Learn About Keeping Kosher

A Kelim Mikvah is a mikvah specially made for dipping cooking utensils into. The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 75b) says that immersing ones crockery pieces into a mikvah purifies and uplifts them. This is based on a verse in the Torah (Numbers 31:23) in which the Jewish people are told that any vessels taken from the Midianites by the Israelites after the conquest of Israel should be “purified with water”.

Kitchen utensils can be divided into three categories:

● Utensils not requiring dipping: wooden or plastic items.
● Utensils requiring dipping with a blessing: metal or glass items.
● Utensils requiring dipping but without a blessing: china or earthenware items.

Today, this would refer to utensils used for cooking or eating that were manufactured or owned by non-Jews. Before immersion, the appropriate blessing is recited. One should ensure that the water reaches all parts of the utensil. This can be achieved by briefly releasing the plate once in the water or, more safely, wetting your hands before dipping or changing the holding position while under water. Alternatively, you can use a net bag or basket to dip one or several items together. 

Be careful to remove all labels from the item as they may act as a separation between the item and the water.

There are Keilim Mikvaot at the following United Synagogues:

Birmingham Central 4 Speedwell Road B5 7PR Tel: 0121 440 4044

Borehamwood & Elstree Croxdale Road WD6 4QF Tel: 020 8386 5227

Bushey & District 177/179 Sparrows Herne WD23 1AJ Tel: 020 8950 7340

Cockfosters & N Southgate Old Farm Avenue N14 5QR Tel: 020 8886 8225

Finchley Kinloss Gardens N3 3DU Tel: 020 8346 8551

Hendon 18 Raleigh Close NW4 2TA Tel: 020 8202 6924

Kingsbury Kingsbury Green NW9 8XR Tel: 020 8204 8089

Mill Hill Station Road NW7 2JU Tel:020 8959 1137

Pinner 1 Cecil Park HA5 5HJ Tel: 020 8868 7204

Sheffield 3 Brincliffe Crescent S11 9AW Tel: 0114 268 7638

St John’s Wood 37-41 Grove End Road NW8 9NG Tel: 020 7286 3838