1) If one has a mixture of different items and wants to sort them, according to some Poskim the entire mixture can be strewn onto the floor or the table to cause all the parts of the mixture to separate from each other, and then after they are all no longer "in a mixture" the ones that are wanted may be picked up and sorted, as there is no prohibition against sorting individual items. (See Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 74; Borer: 11 where Rav Moshe Zatzal writes that this is a good idea to do. See also Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa Perek 3 footnote 6 quoting Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal ruling this way)
Other Poskim prohibit doing this, and maintain that the scattering of the pile to cause it to no longer be "in a mixture" is in itself an act of Borer. (See Sefer Ayil Meshulash Perek 9 footnote 82 quoting Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita)
2) Thus, for example, if after finishing a Shabbos meal one has a pile of freshly washed forks, spoons and knives in a mixture and wants to now put them away in their proper places in the cutlery drawer, or wants to set the table for the next Shabbos meal, this pile may not be sorted as it isn't for immediate use.
If, however, the entire pile is scattered on the table and is no longer in a mixture, according to Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zichronam L'Vracha, each individual piece of cutlery can be picked up and placed in its proper place in the drawer or next to the table setting.
According to Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita, this cannot be done; only immediately before the meal is going to be eaten may the desired cutlery be picked up and the table set.
For Halacha L'ma'aseh, of course, each individual should consult their Rav.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Are you allowed to use the rollup stick deodorants on shabbos?
Answer:
No.
The roll ons that are liquid are permitted according to many poskim as nothing is getting "smeared", rather the ball is simply releasing the liquid.
The solid sticks however, are like bars of soap, and when you use them they become smeared, and is prohibited due to it being memarayach (smearing) a Tolda of the Melacha of Memachek (smoothing).
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
"Sometimes a person is in such pain that it makes it impossible for him to daven or learn Torah.
It is possible that at that moment, Hashem prefers to see how one accepts his pain over his prayer and study!"
Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
