Making the Brachah and Shechitah Knives

As with most other mitzvos, one should make the brachah immediately prior to performing the mitzvah. The accepted wording for the brachah is "Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam asher kidishanu Bemitsvosov vetzivanu al tevillas Keli." If more than one vessel is to be immersed the word "keli," at the end of the brachah, should be replaced with the plural "kelim."

Both the Rosh and the Mordechai suggest a different ending to the brachah -- "al tevillas kli mateches" ("on the immersion of METAL vessels"). This unusual wording is intended to emphasize that the Torah obligation applies only to metal vessels. The Shach mentions this alternative wording, but the Taz rules against the Shach. The Taz argues that we do not find halachic details about the mitzvah in any other brachah, and so it seems unlikely that the wording for the bracahah on tevillas kelim should differ so greatly from the wording for other brachos. The accepted practice is like the Taz -- "al tevillas keli."

As with all brachos, one must be careful to be properly dressed when reciting the brachah. In a situation where the mivkah for vessels is in the same area as the mikvah used by people, one should recite the brachah outside and then immerse the vessels immediately thereafter.

It is also important to remember not to speak between making the brachah and immersing the vessel. If one is to immerse a number of vessels, one should not speak until the last vessel has been immersed. However, if during this time, one were to speak about something that is necessary for performing the mitzvah it would not be considered a hefsek (an interruption that renders the brachah invalid).

We have learnt previously that only klei seudah (vessels used for meals) require immersion. Accordingly, the burners on top of a stove upon which the pots rest, shelves inside the oven, or a hot plate do not require tevillah, since food does not come into contact with them.

The Shulchan Aruch cites the opinion that neither a shechitah knife nor a knife used for skinning require tevillah. This is because these types of knives are used at a stage when the meat is not yet fit for consumption.

The Rema, however, cites the opinion that a shechitah knife does indeed require tevillah. Thus there is a difference of opinion as to whether any implement used for the preparation of food before the food is fit for consumption, requires immersion. The Rema concludes that one should immerse such implements without reciting a brachah.

The Rema adds that, the metal implement used to make holes in matzah and the cover that is often placed on bread whilst it is baking, need not be immersed at all. At a first glance, this is puzzling. Why should these two vessels not require tevillah without a brachah like a shechitah knife?

The Shach explains the difference between these implements and the shechitah knife: Although the shechitah knife and the skinning knife are used specifically in the preparation of food that is not yet fit for human consumption, they could nevertheless be used for preparing food that is fit for consumption. Thus, they require tevillah without a brachah. However, the implements that are used to make holes in matzah or to cover baking bread are limited to these specific uses, and therefore do not require tevillah at all.

The Taz understands the Rema differently: The Rema is explaining that, according to the opinion cited by the Shulchan Aruch that a shechitah knife does not require tevillah, similarly the implement used for making holes in matzah will not require tevillah. However, according to the opinion cited by the Rema, there is no difference between a shechitah knife and the implement used for making holes in matzah, and they both require tevillah. It follows then, that according to the Taz, the Rema is of the opinion that all of these items (shechitah knife, skinning knife, hole maker, and bread cover) should be immersed without a brachah.

The articles on this website are not not intended as halachic rulings.
Where necessary, one should consult a competent halachic authority.