Q&A: Immersion of Utensils
Immersion of Utensils
Question
Hello Rabbi. My partner and I are staying with her parents this Sabbath, and in addition her sister and brother-in-law, who are secular, are also staying with us. In their kitchen, the utensils have not been immersed, and they are also guests with us.
My partner and I are responsible for the food. The question that came up is: 1. Should we offer them to prepare food as well, knowing that they will prepare it in their kitchen?
2. What happens if they want to prepare food even if we do not ask them—would it be permitted for me to eat what they prepared? (They will be offended if I do not).
Thank you very much!
Answer
As a rule, when there is a prohibition, the question of offense does not play a role. There is no counsel and no wisdom against God. On the contrary, the prohibition against eating is, among other things, so that they will feel that people do not eat at their home.
Beyond the issue of immersing the utensils, do you trust their kashrut standards? If not—do not eat.
As for the question of immersion, here there is room to be lenient. According to many opinions, there is no prohibition in using unimmersed utensils belonging to the homeowner when the homeowner is not you. See, for example, here: https://www.kipa.co.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91/%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%9C-%D7%91%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%90-%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%95/
Beyond that, there is also a doubt whether the utensils in which the food was prepared were originally acquired from a non-Jew.