QUESTION: Are aluminum utensils obligated in tevila?

ANSWER: The Torah (Bamidbar 31:22) lists six metals which are obligated in tevila: gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead. Igros Moshe (YD 3:22) writes that since the Torah specified these six and did not generalize that all metal is obligated, we should infer that newer metals such as aluminum are not included. Still, he writes that there is a Rabbinic obligation to toivel aluminum just like there is a Rabbinic obligation to toivel glass. Chazal obligated glass because it shares certain qualities with the metals listed. Certainly, aluminum should be obligated on a Rabbinic level since it is even more similar to glass. Rav Belsky zt”l (Shulchan Halevi 24:35) writes that there were poskim, including Rav Chaim Brisker, who maintained that aluminum is not considered a metal with regard to halacha and is therefore completely exempt from tevila. Rav Sternbuch (Teshuvos V’Hanhagos 1:451) sides with those who require tevila. He writes that one may even recite a beracha, since it is possible it is included in the metals of the pasuk, and even if not, the rationale that aluminum should be no less obligated than glass is compelling.

The discussion until now is about reusable aluminum pots and pans, but in regards to disposable aluminum pans, many are lenient not to require tevila. Igros Moshe (YD 3:23) writes that even if the disposable pan can be reused a second or third time, since the material is very weak and not suitable for continued use, it is not considered a utensil and does not require tevila. However, a more durable pan, which can be reused many times, will require tevila even if the owner plans on discarding it after one use.

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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.