Q) I am planning to give a glass tray as a gift to a friend. Should I toivel the keli before giving it?
- A) Klei seudoh (i.e. utensils designated to be used with food)[1] that are made from metal or glass, when purchased from a non-Jew are required to be toiveled prior to use. For a kli to qualify as a kli seudoh, it not only needs to be a type of utensil that is normally used for food preparation/consumption, but needs to be actually intended for these purposes[2]. Therefore, food utensils that are purchased from a non-Jew in order to sell (i.e. merchandise) and not to be used under the current ownership are not required to be toiveled[3] (until purchased by one intending to use the utensil). Furthermore, were the kli to be toiveled while in the possession of the seller, the tevila has no effect and the kli would still require tevilah after being purchased.
Similarly, a kli purchased to be given as a gift is not intended for use whilst in the possession of the giver and is therefore not considered a kli seudo until it reaches the ownership of the recipient. Not only does the giver not have to toivel the kli, but were he to do so the tevila is invalid and needs to be repeated by the recipient[4].
The solution for one who wants to give a utensil toiveled and ready for use would be to be mezakeh the kli (i.e. transfer the ownership using a third party) to the intended recipient before tevila[5]. Since the kli now belongs to the recipient (who we can assume intends to use the kli for tzorchei seudo) it can be toiveled by the giver.
Likewise, one who purchases a utensil (for his own use) in a shop that has a mikveh on the premises should be careful to purchase the kli before asking a member of staff to toivel the kli[6]– so that it enters the domain of someone who will be using the kli, and therefore becomes obligated in tevila.
In conclusion, one may not toivel a kli that is intended to be given as a gift or sold since it is not currently a kli seudo, and therefore a tevila at this stage is ineffective and will need to be repeated by the recipient or buyer.
[1] שו”ע יו”ד ק”כ סק”א
[2] ב”י ושו”ע שם סק”ח
[3] ב”י שם וט”ז סק”י (וכן מובא בשם המנחת יצחק והגר”ש וואזנר זצ”ל)
[4] מקור חיים (להגר”ח סגלוביץ שאלה י”ד), מנחת שלמה ח”ב (ס’ ס”ו אות כ’), ספר טבילת כלים להגר”צ כהן (פרק ח’ הלכה ו’), תשובות והנהגות להגר”מ שטרנבוך (ח”א ס’ תנ”ב)
[5] מקור חיים (שם), תשובות והנהגות (שם). אבל הגרש”ז אוירבעך זצ”ל (מנחת שלמה שם) טוען שפתרון זו אינו, שחוששים שמא יש למקבל כבר סוג כלי כזה ולא ישתמש בו או יחזירו לחנות ונמצא שעדיין אינו בכלל כלי סעודה
[6]ע”פ הנ”ל הערה 3 ספר טבילת כלים להגר”צ כהן (פרק ח’ הלכה ה’)