Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah Siman 121

Siman 121

Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.

א הַלּוֹקֵחַ כֵּלִים יְשָׁנִים מִן הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים כָּךְ הוּא הֶכְשְׁרָן. לְפִיכָךְ הַלּוֹקֵחַ כְּלֵי תַּשְׁמִישׁ יְשָׁנִים שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בְּצוֹנֵן, כְּגוֹן כּוֹסוֹת וּצְלוֹחִיּוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן, מְדִיחָן, וְצָרִיךְ לְשַׁפְשְׁפָן הֵיטֵב בְּמַיִם בִּשְׁעַת הֲדָחָה כְּדֵי לְהָסִיר וּלְמָרֵק הָאִסוּר שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּיהֶן, וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹטְפָן בְּמַיִם וּמַטְבִּילָן, וְהֵם מֻתָּרִין. הַגָּה: יֵשׁ מְקוֹמוֹת שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ הֶתֵּר לָשׂוּם יַיִן בְּכֵלִים שֶׁנִּסְרֵיהֶם מְדֻבָּקִים בְּחֵלֶב, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁטֶּבַע הַיַּיִן לִבְרֹחַ מִן הַחֵלֶב, וְהַחֵלֶב נִקְרָשׁ וְעוֹמֵד בְּעַצְמוֹ וְאֵינוֹ נוֹגֵעַ כְּלָל בַּיַּיִן (ריב"ש סִימָן קמ"ט).

1 One who takes old (ie used) vessels from one who worships idols [lit. stars] - the way in which the idol-worshipper used them, this is how he kashers them. Therefore, one who takes a used old vessel which was used for cold, such as cups and plates and others like that - he washes them and he must scrub them well in water at the time of washing in order to remove and polish the issur (forbidden matter) which is on them, and afterwards rinse them in water and dip them (in a mikvah). Rema: There are places where the custom is to permit placing wine in vessels (ie barrels) where the planks of wood are smeared with fat because the nature of wine is to separate itself from the fat, and the fat congeals and stands by itself and does not touch the wine at all (Ribash 149).

ב לָקַח מֵהֶן כֵּלִים שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בְּחַמִּין, בֵּין שֶׁהֵם שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת אוֹ שֶׁל עֵץ אוֹ אֶבֶן, מַגְעִילָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַטְבִּילָן, אִם הֵם שֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת, וְהֵם מֻתָּרִים. וְאִם הִטְבִּילָן וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִגְעִילָן, מֻתָּרִים. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לַחֲזֹר וּלְהַטְבִּילָן. הַגָּה: דִּין כְּלֵי עֶצֶם עַיֵּן בְּהִלְכוֹת פֶּסַח סי' תנ"א. אֵין לְהַגְעִיל שׁוּם כְּלִי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהוּא בֶּן יוֹמוֹ (טוּר). וְאֵין לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּמֵי הַגְעָלָה (אָרֹךְ). כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַגְעָלָה לֹא מְהָנֵי אִם קִלְּפוּ לַכְּלִי בִּכְלֵי אֻמָּנוּת (ת"ה סי' ק"ל וּבְמָרְדְּכַי וְהַגָּהַת ש"ד). וְעַיֵּן לְעֵיל סִימָן ק"ח דִּין מַרְדֶּה שֶׁל אִסּוּר.

2 [He] took from them [the idol-worshipper] vessels which were used with heat, whether they were made of metal, wood or stone, he dunks them in boiling hot water and afterwards dips them in a mikveh (if they are made of metal) and then they are permitted. If you dipped them [ie metal vessels] in a mikveh [first] and then dunked them in boiling hot water - they are permitted. And there are those who say that they must be dipped in the mikvah again. Rema: This is also the rule regarding a vessel made of bones, see the laws of Passover 451. One should not dunk a vessel in boiling water when the vessel has been used within the past 24 hours (see the Tur) and one should not use the water from the boiling (Aruch). Every instance in which dunking in boiling water is required it doesn't help if you scrape them with a tool. And see above 108: The Law of a Bread Paddel which is Issur.

ג דִּינֵי הַגְעָלָה וְלִבּוּן הֲלֹא הֵם כְּתוּבִים בְּהִלְכוֹת פֶּסַח.

3 The laws of [making kosher through] boiling and heating until it turns white are written in the Laws of Passover.

ד מַחֲבַת שֶׁמְּטַגְּנִים בָּהּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלְּעִנְיַן חָמֵץ בְּפֶסַח דַּי לָהּ בְּהַגְעָלָה, לְעִנְיַן שְׁאָר אִסוּרִים צְרִיכָה לִבּוּן.

4 A pan which was fried in, even though with regards to chametz on Passover it is enough to dunk in boiling water, with regards to other forbidden matters we require whitening through fire.

ה אִם הִגְעִיל כְּלִי הַצָּרִיךְ לִבּוּן, אָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ בְּחַמִּין אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא עַל יְדֵי הָאֵשׁ. הַגָּה: אֲבָל מֻתָּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ צוֹנֵן, אֲפִלּוּ לְכַתְּחִלָּה, עַל יְדֵי הֲדָחָה וְשִׁפְשׁוּף הֵיטֵב. וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בִּכְלִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַגְעָלָה. וְדַוְקָא בְּדֶרֶךְ עֲרַאי, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהוּא בְּבֵית הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים אוֹ בְּדִיעֲבַד, אֲבָל אִם רוֹצֶה לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ בְּקֶבַע, יֵשׁ מַחְמִירִים וְאוֹמְרִים דַּאֲפִילוּ לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ צוֹנֵן צָרִיךְ הַגְעָלָה אוֹ לִבּוּן, גְּזֵרָה שֶׁמָּא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ חַמִּין (מָרְדְּכַי וְרוֹקֵחַ). וְהָכֵי נוֹהֲגִין. וַאֲפִלּוּ כֵּלִים שֶׁתַּשְׁמִישָׁן בְּצוֹנֵן, אִם יֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ שֶׁחִמְּמוּ בּוֹ יַיִן, כְּגוֹן כְּלֵי כֶּסֶף, נוֹהֲגִין לְהַגְעִיל, וְאֵין לְשַׁנּוֹת (אָרֹךְ בְּשֵׁם ראבי"ה). וַאֲפִלּוּ תֵּבוֹת וְשֻׁלְחָנוֹת הַנִּקָּחִים מִן הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים, נוֹהֲגִין לְהַגְעִיל שֶׁמָּא נִשְׁפְּכוּ עֲלֵיהֶם חַמִּין. וְדַוְקָא לְכַתְּחִלָּה, אֲבָל בְּדִיעֲבַד אֵין לָחוּשׁ לְכָל זֶה (שָׁם). וּכְלִי חֶרֶס שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּמְּשׁוּ בּוֹ בְּצוֹנֵן, מֵאַחַר דְּאִי אֶפְשָׁר בְּהַגְעָלָה, מִקְרֵי דִּיעֲבַד וְסָגֵי לֵיהּ בִּמְרִיקָה וּשְׁטִיפָה הֵיטֵב (שָׁם), וּמֻתָּר לִתֵּן בּוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ אֲפִלּוּ דְּבָרִים חֲרִיפִים כְּחֹמֶץ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן דְּבָרִים קָשִׁים כְּתַבְלִין וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן. וְעַיִּןִ לְעֵיל סִימָן צ"א.

5 If one dunks in boiling water a vessel which requires whitening by fire, the vessel may not be used with hot food even if it is not next to the fire. Rema: But it is permitted to use for cold food, even from the outset [without dunking in boiling water either], through washing and scrubbing well, and all the more so with regards to a vessel which requires dunking in boiling water. And this can only be done in temporary circumstances such as when he is in the house of an idol-worshipper or it is after the fact. But if he wants to use these vessels on a regular basis, there are some who are stringent and say that even to use it with cold, dunking in boiling water or whitening through heat is required. It is decreed lest once come to use it with hot, and this is our custom. And even vessels which were used for cold, if there is a concern that they were used to heat wine such as a vessel made of silver, our practice is to dunk in boiling water and it should not be changed. And even chests and tables which were acquired from idol-worshippers, it is our custom to dunk them in boiling water, for they may have spilled something hot on them, and this is specifically from the outset, but after the fact there is no need to worry about all of this. And an earthenware vessel which was used for cold, which is impossible to dunk in boiling water, we consider 'after the fact' and we say that it is enough to empty it and scrub it well, and it is permitted to place in it afterwards even sharp foods like vinegar and others like that. And all the more so hard things like spices and others like that, and see above 91.

ו כְּלֵי מַתָּכוֹת, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאִם נִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ אִסוּר בְּמִקְצָתוֹ, נֶאֱסָר כֻּלּוֹ, מִשּׁוּם דְּחַם מִקְצָתוֹ, חַם כֻּלּוֹ, אֲבָל לְעִנְיַן הֶכְשְׁרוֹ לֹא עָלָה לוֹ הֶכְשֵׁר עַד שֶׁיַּכְשִׁיר כֻּלּוֹ, בֵּין לְעִנְיַן הַגְעָלָה בֵּין לְעִנְיַן לִבּוּן. הַגָּה: וְדַוְקָא אִם נִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּכֻלּוֹ, אֲבָל אִם יָדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ רַק בִּקְצָתוֹ, כְּבוֹלְעוֹ כָּךְ פּוֹלְטוֹ. (טוּר).

6 Metal vessels - even though there are those who that say that if it is used only partially for forbidden foods, the entire vessel is forbidden, because something on part of it is like something hot on all of it, but with regards to kashering it, it doesn't have the effect unless you kasher the entire thing whether it is through dunking in boiling water or whitening by fire. Rema: And specifically if the entire vessel was used, but if you know that it was not [all] used, only partially, as it is absorbed is where it emits.

ז סַכִּין יָשָׁן, בֵּין גָּדוֹל בֵּין קָטָן, הַנִּקָּח מֵהָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים, אִם בָּא לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּצוֹנֵן, אִם אֵין בָּהּ גּוּמוֹת נוֹעֲצָהּ עֲשָׂרָה פְּעָמִים בְּקַרְקַע קָשָׁה. וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁכָּל נְעִיצָה וּנְעִיצָה תִּהְיֶה בְּקַרְקַע קָשָׁה, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יִנְעֹץ בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנָּעַץ נְעִיצָה אַחֶרֶת. (טוּר בְּשֵׁם הרמ"ה). וַאֲפִלּוּ לַחְתֹּךְ בּוֹ דָּבָר חָרִיף כְּמוֹ צְנוֹן, סָגֵי בְּהָכֵי. וּלְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ בִּקְבִיעוּת, לֹא גָּרַע מִשְּׁאָר כְּלִי שֶׁנּוֹהֲגִין לְהַגְעִיל אֲפִלּוּ לְצוֹנֵן (סְבָרַת הָרַב בְּדִבְרֵי הָאָרֹךְ) כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר. וְאִם יֵשׁ בָּהּ גּוּמוֹת (אוֹ) שֶׁרוֹצֶה לַחְתֹּךְ בָּהּ חַמִּין אוֹ לִשְׁחֹט בָּהּ, מְלַבְּנָהּ אוֹ מַשְׁחִיזָהּ בְּמַשְׁחֶזֶת שֶׁל נַפָּחִים הֵיטֵב עַל פְּנֵי כֻּלָּהּ. הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים דְּהַשְׁחָזָה מְהָנֵי רַק לַחְתֹּךְ בָּהּ צוֹנֵן, אֲבָל לֹא לְעִנְיַן חַמִּין (בֵּית יוֹסֵף בְּשֵׁם פּוֹסְקִים); וְהָכֵי נָהוּג לְכַתְּחִלָּה. וְאִם לֹא יוּכַל לְלַבֵּן הַסַּכִּין הֵיטֵב, מִשּׁוּם הַקַּתָּא, יְלַבְּנֶנּוּ וְיַגְעִילֶנּוּ אַחַר כָּךְ (אָרֹךְ). וּמִיהוּ אִם לִבְּנוֹ וְלֹא הִגְעִילוֹ, אֲפִלּוּ יֵשׁ בּוֹ גּוּמוֹת; אוֹ אִם הִגְעִילוֹ וְלֹא לִבְּנוֹ וְאֵין בּוֹ גּוּמוֹת וְחָתַךְ בּוֹ מַאֲכָל חַם, לֹא נֶאֱסַר, אֲפִלּוּ הַסַּכִּין בֶּן יוֹמוֹ. וְאִם הִשְׁחִיזוֹ בְּמַשְׁחֶזֶת הֵיטֵב בְּכָל מָקוֹם, וּהִגְעִילוֹ אַחַר כָּךְ, מְהָנֵי אֲפִלּוּ לְכַתְּחִלָּה, כְּמוֹ לִבּוּן (מָרְדְּכַי פ"ב דַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְאָרֹךְ), אִם יוּכַל לְנַקּוֹת הַגּוּמוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ.

7 An old [ie used] knife, whether it is big or small, which is acquired from an idol worshipper - if you want to use it to cut something cold - if it doesn't have dimples/holes - thrust it into hard ground 10 times. And every single thrust must be into hard ground. Therefore one may not thrust into a place where there was already another thrust. And even if you cut a sharp food like a raddish this is sufficient (And to use it regularly don't diminish that which is done for other vessels, for which we dunk in boiled water even for cold). (As it was explained) if there are dimples (or) you want to cut something hot or slaughter [with the knife], whiten it through fire, or sharpen with a whetstone of a blacksmith well on every surface. Rema: There are those who say that sharpening this way is only to cut something cold, not something hot, and this is the custom a priori. And if you are not able to whiten the knife through fire well because of the handle, whiten it through fire and dunk in boiling water after. However, if you whitened but did not dunk in boiling water, even if there are dimples, or if you dunked but did not whiten and there are not dimples and you cut something warm it won't be forbidden even if the knife has been used in the previous day, and if you sharpened it well with a whetstone in every place, and dunk it in boiling water afterwords it is effective like whitening through fire if you are able to clean the dimples in it.

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