https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Tevilat_Keilim
The Torah commands us to immerse metal[1] utensils that are purchased or otherwise acquired from a non-Jew in a mikva prior to their first use.[2] This mitzva is referred to as "Tevilat Keilim", the immersion of utensils.
The mitzva of tevilat keilim is often compared to the conversion of a Gentile to Judaism - just as a conversion to Judaism requires immersion in a mikva, so too a utensil which "converts" from Gentile to Jewish ownership requires immersion, as well.[3] One is not required to immerse utensils which one borrows from a non-Jew.[4]As we will see, the mitzva of tevilat keilim generally applies only to metal and glass utensils.
One of the most famous practical issues of tevilat kelim is glass bottles like Snapple. This seems to be a big issue as it is a vessel that we drink from (so it is klei Seudah), so it should require tevilah. Some think that one use would be allowed even without tevilah, but that seems to be made up. So just because we are richer than we used to be and throw out (or recycle of course) this perfectly good glass bottle, should that exempt us from tevilas keilim?
Rav Hershel Schachter (Ten Minute Halacha - Practical Tevilas Keilim Issues by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, min. 8) says that in fact it is forbidden to drink from these bottles. Rather, when you open the bottle, you must pour the contents into another vessel before drinking. On the other hand, Rav Moshe (Igrot Moshe YD 2:40) writes that it is not an issue to drink from the Snapple bottle since the Jew who opens it is considered the one who created the vessel and then it would not require tevilah. Chacham Ben-Zion Abba Shaul (Or Litzion OC 1:24) agrees. Alternatively, R' Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (Sridei Esh YD 2:29) suggests a different solution. He says when you buy the Snapple, just have in mind not to acquire the bottle and then you have no issue as you do not own the vessel and you can drink from the bottle. Rav Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachot 4:107) writes that it is permissible since one doesn’t have in mind to acquire the bottle because nobody wants to buy something prohibited. For a similar idea, see Yabia Omer 7:9:3.
What if one buys a jumbo sized bottle of Snapple with the intent to drink some now and enjoy the rest later? Or even to continue using the bottle for other drinks after finishing the Snapple?
ReplyDeleteSee latest post of Rav Moshe's answer
DeleteImagine for a moment that I'm a great posek (ok it's not Adar but bear with me)
DeleteIn the time the Torah was given, glass and other utensils were hand made, and sometimes glass is even blown into.
Today, they are machine made from the time of manufacture all the way until filled.
So how can a machine be Jewish or not? It's not the same issur as before
It isn't a question of how it was made but who owns it. Hint - there was ownership even in Biblical times
DeleteOkay, so throw this facet in. The law of tevilas keilim comes from the war with Midian (which, as you recall, was classified as a genocide by the UNSC which condemned Israel and Trump for it). Metal and glass keilim back then were not disposable. Could we say that since the law only covered the keilim of the time it wouldn't cover disposable keilim?
Delete