35 in name of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu

[5] Beir Moshe 4/100; Tevilas Keilim 4/16 in name of Rav SZ”A

[6] See Admur 323/5; Taz Y.D. 120/18

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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