Toveling Dishes on Shabbat

Toveling Dishes on Shabbat Day: Tuesday Date: April 28, 2014 Parshat: Aharei Mot/Kidoshim Yalkut Yosef: 323 A person who got a new dish and did not tovel, or dip it in a mikveh, before Shabbat should give the dish to a non Jew and borrow it back indefinitely. Since the requirement to tovel, or dip the dish in a mikveh, is only incumbent upon a Jewish owned dish and this dish now belongs to a non Jew, he may then use the dish and he never has to tovel it afterward. Giving the dish to a non Jew is allowed on Shabbat since it is being given for the sake of Shabbat and is therefore not like other gifts which may not given on Shabbat. If one is not able to give the dish to a non Jew it is entirely permissable for him to tovel it on Shabbat and use it right away. Before dipping the dish he should say the beracha the same as during the week. Ashkenazim however, are strict in this regard and do not dip new dishes in a mikveh on Shabbat. If the dish can be used to hold water, like a cup or a bowl, an Ashekenazi person would be allowed to scoop up water from the mikveh and tovel the dish that way. This is allowed since it is not obvious that he is doing so in order to tovel the dish. An Ashkenazi who does so should say the beracha quietly. If one is not sure whether the dish has been dipped in a mikveh or not and it can't be given to a non Jew, it is permissable even for Ashkenazim to tovel it for use on Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org