The Use of One’s Hand or Cutlery
- As previously mentioned, one of the 3 conditions to allow Borer – selection – on Shabbos is that the selection be done by hand rather than with an instrument (‘kli’).
- Included in this leniency is if one is using cutlery, so long as the cutlery is in effect an ‘extension of one’s hand’ and is being used merely eg to prevent one’s hands from becoming dirtied or to allow one to reach further than one could with one’s hand.
- However, if the cutlery performs the selection in a more efficient manner than one’s hand, selecting in this manner is forbidden. (SSK 3:49, fn 141 , Dirshu 319:63)
An Instrument Only Used Immediately Before Consumption
- SSK cites opinions that one may use an instrument which is specifically designed to perform an act of sorting immediately before consumption – for example, a strainer on the spout of a teapot which enables one to pour out the liquid whilst keeping the tea leaves in the pot, or a salt shaker which contains rice such that the lid effectively filters out the salt from the rice.
- However, he ultimately leans towards the strict opinion on these matters and rules that one should preferably not make use of such instruments (SSK 3:62, 66).
