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...
Determining the Yartzeit of Somebody Who Passed Away During Adar Rishon
How to Determine the First Yartzeit During a Leap Year
When Should A Mourner Begin To Sit Shiva If Remaining Out Of Town Away From The Place of The Funeral and Burial
Is It Permissible To Place Memorial Tomb Stones At The Graves of Tzadikim
Visiting A Grave Twice In One Day, and Reciting A Pasuk At A Grave
Yichud- (Series Conclusion) Can A Stranger Be Alone With A Mother And Daughter
Yichud- Is It Permissible For A Man and Lady To Be Alone In The Back of A Limousine or Ambulance
Yichud- How The Laws of Yichud Apply In An Office
Yichud- Can A Young Boy's Presence Protect Against Yichud
Yichud- Can A Young Girl Also Protect Against Yichud As A Wife Does Through The Leniency of ‘Ishto Imo’
Yichud- Some Questions and Exceptions On ‘Ishto Mishamarto’- (The Leniency When A Wife is With Her Husband)
Yichud- Is It Permissible For A Lady To Be Alone With A Male Doctor
Yichud- Is It Permissible for A Man and A Woman To Be Secluded In A Car
Yichud- Is It Permissible To Ride In An Elevator Alone A With A Lady
Yichud- Can An Unmarried Female Baby Sitter Be Alone Watching Young Boys
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found