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...
Purim- Is A Megilah Considered Kasher If It Has Nekudot, Taamim, Pictures, or If It Contains The Berachot
Are Ladies Obligated In Hearing Parashat Zachor
Purim- Meat and Bread at the Seuda
When Should The Bar Mitzva Be If Either; There Are 2 Months of Adar That Year, Or If Born In A Year With 2 Months Of Adar
Purim- If One Forgot Al Hanisim in the Amidah or Birkat Hamazon
Purim- Can You Put 2 Mishloach Manot Into One Basket
Purim- Is It Permissible To Work Or Get Hair Cuts On Purim
Purim- Is the Individual Mitzvah Fulfilled If A Mishloach Manot Is Collectively Given By A Group
Purim- What Constitutes The Required 2 Mishloach Manot
Purim- Seudat Purim When Purim Falls Out On A Friday
Purim Day Message 5764 (2004)
Purim- Is The Megilah Considered Muktze On Shabbat
Purim- Writing - Handling - Reading - and Hearing The Megilah
Putting on Tefilin and Tallit at Home before Going to Bet Knesset
The Proper Kavana When Donning Tefilin
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found