Definitions
ביד
Using your hand to separate.
3 condtions of Borer
ביד (1
מיד (2
אוכל מתוך פסולת (3
Purpose of Borer in the Beis Hamikdash
They needed to be sorted - this is the act of בורר
Can you peel a cucumber for a salad? With a peeler? With a knife?
With a peeler - אסור
With a knife - מותר - you don’t need to remove good with bad since it’s סילוק
4 categories of mixtures
Category 1 - interspersed and difficult to identify each element
Category 2 - attached mixture - type of mixture where the components are generally naturally attached to each other - even though it is not actually mixed, generally it is naturally attached and is considered a mixture
Category 3 - “foods” arranged close to each other - things that appear to be a mixture - even though they are not actually attached, since they are arranged close to one another on the same plain and are close to each other it is considered a mixture
Category 4 - interfused - small dry item that is in liquid
מיד
You are taking it for immediate use
What do the laws of borer apply to
Everything both edible and non edible items/objects.
My family finished eating and want to give out benchers from my assorted mix of benchers.
Can I take out the bad benchers? Why? (Be specific what is ok what isn't)
1. Mixture - yes
2. Two types - yes (different functions)
3. Conditions of בורר
מיד - yes (that meal)
ביד - yes
אמ"פ - no
Bottom Line -Asur
Are you allowed to use a sink strainer? Why?
It is permitted since you are taking פסולת from פסולת
אוכל מתוך פסולת
You are taking the good from the bad
If Yosef is looking for his coat in pile of other coats what should he do if he knows where his coat is? What if he doesn't know where it is? And why?
If you know your coat is in the pile Yosef can simply remove the top coats to access your coat סילוק
If you don't know where your coat is (piles were moved) then you should not remove the coats - rather you should mix the coats around without removing them (like stirring cholent).
A guest comes over. You know that your family eats 50 cherries. You want to separate cherries in a bowl mixed with berries. You don't know how many cherries your guest will eat. How many cherries can you separate?
R’ Shimon Eider says you are allowed to take enough that guests would take doubles (of your average estimated amount they would eat). Even if your guests don't eat all of them, it still considered מיד.
Are you allowed to use a nutcracker to open nuts on Shabbos?
Yes because a nutcracker isn’t a כלי so it’s מותר
ידא אריכתא
Using a fork as an extension of your hand.
Miyad: How soon after taking the good must I eat/use it? (2/3 meforshim)
Chazon ish - If you are in a meal- you can do anything for that meal no matter how long the meal
מרדכי- says שעה אחת even an hour before the meal- you can sort/select
רמ׳׳א - You can only start selecting right before the meal (as you are sitting down at it)
Can I take out raisins from challah? (Be specific) If not How can I fix the issue?
1. Mixture - yes
2. Two types - yes
3. Conditions of בורר
מיד - yes (that meal)
ביד - yes
אמ"פ - no
What are my options? (how can I fix)
1) Remove raisin with a piece of challah attached
2) Don’t rely on היתר of pulling away challah from label.
3) Spit out raisins while eating
What are potential issues with eating oranges on Shabbos? How to solve them?
Potential issues:
1) פסולת מתוך אוכל
2) Removing the peel
3) Removing the “white” Removing pits
How to solve these issues:
1. Peel with knife or with hands - מיד Use
2. When peeling for immediate use one does not have to take some “bad” with the peel
3. White part permitted to be removed while accessing like peel
4. Seeds should be spit out and not removed
בורר בכלי
A specific Item used for separating Usur on Shabbos
What are the 3 ways to circumvent Borer.
1) Un-mixing the mixture [Mixture #1 & Mixture #3]
2) To remove bad with good [Mixture #2 & Mixture #4]
3) Ask if someone else wants your “bad”
What does the Mishna Brura say about Borer
That if you don't review it well then you will violate Shabbos.
If a father takes out some red candies from a bag before going to shul and then gives them to his son during קריאת התורה. Is he Over the lav of borer? If so what could he have done to so it wouldn't be borer.
Yes it is and to fix it he could randomly take out some candies without looking