Taking a dead fish out of a fish tank

Hi,

One may remove a dead fish from a tank, where its presence harms the other fish. However, one may not filter the fish from the rest of the contents, so one must take out water with it.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:239)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting dishes in the dishwasher on Shabbos

Hi,

One may clear dirty dishes from the table and put them in a dishwasher on Shabbos, even though that will expedite the process of washing them after Shabbos. This is not called "preparing for after Shabbos"; it is simply part of the process of cleaning up the room so that people can sit there.

However: One may not sort the dishes into the spots they will occupy in the dishwasher during washing. Aside from the prohibition against sorting, one may not prepare for after Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74: Rechitzah 4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Clothing of different colours

Hi,

The Shabbat prohibition against separating types of items which are found in a mixture applies not only to food, but also to non-food items, such as clothing.

Garments which are identical, but of different colours, are considered to be of different "types".

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:Boreir 10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Peeling apples on Shabbos

Hi,

One may peel apples right before eating them; similarly, one may remove the skin from fish right before eating it. This must be done right before eating; although the peel and skin are edible, one's intent is to dispose of them.

That which is inedible, such as an eggshell, has the same rules as a skin one does not intend to eat.

One may remove the skin from chicken long before serving/eating, though; the skin is considered part of the chicken itself, despite one's intent.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:Boreir 8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

De-boning fish on Shabbos

Hi,

Because removal of bones from fish constitutes an act of boreir (selection), which is prohibited on Shabbos, one may not pick bones out of fish before eating it on Shabbos. Instead, one would need to eat the fish, and spit out the bones.

However: Where this is not possible, such as in feeding children, one may remove the bones right before eating.

The same applies in removing watermelon seeds.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:Boreir 7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The sink drain

Hi,

One may rinse a plate in the sink on Shabbat without concern for filtering in the drain of the sink; the food remains in the drain, and the liquid is not being separated from any solid.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74 Boreir 4)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Draining liquid from a mixture on Shabbos

Hi,

On Shabbat, one may pour liquid out of a container which holds both solid and liquid in an attempt to get rid of the liquid, and one may use the lid to hold back the solid from falling out, so long as one leaves some liquid in the container. This is not a prohibited act of boreir [ "separating"], because the mixture yet remains.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:Boreir 1)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Slotted Spoons on Shabbat

Hi,

May I use a slotted spoon on Shabbat, to serve a salad which contains liquid?

One may not sort food from dross on Shabbat, unless one follows these three rules:
• Take the food you want, leaving behind the food you do not want;
• Take the food for immediate consumption;
• Do not use an implement which is designated for use in sorting.

Because of the last rule, some authorities disqualify a slotted spoon. However, some permit its use where one does not pause to let the liquid drain. Others are still more lenient, permitting use of a slotted spoon if the liquid being removed is normally eaten.

The same rules would apply to a fork, if the fork was used for straining. However, it would not apply to a fork which used solely to stab food and withdraw it.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 319:1; Shevisas haShabbos Meraked 11; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 3:54; Or l'Tzion Teshuvot 2:31:10; Avnei Yashfeh 2:27:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Washing fruit on Shabbat

Hi,

One may wash dirty fruit on Shabbat just before eating it, and this is not included in the prohibition against boreir [sorting] even though one separates the fruit from the dust.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:125)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a fork on Shabbat

Hi,

Background:
One may not sort items on Shabbat, separating desired items from items that are not desired right now. This is called 'boreir'.
However, one may sort a mixture by taking the items he does want right now, assuming he will use them now and assuming he does not use a tool (like a slotted spoon) which is normally used to sort things.

The ruling:
One may use a fork to take solid food from a liquid, such as pickles from a jar, so long as one selects the items he wants, and one uses them now. Although the fork does technically sort as it leaves the liquid behind, one does not intend to sort - the goal is simply to take the pickles - and the fork is not considered a tool normally used for sorting things.

One would not be permitted to use the fork for this if he did, in fact, intend to strain the solid, removing the liquid via the tines of the fork.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124)