QUESTION: What is the mitzvah of tevilas keilim (immersing utensils in a mikvah)?

ANSWER: The Torah (Bamidbar 31:21-23) writes that Elazar HaKohen instructed the soldiers who returned with the spoils of Midian that all gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead utensils must be kashered and then toiveled (immersed) in a mikvah. Chazal understood that the need to toivel utensils is a distinct mitzvah and it applies to any utensil which is acquired from a non-Jew. It does not matter if it was conquered in battle, purchased from a store, or received from a non-Jew as a gift. However, the mitzvah only applies to utensils that are used with food. Just as the need to kasher utensils only applies to utensils that are used with food, so too, the need to toivel utensils is specific to utensils that will be used with food. If you purchase a pot but plan on using it as a planter, or a knife and plan to use it to cut rope, there is no mitzvah to toivel these items. If at a later point you change your mind and decide to use them for food, they will then require tevila.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.