#290: The Condition of “Ochel Mitoch Pesolet” - Defining Ochel
1. The third condition necessary to permit borer on Shabbat is that one must separate the “food” (ochel) from the “waste” (pesolet), and not vice-versa (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 319:1). According to most poskim, “food” refers to the part of the mixture that one wants to use at that time, and “waste” refers to the part of the mixture that one does not want at that time, even if it is also edible food (Rema, R. Ovadia, and others).
2. Most poskim hold that a mixture that involves one type of food is not subject to “food” and “waste” even if one only wants one part of it. For example, a pile of big and small pieces of the same type of fish or chicken is not included in this rule of taking the “ochel” from the “pesolet.” Therefore, one may remove the pieces one does not want (Rema, O.C. 319:3; Mishnah Berurah 319:15).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
