From Candles to Clothing

Evolving from the previous discussion about organic vegetative sources of fuel best used for Shabbat candles, we now wander into a seemingly tangential subject of analysis, focused on the Halachik definition of cloth and clothing – vis-à-vis the various organic raw materials of which textiles might be created. The modicum “Shmatte” size; rendering it useful or useless, a primary theme is juxtaposed with explicit biblical verses that remain at times vague, and at times are extremely precise and specific. The cryptic syntax of a Mishna lends itself to various scholarly interpretations and disparate rulings. (Tractate Shabbat 26A-B)