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We are beginning Klal 23, which discusses menapeitz. Menapeitz does not have many practical contemporary applications, but we will discuss the concept.
The sefer Maaseh Oreg was an exceptional sefer published in the 1980’s by Dayan Gukovitzky. He spent time researching the process of producing a garment as it was made at the times of Chazal, clarifying the many mishnayos, Gemaras and other sources which discuss the garment making process.
Dayan Gukovitzky explains that it is a four-way machlokes in understanding the definition of the melacha of menapeitz, but none of these opinions are relevant nowadays. After the fleece is removed from the sheep (gozeiz) and thoroughly cleaned (melabein), there are still thorns and burrs embedded in the fleece, and the fleece is very tightly held together, making the fibers unusable for spinning. The next step was menapeitz, which fixes these problems and readies the fibers for spinning. Before menapeitz they would also place the fleece into sulfuric acid which would cause these impurities to break apart.
There are a few opinions as to how this melacha was performed. In many cases, all 4 were done, and the machlokes is which part is the melacha vis-a-vis Shabbos.
- The Rambam writes that menapeitz was the process of beating the fleece with sticks in order to dislodge or break apart these thorns, and the fibers. There are four outcomes to beating the fleece: a) crushing the thorns made brittle from the sulfuric acid, b) beating out sand and dust, c) crushing any dirt or material which is holding the lock of fleece together, and d) breaking apart the hairs of the fleece.
- According to Rashi, menapeitz is separating the fibers of a lock of wool by hand, which will cause any impurities to fall out on their own, and loosen the hair to prepare for spinning.
- According to the Meiri, menapeitz is the equivalent of carding or combing. They would take two fine-tooth combs, place a lock of wool in between them, and pull in opposite directions (carding). Any impurities would be removed, the fibers would be loosened and
- Next, they would perform combing, where the wool was placed between two sets of taller teeth. These teeth would hold the wool in place while another set of teeth would comb through it and remove any final impurities.
