Question:
If I purchased glass dishes to give as gifts to other people, can I, or should I, tovel the glass dishes before I give them?
Answer:
Klei seudoh (i.e. utensils designated to be used with food) that are made from metal or glass, when purchased from a non-Jew, are required to be toiveled prior to use. For a keli to qualify as a keli 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 . Therefore, food utensils that are purchased from a non-Jew in order to sell (i.e. merchandise) and not to be used under this ownership are not required to be toiveled (until purchased by one who intends to use them).
Furthermore, were the keli to be toiveled while in the possession of the seller, the tevila has no effect and the keli still requires tevilah after being purchased.
Similarly, a keli purchased to be given as a gift is not intended for use while in the possession of the giver and is therefore not considered a keli seudo until it reaches the ownership of the recipient. Not only is the giver not obligated to toivel the keli but were he to do so the tevila is invalid and needs to be repeated by the recipient .
The solution for one who wants to give a utensil ready for use and toiveled would be to be makneh the keli (i.e., transfer the ownership using a third party) to the intended recipient before tevila . Since the keli now halachically belongs to the recipient (who intends to use the keli for tzorchei seudo) it can be toiveled by the giver.
Likewise, one who purchases a utensil in a shop that has a mikveh on the premises should be careful to purchase the keli before asking a member of staff to toivel the keli , so that it enters the domain of the purchaser who will be using the keli, and therefore becomes obligated in tevila.
In conclusion, one may not toivel a keli that is intended to be given as a gift or sold since it is not currently a keli seudo, and therefore a tevila at this stage is ineffective and will need to be repeated by the recipient or buyer. |