Question:
I had a question regarding the halachos of borer on Shabbos.
Let’s say someone has a basket containing various plates, cups, and cutlery, and he wants to take out cups or forks that he needs for the upcoming meal. However, the cups are stacked together, or the forks are all enclosed together in a plastic bag, making it difficult to remove only the exact number that he intends to use.
Would it be permissible in that situation to remove the entire stack of cups or the entire bag of forks from the basket, and then, once it has been removed, take from it the number needed for the meal?
My question is that he is ultimately not going to use all of the cups in the stack or all of the forks in the bag. On the other hand, since it is difficult to access the exact amount while they are in the basket, and since the cups are stacked together or the forks are contained together in one bag, could the entire stack or bag be viewed as a single unit or object that he is selecting for use?
In other words, is removing the entire unit permissible even though, after removing it, he intends to use only some of its contents?
Answer:
Hello,
It is permitted. When you take out the bag of cups, it was in order to use it for now- to take some cups out of it. Once the bag is separated, it is not borer to take one cup from the other, and they are all one type.
Best wishes
