Fruits Served in Untoveled Utensils
Question
Hello, Rabbi. I’m a baal teshuvah (newly observant), and sometimes on Shabbat I go to my grandmother’s house. She cuts up fruit and other things, but the issue is that the utensils were not immersed (not toveled). If I don’t eat, she’ll be hurt. Is it permissible to be lenient and eat the cut-up fruits?
Answer
Shalom,
It is forbidden to use a utensil that has not been immersed (not toveled), but if food was already placed in such a utensil and you are simply taking it out, that is not considered "using" — rather, it’s just "emptying" the utensil.
Therefore, even though the grandmother did not act properly by placing the fruit in a non-immersed utensil, you are allowed to eat the fruit from the utensil.
However, take note: if she serves you a tray of fruit and gives you non-immersed plates, you may not transfer the fruit from the tray to the plate — doing so would be considered using the plate in a prohibited manner.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 120
According to the Psak of HaGaon Harav Fried, shlita
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