Q. . Regarding mixtures as they pertain to the Melacha of Borer (sorting), I have a few questions.
1) -If I have a challah (bread) in the freezer among other food items, is it considered part of a mixture so that I cannot take it out at night for the day meal? does it matter if I can see it upon opening the freezer?

A. If the challah is separate from other items that are different and stands by itself, there is no problem in taking it out of the freezer at night.

2) – If that challah is just on a shelf with other challahs of a different sort (like whole wheat, spelt , etc, ) is it a mixture? can I take out the specific one I want at night for the day meal?

A. In this particular case it is a mixture and it cannot be taken out unless one is to use immediately.

3) – If I have a pile of dinner plates under a pile of soup bowls in my cupboard, is it a mixture? do I have to wait until right before the meal if I want to use the dinner plates only?

A. In this particular case since the plates are easily recognizable and different and they are not mixed, there is no issue of ‘Borer’ (see next question).

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a