Review of Halachos of Borer
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parashas Bereishis; Mevorchim Chodesh Marcheshvan; Rosh Chodesh is on Sunday and Monday
28 Tishrei, 5787
October 9, 2026
CURRENT TOPIC
Review of Halachos of Borer
LECHEM MISHNEH: DOUBLE PORTION L'KAVOD SHABBOS KODESH
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh
1) Photographs may not be sorted on Shabbos to place them in order into a photo album or into designated piles.
A pile of papers that are out of order may not be sorted on Shabbos to make them in order of pages or in order of topics, unless it is being done to use them in their proper order immediately.
2) If one has a pile of two foods or objects in front of them (e.g. a pile of raisins and peanuts) and is only interested in one of them (the peanuts), but a friend there with him is interested in the other item (the raisins) it is permitted in this instance to remove the item that he is not interested in, as since his friend wants it, it is considered “Derech Achila, the normal way of eating” as for the friend it is Ochel M’Toch P’soles, taking the good from the bad, and not a prohibited act of Borer. (See Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa Perek 3:7 and footnote 13 quoting Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal)
Of course, it must have the other two conditions for permissible borer: it be separated without utensils and the friend must also eat it [or use it] immediately.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) If one has two foods or objects in front of them (e.g. a bowl of chicken soup containing vegetables) and is currently interested in only one of them (the soup), but will be interested in the second item (the vegetables) as soon as the first item has been consumed, according to some Poskim it is still forbidden to remove the second item, rather the item that is currently desired must be taken. (Ruling of HaRav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal quoted in Sefer Hilchos Shabbos of Rav Shimon Eider Zatzal, Hilchos Borer footnote148.)
2) Other Poskim, however, rule that in the above case, both items are considered being eaten immediately, and thus it would be permitted to remove the second item from the first. (Ruling of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal quoted in Sefer Ayil Meshulash Perek 6:14. See also Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa Perek 3:65)
For Halacha L’ma’aseh, of course, each person must consult their own Rav.