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...
The Severity Of Transgressing Shabbat In Public
Is It Permissible To Create A Private Domain Using A Wall of People
How To Remove A Garment Stain On Shabbat
Is A Shofar Considered Muktze On Shabbat, and On Yom Tov- The Concepts of Keli SheMilachto LeIsur, LiTzorech Gufo, and LiTzorech Mikomo
Shaking The Water Out & Drying A Rain Coat On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Put Raw Mint Leaves Into A Keli Sheni on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Use A Crock Pot On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Water Flowers or Open A Window Near A Plant On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Add Hot Water From An Urn on Shabbat To A Pot Of Hamin On The Blech
Is It Permissible To Put Water Into A Warming Urn Right Before Shabbat Begins
Does Placing A Hot Pot On To A Wet Counter Bring A Transgression Of Cooking on Shabbat
Oil Versus Candle For Shabbat Lighting
Placing Rock Salt on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Dip Vessels In A Mikveh on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Use Insect Killing Spray on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found