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...
Sisit: The Minimum Length of the Strings
Sisit-If the String of the Tallit Becomes Torn
Sisit: May One Use Sisit Belonging to Others
Sisit: Using Sisit Made of Cotton and Silk
Sisit: The Proper Color and Fabric for a Tallit
Sisit-Must a Sisit and Tallit Be Made of Wool
Sisit: The Proper Intent When Donning a Tallit
Sisit: May One Person Recite the Beracha on the Tallit for Everyone?
Sisit: How to Properly Put on a Tallit Gadol
May a Married Woman Pour Wine for a Guest?
Supporting Torah Study – The Yissachar-Zevulun Partnership
Rabbenu Gershom’s Edict Banning Polygamy
Asara Be’Tebet That Falls on Friday
If a Host Tells a Guest to Leave
Is it Permissible to make a small sin to avert a Big Sin?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found