Note: The following three Melachot are presented together due to their similarity.

Melacha #6: ZOREH - WINNOWING Av Melacha: Separating chaff from grain by using the wind. (Using wind to scatter.)

Melacha #7: BORRER - SELECTING (SORTING)

Av Melacha: Removing sticks and stones from grain in order to improve grain.

Melacha #8: [9] M'RAKEID - SIFTING

Av Melacha: Sifting coarse flour from fine flour.

Principle in all 3 Melachot: Purifying a mixture of its undesirable elements and/or separating something from a mixture to sort.

Notes:

- These Melachot are not restricted to food. They also apply to silverware, toys, clothing, books, and anything that is mixed.

- "Good" in this context refers to the currently desired matter, and "bad" refers to the currently undesired matter (from the perspective of the person for whom it is being separated).

The Melachot consist of 3 independent elements:

1. Separating a mixture for future use or storage.

2. Separating the bad from the good in a mixture (even by hand).

3. Separating from a mixture with a special selecting utensil.

If any of these elements occur, the act is considered Melacha.

Since the principle of this Melacha is "purifying or separating from a mixture," the prohibition does not apply when either:

A. No mixture is involved, or

B. One is actually removing a bit of both elements of the mixture -- i.e. some of the good along with the bad, or

C. If in the selecting process, no purification is taking place, or

D. One is doing an act of eating (or using) the object rather than an act of purifying.

To explain:

A. "No mixture is involved." There are two types of mixtures:

1. A mixture consisting of many different objects, in which case the objects must:

a. Differ either in type, name, taste, or physical status (solid versus liquid). Differences in size alone do not render it a mixture, e.g. a bowl of sunflower seeds is not considered a mixture, and

b. Give the appearance of one unit rather than just several individual objects placed near each other. This is relative to the way it is perceived. A large crate of apples and oranges may be considered a mixture, but a small fruit bowl containing a few pieces of fruit, is not. So, too, a series of large items typically appear to be separate, and thus are not defined as a mixture.

One may un-mix a mixture in order to afterwards choose good or bad, e.g. spreading different pieces of silverware out on a large table.

2. If one unit consists of either many of the same edible objects (e.g. sweet and sour apples; roasted and cooked meat), or one edible object that has different parts (e.g. egg white and yolk), it is not considered a mixture. It would only be considered a mixture if it contains non-edible parts, e.g. a rotten prune among other prunes, or pits in a watermelon.

B. "Removing some of the good along with the bad."

Since the prohibition is selecting one particular object over another, it is permitted to remove undesirable material if one removes some good along with the bad -- i.e. removing a part of the mixture itself. Example: removing some chicken along with an (undesired) bone.

C. "No purification is taking place." Either because:

1. It consists of nothing essential: If a mixture consists of only bad (undesirable) parts, it is permitted to select, because nothing is being purified. For example, it is permitted to place a metal drain filter in a sink to filter garbage from dirty water, or

2. One removes an item from a mixture without "selecting" it (i.e. specifically "choosing" it). It is permitted to remove from a mixture (even for later use) when done without being specific about what is being removed i.e. taking whatever comes to one's hand.

D. One is doing an act of eating (or using) the object rather than an act of purifying.

This is permitted only when all the following conditions are met. (If even one condition is lacking, the act of selecting may be Chayav):

a. One removes the good (desired) from the bad (undesired). It is, therefore, prohibited to remove the bad from the good.

Exceptions:

(1) If the only way to get to the food is by initially removing the bad (e.g. peeling the shell off an egg or a banana), it is permitted to remove the bad from the good (when the other two conditions below are also fulfilled).

(2) It is permitted to select in one's mouth. Therefore, it is permitted to remove a chicken bone from one's mouth even before the meat is eaten.

(3) It is permitted to split a mixture into two large parts. It is also permitted to move around bad objects within a mixture in order to look for the good, providing that no bad becomes separated from the mixture.

If the item you are searching for is somewhere in a pile, then it is permitted if you know where in the pile it is, and just need to uncover it. It is forbidden if you do not know where in the pile it is.

b. The act must be done by hand and not with a utensil (B'yad). A utensil is defined as a device that separates in a way that would have been impossible if done by hand -- e.g. a sieve, sifter or strainer. Even removing the good from the bad with a special utensil is prohibited because of "weekday activity" (Uvdah D'chol). A knife or fork is considered an extension of the hand and is therefore permitted. Regarding a spoon, it is prohibited if the spoon improves on what could have been done by hand.

c. The selection must be for immediate use (Miyad). Ideally this means immediately prior to use, but in general practice the separation should not take place with a real interruption before the intended use. For example, to remove peanuts from a bowl of mixed nuts, one should plan on completing the task soon before serving.

It is, however, permitted to select earlier if this is the last practical moment to do so -- e.g. selecting before the meal begins for the sake of dessert to be eaten at the end of the meal. Furthermore, the intended [immediate] use must be an important use for this object, rather than just a minor use or need. Therefore selecting a food item to cool it in the fridge for later use is prohibited.