Borer, Tearing Packages, Mixing Eggs with Tahini, Imitating a Rabbi, a Silver Wedding Ring
Question
Hello and blessings, I have several questions:
1. Regarding the melachah of borer — if one takes something out of a suitcase and then it turns out that one wanted to take out something else, must one make use of the item that was taken out by mistake? The same question applies to a food item that was taken out of the refrigerator and then one changes one’s mind and does not want to eat it: is one obligated to eat it?
2. Is it permissible on Shabbat to tear a package that is colored in several colors, if the tear is along the color transitions? And if it was torn by mistake, is it permissible to eat the food?
3. Is it permissible on Shabbat to mix food such as mashed eggs with tahini, or is there a prohibition involved?
4. I am a graphic designer, and a few years ago a client asked me to prepare a clip in which someone portrays a very well-known rabbi and great Torah scholar, as if he is answering questions that are being asked of him. In the clip they imitated the rabbi, and it looked very real. They told me that they were doing this for a family program and out of appreciation for that rabbi, who was a great leader of the generation. But I felt somewhat uneasy, wondering whether perhaps there was an element of disrespect in it. They also showed it on a screen to the whole family. This is a very God-fearing family. Is there any concern about this? That rabbi passed away years ago; do I need to ask forgiveness at his grave?
5. My wedding ring, made of pure gold, disappeared, and I bought a silver ring instead. My husband is concerned that perhaps this is a problem and that it must be pure gold. Is there any reason for concern?
Thank you very, very much!!!!
1. Regarding the melachah of borer — if one takes something out of a suitcase and then it turns out that one wanted to take out something else, must one make use of the item that was taken out by mistake? The same question applies to a food item that was taken out of the refrigerator and then one changes one’s mind and does not want to eat it: is one obligated to eat it?
2. Is it permissible on Shabbat to tear a package that is colored in several colors, if the tear is along the color transitions? And if it was torn by mistake, is it permissible to eat the food?
3. Is it permissible on Shabbat to mix food such as mashed eggs with tahini, or is there a prohibition involved?
4. I am a graphic designer, and a few years ago a client asked me to prepare a clip in which someone portrays a very well-known rabbi and great Torah scholar, as if he is answering questions that are being asked of him. In the clip they imitated the rabbi, and it looked very real. They told me that they were doing this for a family program and out of appreciation for that rabbi, who was a great leader of the generation. But I felt somewhat uneasy, wondering whether perhaps there was an element of disrespect in it. They also showed it on a screen to the whole family. This is a very God-fearing family. Is there any concern about this? That rabbi passed away years ago; do I need to ask forgiveness at his grave?
5. My wedding ring, made of pure gold, disappeared, and I bought a silver ring instead. My husband is concerned that perhaps this is a problem and that it must be pure gold. Is there any reason for concern?
Thank you very, very much!!!!
Answer
Hello and blessings
1. You are not obligated to use it.
2. It is permissible.
3. If the tahini causes the eggs to stick together, it is forbidden. If it is very liquid and not sticky, it is permissible.
4. There is no need to ask forgiveness.
5. Everything is fine. Even for the marriage ceremony itself there is no obligation whatsoever that the ring be gold. And after the wedding there is no obligation at all to have a ring.
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