Memachaik
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The Mishnah in Masechet Shabbat (73a) lists memachaik as one of the 39 Avot Melachot.
Definition
- The melacha of memachek is defined as removing the roughness of a surface by smoothing or scraping after tanning. For example, scraping hairs off a piece of leather [1] or using sandpaper to smooth wood [2]
In the Mishkan
- In the mishkan, memachaik was performed to smooth the ram’s hides by removing the hairs as part of the processing of the leather [3]
Toladot
Mimareach
- One of the toladot of this melacha is mimareach-smoothing not by eliminating surface, but by spreading something over the surface. [4]
- Mimareach doesn't apply in a case that the substance being spread is absorbed. [5] According to some poskim it doesn't apply if it will be washed away immediately[6]
Practical Issues
Brushing Teeth
Cosmetics
see Cosmetics page
Food
- It is permitted to smear something over a piece of bread, such as butter onto bread. [7]
Cleaning Shoes
- One should not use a knife to scrape the mud off of leather shoes since you will inevitably smooth the leather. [8]
Links
References
- ↑ Rashi 73a, Rambam Hilchot Shabbat 11:5
- ↑ Gemara Shabbat 75b, Rambam Shabbat 11:6
- ↑ Yerushalmi Shabbat 7:3, 39 Melachot Rabbi Ribiat pg. 913.
- ↑ Rashi Shabbat 146a, Rambam Hilchot Shabbat 11:6
- ↑ Magen Avraham 316:24 writes that memareach only applies when you intend to spread one item on top of another. Accordingly, it doesn’t apply if the substance is absorbed. Mishna Brura 316:49 and Aruch Hashulchan 316:32 rule likewise.
- ↑ Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Sh”t Yabea Omer 4:30 about toothpaste and Yechave Daat 2:50 about soap) and Rav Soloveitchik (Nefesh Harav pg. 168) extend this to a case where the substance will be washed away immediately.
- ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:58.
- Darchei Moshe 321:3 quotes the opinion of the Mordechai that just like the melacha of ibud, tanning, does not apply to food neither does Memachaik. Midirabanan there is ibud on foods, and this would be true for Memachaik as well. However, in the Shulchan Aruch 321:19, the Rama writes that if the food can be eaten without the smearing it is permissible. He adds that those who are stringent, are blessed. Mishna Brura 321:82 says that it is permissible to spread something over a piece of bread. In Biur Halacha “tavo alav bracha,” he adds another reason to be lenient based on the Smak that if you don’t intend to smooth but just want to cover the empty area, then it is permissible. The bracha to which the Rama refers is if you’re not smearing for eating but rather to make a nice design.
- ↑ Gemara Shabbat 141b, Shulchan Aruch 302:8, 39 Melachot pg. 914-915
