Sunday, 18 March 2018

Tovelling a Seder Plate and Kos Shel Eliyahu

Question: We bought a new matching seder plate and kos shel Eliyahu for seder night. Do we need to tovel them?

Answer: The Gemara (Avoda Zara 75b) stipulates that any keilim employed during meals necessitate tevila. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 120:4) extends this requirement to keilim utilised in cooking or food preparation, such as barbecue grills.

However, the Rema (YD 120:5) notes that while a chalaf (shechita knife) isn’t employed in food preparation, it is still advisable to tovel it without a beracha. The Shach (YD 120:10-11) elaborates on this, as it could potentially be utilised in various food-related tasks.

R’ Asher Weiss (Minchas Asher 3:62) addresses the case of a kos shel Eliyahu, which falls into a similar category as it may be utilised for drinking. Moreover, it might be utilised for kiddush, in subsequent years, particularly if a different, more appealing kos is found for the seder night. Hence, it should be tovelled without a beracha (see Rivevos Ephraim 1:122).

In the following teshuva (ibid. 3:63), R’ Weiss clarifies that there is no requirement to tovel a seder plate, since it isn’t used for eating off or for food preparation. Although some individuals consume the food from the seder plate, it primarily serves as a tray for presenting the symbolic foods.

In conclusion, tovelling the seder plate is unnecessary, but the kos shel Eliyahu should be tovelled without reciting a beracha.

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