Q. good afternoon Rabbi I have a couple of questions to ask you.
I am doing ceramics and using stoneware clay. the trays, vessels, and plates I make from raw clay go thru a 2 step “baking” process in a kiln. this kiln is turned on sometimes by a non religious jew, and other times by a Gentile. We do not know who turns on the kiln. Do I have to take the trays, plates etc to the Mikvah?
A. Stoneware is not a utensil carved from a stone, it is made from a coarsely grained clay that is easy to work with. It requires a higher kiln temperature than earthenware to harden. And it’s usually lighter gray, tan or brown after it’s fired. Stoneware is more durable, less porous, always food safe and able to survive a dishwasher.
As further explained by phone, we are dealing with a course given at Jewish Community facility and the one’s lighting the kiln are the instructors paid by the facility. Therefore, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that since they did not at any part of the process became owners in any way of the vessels being created, the utensils don’t need Tevila.
Besides, since as also explained by phone, the glazing is only placed on the outside of the vessels, and as mentioned in Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 120: 1) such utensils don’t need Tevila, even when acquired from Gentiles.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a