Borer: Difference between revisions

#One is permitted to separate for other people as long as one does it for immediate use, with one’s hand, and food from the refuse. <ref>Rama 319:1 writes that it’s permissible to separate for others to eat. Mishna Brurah 319:6 clarifies that it’s permissible even if one is preparing for others but he himself isn’t eating from the food that was separated. See Chazon Ovadia Shabbat Vol. 4 page 183 </ref>

#One is permitted to separate for guests (or peel fruits) enough food that it should be presentable even if one knows that not all of the food will be eaten. <ref>Sh”t Rav Pealim 1:12 writes that it’s logical that it’s permissible to separate food to fill a plate or basket for guests even if the guests won’t eat all the food because one is separating for an immediate purpose of serving the guests respectfully. This is also the opinion of Ben Ish Chai (Beshalach 3), Or Letzion (vol 2 chap 31:3), and Shemirat [[Shabbat]] Kehilchata (chap 3:40 note 115) in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman.

Rav Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia Shabbat Vol. 4, pg 185-186 (footnote 7)) disagrees and says you can only separate the necessary amount for guests to eat.  </ref>

#It’s permitted to separate for animals as long as it’s for immediate use, with one’s hand, and one separates the food from the refuse. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:7 </ref>

==Clarification of the First Condition: Good from Bad==

*Chazon Ish explained that the Taz means that since the fly was contained in a separate mixture of liquid removing that mixture entirely and not separating within the mixture is permissible. According to this, a significant amount of liquid must be removed with the fly so that it can form it’s own mixture.

===Peeling===

*eggshells

#A utensil like a fork is permissible if it’s used as an extension to one’s hand, meaning it’s used not to get one’s hands dirty or in order to pick up a liquid but it doesn’t help one separate any better than if one did it with one’s hands. Some Sephardic authorities permit under all circumstances. <ref>Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in Sh”t Igrot Moshe O"C 1:126, Brit Olam (Borer #28), Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:45, and [[Shabbos]] Kitchen permit using utensils when they are used as because one can't touch it with one's hand (because of manners or the food is hot) but when it's used to aid in seperation, the utensils are forbidden. However, Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 3 pg 261) in name of [[Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef]], Menuchat Ahava (vol 2 7:7), and Sh"t Or Letzion (1:27 pg 68) permit it under all circumstances. Lastly, Rabbi Shlomo Amar in Sh"t Shema Shlomo 1:8 writes that it's preferable to be strict like the Igrot Moshe, however in cases of great need or if there's a doubt whether it's aidding the separation or it's for conveince, it's permissible. </ref>

#Some say that using a peeler is an issue of using a tool designated for Borer.<ref>39 Melachos (v. 2, p. 404) citing the Eglei Tal</ref>

===Coffee Filters and French Press===

#It is forbidden to use a French press on Shabbat. However, it is permitted to use a coffee filter on Shabbat, by placing the coffee grinds on the filter, and pouring the water through them. This is only true of the issue of Borer, however, it is forbidden to cook on Shabbat and so it would only be permitted to use a coffee if the water being used is a Kli Shelishi (according to those who allow using a Kli Shelishi).<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/asktherabbieretzhemdah/home/coffee-filter-on-shabbat Article on Eretz Chemda's Site] writes that it is permitted to use a coffee filter on Shabbat since it is similar to the case of a strainer used for wine in the Mishna Shabbat 137. However, it is forbidden to use a french press since that involves using a kli to separate a mixture.[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/855590/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-filtering-coffee-and-french-press-on-shabbos-and-yom-tov/ Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz] agreed that it is permitted to use the coffee filter based on Shulchan Aruch 319:9 but not a french press since that involves your action to separate the mixture.</ref>

#It is only permitted to separate with intent to eat the food immediately, while it’s forbidden to separate with intent to eat the food after some time even within the same day. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 319:2 rules that separating food in one’s hand for later in the day is considered like separating to store the food and one violates Borer Deoritta. </ref>

#Separating right before a meal is permissible even if one will only eat the food later in meal which may be after several hours. However, separating to eat food after the meal or in another meal is forbidden. <ref>Mishna Brurah 319:5 writes that separating with intent to eat the food after the meal or in another meal is forbidden. </ref>

#Some say that the time limit for separating food from other food has a longer time period that separating food from waste, however, Ashkenazim shouldn’t rely on this, and Sephardim shouldn’t rely on this unless there’s a great need. <ref>Rambam ([[Shabbat]] 8:13) writes that one violates Borer if one separates for later in the day such as separating in the morning with intent to eat in the evening. Bet Yosef (319:1-3; Bet Yosef is the author of S”A) explains that the Rambam holds that by separating two foods (one that’s wanted and one unwanted) one is permitted to separate even if one will eat it in the next 3-4 hours, whereas separating a food from a refuse is permitted to only immediately prior to a meal. [Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 3 pg 278) quotes Rabbi Moshe Hershler’s notes to Ramban (note 158) who explains that by food and refuse, separating makes the food edible and that’s only permissible if one eats it immediately, however by two foods, separating is only forbidden as it sets aside two foods and that only is forbidden if it’s stored away for a long time.] S”A 319:1-3 uses the same language of the Rambam which implies that S”A holds of the distinction he made in the words of the Rambam. So writes the Machasit HaShekel 319:6. However, Beiur Halacha (319:3 s.v. SheBirer) quotes the Tosefet [[Shabbat]] and Maaseh Rokeach who argue on the distinction of the Bet Yosef and the language of the Rambam is just imprecise. This is also the opinion of the Mishna Brurah 319:16. However, Rama 319:1 rules that it is only permitted to separate right before a meal, seemingly making no difference whether it’s separating between food and refuse or between two foods. So writes the Machasit HaShekel 319:6 (in explanation of Rama). Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 3 pg 278) brings two opinions on this issue and even though that in the footnote it sounds like it’s permissible because of a Sfek Safeka, he concludes by leaving it unresolved. </ref>

###It’s permissible to take full [[matzah]] boards from a box which has broken pieces in order to have two full boards for Lechem Mishna even if one does this by taking out one board at a time and putting back the broken boards. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:28 </ref>

###However, one may not take all the broken pieces out of a stack of [[matzah]]’s with whole and broken boards of [[matzah]] unless one plans on using all the [[matzah]] (broken and whole) for that meal. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:28 </ref>

##fresh and spoiled grapes have different qualities <ref>[[Shabbos]] Kitchen (pg 91) </ref>

##cooked and burnt meats have different qualities <ref>Mishna Brurah 319:15 </ref>

#One may not remove a drink bottle from a refrigerator where the bottles are jumbled together except for immediate use of drinking (or taking it out to lose its chill and then drink). <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:74 </ref>

#Ideally, one should eat all the food that was separated in preparation for the meal, however, if there are leftovers of food that was separated for the meal or one changed one’s mind not to eat, the food may be eaten later on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:75 </ref>

#However, it is permitted to take one cutlery at a time, dry it and then place it in it’s compartment. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:78 </ref>

#Certainly, it’s permissible to sort cutlery even from a mixture so that one can set the table for the meal that’s going to start immediately after sorting the cutlery. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 3:79 </ref>

===Taking holy items out of garbage===

==Borer by Mistake==

==Natural Borer==