Using A Salt Shaker With Rice On Shabbat

The Daily Halacha Moment - Salt Shaker With Rice & Borer 🍚

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

May one have a salt shaker with rice in it on Shabbat?

Answer:

It is common practice to place grains of rice inside a saltshaker to absorb moisture and prevent the salt from clumping together. However, this raises a potential concern regarding the melachah (forbidden labor) of Borer (the prohibition of separating unwanted matter from wanted matter on Shabbat). The issue is that when one pours salt from the shaker, the grains of rice are held back while the salt is dispensed, which may appear similar to the act of separating (Borer).

The Sephardic Position: Permitted

According to Sephardic poskim, it is permitted to use a saltshaker containing rice on Shabbat. There are two main reasons for this leniency:

1. The Saltshaker is Not a Borer Utensil – The laws of Borer prohibit using a specialized strainer or sieve to separate unwanted items from desired ones. However, a regular saltshaker is not classified as a Borer utensil, since its primary function is simply to dispense salt, not to actively separate substances.

   
   

2. No Intent to Perform Borer – The act of shaking the salt is done with the intent of seasoning food, not for the purpose of separation. Since the rice remains inside the shaker incidentally and is not deliberately removed or sorted, this does not constitute a direct violation of Borer.

Thus, Sephardic authorities rule that one may continue using a saltshaker with rice inside on Shabbat without concern. [1] Some Ashkenazim are stringent and don’t use such a salt shaker on Shabbat, one should follow one’s custom. [2]

Sources:

[1]. Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat, vol. 4, p. 216; Menuchat Ahavah, vol. 2, 7:40. See also Az Nidberu 2:14; 4:23:3; Ashrei HaIsh, vol. 2, 25:44; Halichot Chaim, 1:303; Halichot Shabbat B’Shabbat, vol. 1, p. 547.

[2]. Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata, 3:60 (63 in new edition)- which says that it is good to be stringent; The Shabbat Kitchen “Artscroll” p. 111.

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