QUESTION: Can I toivel keilim (immerse utensils in a mikvah) without the knowledge of their owner?

ANSWER: If a utensil fell into a mikvah even unintentionally, the tevila was effective. There is no need to toivel it again. Therefore, if one toiveled utensils even without the knowledge or consent of the owner, they are now permitted to be used (Ba’er Heitev YD 120:21). However, if one knows that the owner does not want his keilim toiveled or is afraid that they will break, then one may not do so against his will, since this is tantamount to stealing. One may only recite a beracha on the tevilla if they were appointed to toivel on the owner’s behalf, or they surmise that the owner would have wanted them to do so for him (see Sefer Tevilas Keilim 8:4).

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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.