A Keli 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 Kelim 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