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...
If Somebody Left After Eating Without Reciting Birkat Ha’mazon
Lifting and Holding the Cup of Wine During Birkat Ha’mazon
The Recitation of Birkat Ha’mazon
With What Hand Does a Left-Handed Person Hold the Cup of Wine During Birkat Ha-mazon?
Using a “Defective” Cup of Wine if No More Wine is Available
Using a Cup From Which One Had Drunk for “Kos Shel Beracha”
When Should Birkat Ha’mazon be Recited Over a Cup of Wine?
Performing Netilat Yadayim with Cloudy Water
Must One Dry His Hands Before Washing Netilat Yadayim?
The Importance of Netilat Yadayim After Waking
The Beracha of Asher Yasar after Using the Bathroom
Giving Praise to Hashem Before Blessing Others
Studying The Laws of Berachot-When Eating Grapes & Peanuts
If a Person Mistakenly Recited “Al Ha’mihya” Instead of “Mezonot” Before Eating, or “Boreh Nefashot” Instead of “Al Ha’mihya” After Eating
If One Mistakenly Recited “Al Ha’mihya” Instead of Birkat Ha’mazon
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found