Removing the Chicken Skin
Menucha Magazine | February 22, 2024
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Removing the Chicken Skin

Menucha Magazine | December 10, 2025

“Which piece would you like,” asked Imma at the Friday night seuda as she brought the serving plate of chicken pieces next to her son Menashe.

“I’d like a leg,” replied Menashe.

After Imma put the chicken leg on the plate, Menashe looked at it and said, “For some reason this chicken skin does not look so appetizing. I will remove it.” So he took a fork and a knife and began removing the chicken skin.

“Wait!” shouted his brother Chaim, “You are doing Borer!”

“Why is that Borer?” asked Menashe, “I am just taking off the skin.”

“Exactly! Taking off the skin is like removing the bad part from the good part!” said Chaim.

Question: Is Chaim right?

Hints & Answers

SHMIRAS SHABBOS: HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l teaches: “The skin of a chicken that is suitable for eating is considered to be a part of the meat. [Removing this skin] is like cutting off a piece from a large piece of meat”. [Source: Sefer Teshuvos of HaRav Moshe Feinstein (compiled by R. Shimon D. Eider), Borer, 8] R. Shimon Eider writes that the chicken skin may be removed with the eating utensils [Preferably, during or close to the time of the meal]. [Sefer Hilchos Shabbos by R. Shimon Eider, X F 11, p.167)]

RHYME: “another”.

RIDDLES: Reading Megillat Esther. In NY the Megilla is read on the 14th of Adar, while in Yerushalayim it is read on the 15th of Adar.

*Note: Menucha’s answer are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha.

“Which piece would you like,” asked Imma at the Friday night seuda as she brought the serving plate of chicken pieces next to her son Menashe.

“I’d like a leg,” replied Menashe.

After Imma put the chicken leg on the plate, Menashe looked at it and said, “For some reason this chicken skin does not look so appetizing. I will remove it.” So he took a fork and a knife and began removing the chicken skin.

“Wait!” shouted his brother Chaim, “You are doing Borer!”

“Why is that Borer?” asked Menashe, “I am just taking off the skin.”

“Exactly! Taking off the skin is like removing the bad part from the good part!” said Chaim.

Question: Is Chaim right?

Hints & Answers

SHMIRAS SHABBOS: HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l teaches: “The skin of a chicken that is suitable for eating is considered to be a part of the meat. [Removing this skin] is like cutting off a piece from a large piece of meat”. [Source: Sefer Teshuvos of HaRav Moshe Feinstein (compiled by R. Shimon D. Eider), Borer, 8] R. Shimon Eider writes that the chicken skin may be removed with the eating utensils [Preferably, during or close to the time of the meal]. [Sefer Hilchos Shabbos by R. Shimon Eider, X F 11, p.167)]

RHYME: “another”.

RIDDLES: Reading Megillat Esther. In NY the Megilla is read on the 14th of Adar, while in Yerushalayim it is read on the 15th of Adar.

*Note: Menucha’s answer are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha.

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