Maisach

From Halachipedia

Definition

  1. The melacha of meisach is to mount the warp threads on the loom to enable the weft threads to be passed over and under successive warp threads. The warp threads are the long, traditionally placed vertically, threads which are set up to establish the skeleton of the fabric. Once the warp threads are set up, the shorter weft threads, traditionally placed horizontally perpendicular to the warp threads, are passed over and under the warp threads alternatively.[1]
  2. It is possible to violate this melacha whether one sets up the warp strings on a simple weaving frame or a sophisticated weaving loom.[2]

Toladot

  1. A toldah of Meisach is shovet. Shovet is to beat the warp threads already mounted to prevent them from becoming tangled or stuck to one another.[3] It seems that the general purpose of shovet is the same as meisach, to arrange the warp threads for weaving.[4]

Sources

  1. Rambam (Shabbos 9:17), Aruch HaShulchan 340:12
  2. Rabbi Ribiat (p. 764) assumes this because the actions involved both fit the definition of meisach.
  3. Rambam (Shabbos 9:18)
  4. Rashi (Shabbos 75 s.v. shovet). Though, based on Rashi, it is possible to suggest that Rashi assumes shovet is synonymous with meisach, unlike the Rambam who considers it a toldah. See Lechem Mishna 9:16 who suggests that Rashi and Rambam argue how to define mesiach.