DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 602 KB)
Borer: Selecting from a Mixture of Two Foods

The Halacha establishes that the prohibition of Borer applies also to mixtures in which both components are edible, but one is not desired. The undesired component becomes "relative P’solet." This Halacha is brought by Tosafot (Shabbat 74), Rambam (Shabbat 8:13) and Maran (319:4).

The conventional understanding would be that such a mixture has the same Halacha as a mixture containing inedible P’solet (waste). That is, one must select and remove the food that he desires and leave the relative P’solet. However, careful analysis of the Rambam’s language reveals a big Chidush and leniency. He says "Borer Ha’ehad Min Ha’ehad," implying that it doesn’t matter which element is selected. This is how Rabbi David Aramah and the Meirat Sefer () understands the Rambam.

The Shulhan Aruch quotes the Rambam verbatim, but the Rema adds a gloss (listen to audio for exact citation), specifying that the undesired food must remain. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) explains that the Rema is teaching that one must always select the desired food. Thus there is a Machloket how to understand the Rambam. The Be’ur Halacha (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) writes that because this Machloket touches on an Isur D’oraita (Torah prohibition), one must be stringent.

SUMMARY

Even when a mixture contains two foods, one must always select and remove the food which he desires.


 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha of Yogurt Mixed With Fruit or Granola
Does One Recite a Beracha Over a Beverage If He is Thirsty Only Because of Something He Ate?
Must One Recite Two Berachot When He Eats a Cracker With a Topping?
The Proper Sequence When Eating Different “Mezonot” Foods, and When Eating a “Mezonot” Food With Fruit
The Status of Date Honey, Beer and Whiskey With Regard to the Sequence of Berachot
The Proper Sequence of Berachot When One Eats Two Fruits or Vegetables
The Order of Precedence When Eating Several Different Types of Food
Giving Precedence to the Special Fruits of Eretz Yisrael
“Peri Ha’gefen” or “Feri Ha’gefen”; The Proper Beracha Over Cognac
Reciting Berachot Over Fruit Eaten as Dessert
The Text of Al Ha’mihya For Products Made From Grains Grown in Israel
“Beriya” – If One Eats a Whole Grape, Nut or Olive Smaller Than a “Ke’zayit”
Does One Recite a Beracha on Ice Cream Which is Served During a Meal?
What Quantity of a Beverage Requires the Recitation of a Beracha Aharona?
Within How Much Time Must One Eat a “Ke’zayit” For a Beracha Aharona to be Required?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found