Borer - Utensils

QUESTION: Do the halachos of Borer (sorting on Shabbos) only apply to food or do they apply to a mixture of utensils as well?

ANSWER: The Taz (OC 319:12) points out that the cases of Borer discussed in Shulchan Aruch are all in regard to food. Therefore, he initially suggests that the restrictions of Borer are limited to food items. However, he then points out that Rashi (Shabbos 74b) applies the halachos of borer in the context of building a barrel, an oven, and a wicker basket (non-food related cases). He therefore concludes that borer applies to non-food items as well. The Mishnah Berurah (319:15) writes that the later poskim accepted this conclusion of the Taz and therefore one must be careful not to separate mixtures of clothing or utensils. Items which are not used interchangeably are considered different items; if they are jumbled together in a pile, they may not be sorted. For example, Igros Moshe (OC 4:74 Hilchos Borer 10) writes that one may not sort different colored shirts if you are particular to wear only a specific color. Even though the shirts are similar in every other way, since you are particular about which one you want to wear, they are viewed as a mixture of wanted and unwanted items.

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