Dosh 39 - Schita on Clothes 4 (Klal 14 Siman 12) Hilchos Shabbos - S0401

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Dosh 39 - Schita on Clothes 4 (Klal 14 Siman 12) Hilchos Shabbos - S0401

We are continuing in siman 12, where the Chayei Adam discusses schita from cloth. It is important to point out that Chazal clarify the definition of schita as when the liquid is absorbed and subsequently squeezed out. Certain cloth does not actually absorb the liquid into its fibers, but the fibers are close enough to each other that they trap the liquid. In such a case, there is no issur of schita mideoraysa, but it is schita miderabanan. The Gemara discusses this concept in regards to hair, and says there is no din of schita mideoraysa on hair because the hair does not actually absorb the water but traps it between it between the strands. Another example would be a toothbrush. The bristles do absorb water, but traps water between the fibers. When one uses a toothbrush, they extract the liquid which is trapped between the fibers but are not squeezing something which is absorbed.

There are certain fibers which do not absorb or trap whatsoever, and there is no concept of schita at all in those cases. For example, certain scouring pads are made of fibers which are very far apart from each other. Even if it appears to hold some liquid, it is due to the cohesiveness of the liquid and not because they absorb in any way. Any liquid which appears trapped would have come out on its own, and squeezing the pad would not necessarily help to release the liquid. In other cases, the liquid may not even appear as being absorbed at all. Later, the Chayei Adam will discuss using a sponge, and, although using a standard sponge will be an issue of schita, he will discuss using a pad where the mesh is so wide that there would not be an issue of schita.

There is a concept that ein disha ela b’gidulei karka, which means that dosh--and, by extension, schita--only applies mideoraysa to natural materials which grow from the ground. If the material is manmade, there is no din of disha/schita. Something made from fish skin is also not considered gidulei karka, and such a cloth would not have a din of schita either. This is true even if the liquid absorbed is gidulei karka, such as olive oil. This concept lends itself to many applications. For example, going back to the brush, there are now two reasons why there is no issue of schita mideoraysa: because the bristles do not absorb, and because it is made out of a man made material.

Summary
Chazal define schita as squeezing something which is absorbed; if the liquid is not truly absorbed into the fibers, it will not be schita mideoraysa.
If the fibers are close enough together to give the impression of being absorbed, it will be schita miderabanan (such as hair or toothbrush).
If the fibers are far enough apart that it is clear they were not absorbed, there is no issur of schita whatsoever.
Mideoraysa, schita only applies to natural material which grow from the ground; man made materials will be assur miderabanan.