1. Why do we immerse our new utensils in a Mikvah?
Parshas Mattos, (31:23): "Everything that would not come in the fire, you shall pass through water."

2. What needs immersion?
Any vessel used in food preparation that was acquired from a non-Jew.

If there is any doubt whether it was acquired from a non-Jew or from a Jew, it should be immersed without a blessing.

If it was acquired from a Jew and you know it was not immersed, then it also needs immersion with a blessing.

3. What kind of utensils need immersion?
Any utensil that comes in contact with the food during its processing or its presentation, whether hot or cold, no matter how large or small in size.

4. What materials are the utensils made of?
Any type of metal, including aluminum, and glass. These two types of utensils need immersion even if they are covered, i.e., with Teflon. Corningware and Corelle are immersed without a blessing. Glazed china is not immersed, according to Rav Moshe Feinstein.

5. What items don't need immersion:

• Wood
• Bone
• Earthenware
• Plastic (Melmac, Nylon)
• Rubber
• Disposable Utensils -- if used for a short time -- like aluminum foil pans

6. Immersion must be done in a kosher mikvah, like the Keylim Mikvah at Anshe Emes.

An international directory of Mikvahs is available from ----------, and you can call the Mikvah in your city for more information.

7. How should immersion be done?

• You only need to immerse the item once, although some people have customs to do more.
• You must immerse the entire vessel at one time.
• Covers and handles need to be immersed.
• The utensil must be clean. Be careful about labels.
• While standing, hold the utensil in your stronger hand.
• Recite the blessing:
  • "al tevilas keylim." (for more than one)
  • "al tevilas kli" (for just one)
• Immerse the utensil while holding the utensil so that the water can enter the entire surface area, including the area being held
• Don't talk during immersion

8. You may not use a utensil that requires immersion and has not yet been immersed.

9. You may not immerse a utensil on Shabbos or Yom Tov.

10. For specifics on which items need immersion, and whether they require a blessing or not, please see the attached list.

This section isn't complete, yet, but here are a couple of helpful links:

• http://www.kehillastorah.org/practical-adar-5760.html
• http://www.geocities.com/tbrunete/tevilah.htm