Approximately two years ago, we at “Halacha Yomit” had discussed several pertinent laws of the forbidden work of selecting on Shabbat. Since we have been asked many questions about this topic by many members, we shall now revisit the subject by briefly discussing some details of the laws of the forbidden work of selecting.
As we have explained, selecting is prohibited on Shabbat unless three conditions are met: Firstly, one must select the “food” from the “waste” and not the opposite. Secondly, one must select by hand and not with the use of a utensil which is meant for selecting. Thirdly, one may only select in order to eat what he has selected “immediately” and not in order to eat it in a half-hour’s time.
When there is more Waste than Food
This that we have mentioned that one must select the “food” from the “waste” and not the opposite applies whether there is more food than waste or more waste than food; in any event, it is always forbidden to select the waste and only the food may be selected. One who selects waste from food transgresses a Torah prohibition of Shabbat desecration (Chazon Ovadia-Shabbat, Vol. 4, page 178). Thus, if there are many sunflower seeds mixed with some shells, it is forbidden to remove the shells and leave the seeds in the plate. Rather, one should remove the seeds and eat them in order to remove the food from the waste.
Selecting Food from Waste for Animals
Just as it is permissible to select food from waste by hand in order to eat immediately, it is likewise permissible to select food from waste in order to feed an animal or bird. The same would apply to one who needs to select food from waste in order to feed fish, for such selecting is not prohibited at all as long as one is doing it in order for animals to eat it immediately (ibid, page 186).
Removing Rotten Lettuce Leaves
Clearly, it is prohibited to remove rotten lettuce leaves or celery sticks from the good ones, for this constitutes selecting waste from food. Rather, one should merely select the good lettuce leaves from the rotten ones. Nevertheless, all this applies only when the lettuce leaves have already been removed from their stalk; however, if the leaves are still attached to the stalk and the rotten leaves are on the outside, one may remove them and dispose of them, for this is considered like peeling the rind off a fruit which, as we have previously explained, does not constitute a prohibition of selecting as long as this is being done in order to eat it immediately (ibid, page 189).
In the following Halacha, we shall, G-d-willing, briefly discuss some more details regarding the laws of selecting.
