Borer with a person
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Question
Introduction to the questions:
1] It is written that according to the ruling of Chabad Chassidut,
even within a single type of food there can be the prohibition of borer (selection).
For example, there are lettuce leaves that are moldy
and generally are not eaten.
If one removes them from the other leaves, this is considered borer.
Therefore, one must remove with his hand
only the good leaves from among the spoiled ones,
and only close to the meal,
and one must also be careful to remove
only what is needed for that meal.
2] It is written: "אפי' בני נש מן גו בני נש" (even human beings from among human beings).
(from the Jerusalem Talmud, Beitzah, chapter 1, halachah 10).
In light of these two sources,
practically speaking:
if there is a group of desirable people,
and within it there is a person who is undesired or out of place.
Each of the people is large and noticeable,
and the members of the group are not touching one another,
but the group is very large and is therefore considered mixed.
(This is similar to a one-and-a-half-liter bottle of drink
that is placed in a deep ice-cream freezer
along with dozens of other bottles;
it is certainly considered "mixed" despite its size).
The two questions:
1] If the person responsible for the group
politely, with no concern of causing embarrassment, asks the undesired person to step out of the group,
and he goes out by himself,
since he agrees that at this time he is not desired in this group,
then there is no physical act performed by the one in charge.
But does the person who left the group transgress the prohibition of borer?
2] If the undesired person
is a disabled, paralyzed individual and cannot leave on his own,
is it permitted for the person in charge
to take him out of this group?
Thank you.
1] It is written that according to the ruling of Chabad Chassidut,
even within a single type of food there can be the prohibition of borer (selection).
For example, there are lettuce leaves that are moldy
and generally are not eaten.
If one removes them from the other leaves, this is considered borer.
Therefore, one must remove with his hand
only the good leaves from among the spoiled ones,
and only close to the meal,
and one must also be careful to remove
only what is needed for that meal.
2] It is written: "אפי' בני נש מן גו בני נש" (even human beings from among human beings).
(from the Jerusalem Talmud, Beitzah, chapter 1, halachah 10).
In light of these two sources,
practically speaking:
if there is a group of desirable people,
and within it there is a person who is undesired or out of place.
Each of the people is large and noticeable,
and the members of the group are not touching one another,
but the group is very large and is therefore considered mixed.
(This is similar to a one-and-a-half-liter bottle of drink
that is placed in a deep ice-cream freezer
along with dozens of other bottles;
it is certainly considered "mixed" despite its size).
The two questions:
1] If the person responsible for the group
politely, with no concern of causing embarrassment, asks the undesired person to step out of the group,
and he goes out by himself,
since he agrees that at this time he is not desired in this group,
then there is no physical act performed by the one in charge.
But does the person who left the group transgress the prohibition of borer?
2] If the undesired person
is a disabled, paralyzed individual and cannot leave on his own,
is it permitted for the person in charge
to take him out of this group?
Thank you.
Answer
Shalom and blessings.
A person in a group is distinct and is not considered mixed.
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