A utensil that never touches food directly (such as the grate on a stovetop) does not require tevila.[1] A utensil which is always used with something covering it, such as a toaster rack that always has silver foil on it, still requires tevila, since the covering is insignificant, and is considered to be part of […]
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One must immerse the entire utensil in water in one shot. If a part of the utensil is sticking out of the water, the tevila is not valid.[1] If part of the utensil was sticking out then the impurity which rests on that part spreads back through the utensil when you pull it out of […]
Read MoreThe commandment of tevila in the Torah was written regarding utensils made specifically of metal. The Torah writes that gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead all require tevila. Regarding other metals, such as aluminum or pewter, there are two opinions. The first opinion is that the Torah wrote about the common metals of the […]
Read MoreIntroduction The Gemara[1] quotes the verse כל אשר לא יבא באש תעבירו במים וטהר – “any utensil which cannot withstand koshering through fire must be passed through water”. The Gemara derives that all utensils bought from a non-Jew must have a ritual immersion – tevila – prior to using it. Rashi[2] writes that tevilat keilim […]
Read MoreNon-Jewish Help Around the House Because of the prevalence of non-Jewish domestic help in Jewish households, we will discuss some of the issues that can arise and some solutions. Some of the halachot discussed here are repeated from earlier chapters for the sake of clarity. This section pertains only to non-Jewish employees. In regards to […]
Read MorePermitting Bishul Akum There are three steps in the baking process discussed in the Gemara in regards to pat akum. Any of these steps performed by a Jew would permit pat akum, and the poskim discuss if and when they apply to permit bishul akum. The Gemara writes that if a Jew either lit the […]
Read MoreThere are two prerequisites which must be met for a food to be included in the prohibition of bishul akum. The food must be inedible when raw, and the food must be oleh al shulchan melachim – fit to be served at a king’s table. A food which does not fulfill both of these requirements […]
Read MoreThe Mishna[1] writes that there is a rabbinical prohibition to eat food cooked by a non-Jew. Rashi explains two possible reasons for this prohibition. The first reason[2] is to prevent friendliness and closeness between Jews and non-Jews, which can lead to intermarriage. This is a similar reason to the prohibition of pat akum. The second […]
Read Moreוַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה לְ֠חֹבָ֠ב בֶּן־רְעוּאֵ֣ל הַמִּדְיָנִי֮ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁה֒ נֹסְעִ֣ים אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֹת֖וֹ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם לְכָ֤ה אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם־אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ׃ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֙נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם׃ וְהָיָ֖ה כִּי־תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ׃ רש״י– אל […]
Read MoreMixed Seating When people attend a lecture, men generally sit on one side, while women sit on the other. When we are riding a bus, walking to the bank, office, or even enjoying a day in a park, there is no separation. Why is that? When we go to weddings the seating by the Chuppah […]
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