1) The prohibition involves not only a mixture of food and waste, but also a mixture of two different types of food, one of which is desired at that moment, the other not. Even sorting a mixture of non-food items with different functions, such as cutlery, is included in the prohibition. In addition, even items which are not actually mixed, but merely attached or piled on one another, are also considered ''mixtures'' in terms of the prohibition of ''Borer'' (selecting). 2) Use of a utensil is only forbidden when it makes the actual process of separating food from waste more efficient, for example, a strainer, an apple corer or a vegetable peeler. However, using a utensil so as to avoid soiling one's hand, or to enable one to reach an item that can't be reached with one's hands, is permissible. For example, one may remove the fish from the bone with a fork, or peel an apple with a knife (because it is difficult with one's hands). 3) ''Immediately'' includes the time period normally used to prepare for a meal. For example, if a person usually begins preparing for Shabbat lunch three hours before the meal, sorting may be performed (with the required criteria) on food needed for the meal, at any time during that three hour period. Thus, in order to remove an act from within the framework of the prohibition, one must take the food (or desired item) from the waste (or undesired item), with one's hand (or an extension of the hand, like a fork), for immediate use (or the upcoming meal); an act incorporating these criteria is defined as the natural eating process, and is not similar to the prototype activity of Borer, listed by the Mishna. 4) When it comes to peeling vegetables or fruits, removing the waste from the food is permissible, because removing the food from the waste is impossible; peeling fruits and vegetables is not considered an act of ''Borer'' but rather the regular way one eats. 5) ''Mefarek'' - separating - is a ''Toldah'' - derivative - of the ''Av Melacha'' - primary category - activity forbidden on Shabbat which is ''Dosh'' - threshing, that is, the process of removing grain from its husk. Peeling the outer shell off a garlic is similar to threshing, in that it involves removing the garlic from its natural container, and therefore it is considered to be a ''Toldah'' of ''Dosh'' (derivative of threshing) and prohibited on Shabbat.

1) Therefore, cutlery that was mixed together after the evening meal may not be sorted to set the table for the morning meal, until preparations for that meal begin the next day.

אפילו במידי דלאו בר אכילה שייך איסור ברירה כגון בכלים וכיוצא בו דמה שהוא רוצה להשתמש בו עתה הוי כמו אוכל והשאר הוי כמו פסולת

1) Due to the prohibition of ''Borer'' - Selecting. 2) Regarding a water filter in the kitchen, if one would have drunk the regular tap water without the filter, then using the filter is permissible. Since the impurities do not reduce the water's drinkability, they are considered to be part of the liquid itself, and not a separate entity; therefore filtering them out is not considered an act of ''Borer'' (Shulchan Aruch, O''H, 319:10). 3) Any act of ''Kibus'' - laundering is prohibited as a ''Toldah'' (derivative) of the ''Av Melacha'' - prototype prohibited activity - ''Libun'' - bleaching - wool used for weaving. According to some, even running water through cloth in the process of drinking, is included in this prohibition. 4) Those who permit drinking through a cloth hold that since one's intention is not to wash the cloth, but rather to use it as a filter, it is not included in the prohibition of ''Laundering''. 5) Wringing water out of a fabric is considered part of the process of laundering because when the absorbed water, which certainly contains some dirt, is squeezed out, the garment is cleaner than it was before the water was removed. Therefore, it is forbidden to wring out any fabric that either absorbs or traps water.