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...
"Zugot’- Is The Concept of Avoiding 2 (Pairs) Proper or A Myth
Is It Permissible To Bury a Woman Next to a Man If Other Than Their Spouse
Blood On The Hands From Performing A Mitzvah
Must One Attempt to Flee Before Sacrificing His Life
Is It Permissible To Wear Gloves; Under The Chupa, Turning The Scroll of A Sefer Torah, or While Making Shechita
Is It Permissible For Father & Sons, Rabbis and Students, Etc to Go To The Mikveh Together
Taking A Portion When Making Hallah
Is It Permissible To Shave, Cut Nails, or Take A Hair Cut on Rosh Chodesh
Preferred Rituals When Reciting Birkat Ha’levana
Hitting Older Children, and Causing Others To Become Angry
Is It Permissible To Put On Tefillin At Sunset If One Forgot Earlier In The Day
Answering "Baruch Hu U’Baruch Shemo"
Pronouncing and Saying Amen
Burying a Newborn or Stillborn Infant
Notifying Somebody of a Relative's Death
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found