Borer: Difference between revisions

#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.] Shulchan Aruch O.C. 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. Machasit HaShekel 319:6 notes this. 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. Machasit HaShekel 319:6 (in explanation of Rama) agrees. 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>

==Separating non-food items==

#One may not select clothes from the cabinet except right before using them, however, it’d be forbidden to take them out of the closet at night for the next morning.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 3:68. See, however, 39 Melachos (vol 2, pg 388) who writes that clothes in a closet is not considered a mixture. </ref>

#One shouldn’t remove a book from a bookcase except right before one plans on reading it. It’s permissible to remove the book, read a little in it immediately and leave it for later.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 3:69 </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>

#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>

#It’s permissible and preferable that each person who prays to return their Siddur so that it doesn’t cause those who have to clean up to be involved in separating.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata (chapter 3 note 239) </ref>

#One may not sort different books in a pile to put them back on the shelf, however, if one wishes to clear the table, one may pick up each book one at a time and place it on the shelf in it’s appropriate shelf.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 3:81 </ref>

#If one finds a paper with Torah written on it in the garbage, one may remove the papers and read them a little right away. However, if one finds [[Tefillin]] or [[Tefillin]] straps in a garbage, one may remove them.<ref>Or Letzion (vol 2 chap 31:2) writes that one is permitted to remove papers that have [[kedusha]] from a garbage if one uses it right away since that is considered removing good from bad with one’s hand for immediate use. However, if one finds [[Tefillin]] and it’s impossible to use the [[Tefillin]] on [[Shabbat]], one is still permitted because one is considered as having separated for an immediate purpose of giving respect to the [[Tefillin]]. Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 3 pg 333) writes that one doesn’t have to read from the pages. </ref>

#In a fruit bowl, one may remove a grape sitting on top of a plum in order to eat the plum, however if the top grape is rotten, it’s forbidden to remove it, rather one may spill out the whole bowl and pick out the plum.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 3:41 </ref>

#One may not strain fruit juice from pulp (the fruit’s flesh) if either most people in the world are particular to have juice strained or the particular person straining it is particular.<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 3:53 </ref>

#One may wash off grapes if one is only doing so for cleanliness, however, one may not do so if one's intention is to remove some unwanted substance it is forbidden.<ref>Sh"t Shevet HaLevi 1:52(2)</ref>