Schatnes

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Shatnez Center London.

As Schatnes ( Biblical Hebrew שַׁעַטְנֵז) is a term used in the Jewish tradition to describe a blend of wool and linen. The Torah forbids wearing clothes made of such mixed fabrics ( Leviticus 19.19  EU and Deuteronomy 22.9-11  EU ).

The word Schatnes

According to general opinion, Shatnes ( Deuteronomy 22:11  EU ) is neither a Hebrew nor a Semitic word at all. It could be an Egyptian loan word: Egyptian šḫt n ˁḏ3 or New Egyptian śˁḏ3-nḏ “falsified tissue.” The earliest extra-biblical evidence is in 4QInstruction, a wisdom text: the person addressed is compared to someone who wears shatnes.

The Mishnah (Kilayim IX 8) leads as an acrostic like a midrash from the individual letters ofשַׁעַטְנֵז from that three types of textile production are addressed:

  1. ש ו ע schua , German 'something that is carded' ;
  2. ט וי tawuj , German 'something that is spun' ;
  3. נ ו ז nus , German 'something that is twisted' .

Interpretation of the prohibition

One interpretation that can be based on Flavius ​​Josephus ( Antiquitates 4.208) assumes that mixed fabrics were a special characteristic of Jewish priestly clothing. His statement agrees with the Mishnah: "In order to serve in the sanctuary, the priests clothe themselves with only wool and linen." (Kilajim IX 1) Both sources probably refer to the usual practice at the time of the Second Temple.

Simple priests wore Schatnes belts; the high priest had other garments made of mixed fabrics. Shatnes was taboo for all other members of the Jewish community.

Ancient practice

The clothes from the Cave of Letters show that Jews almost completely avoided Schatnes during the Roman Empire. Since they mostly wore clothes made of wool, they had to do without linen applications, for example stripes (clavi) on a tunic . The same applies to other textile finds of Jewish provenance, and this represents a contrast to non-Jewish textile finds from Dura Europos , Palmyra or Coptic textiles from Egypt: mixed fabrics made of wool and linen seem to have been popular everywhere.

Modern practice

The Schatnes ban only applies to fabrics with a percentage of sheep's wool ; other wool, e.g. B. mohair is not affected. On the other hand, a single thread on an entire garment is enough to create forbidden mixed fabrics. In the Jewish orthodoxy avoiding Shatnez today a high priority. There are therefore experts who specialize in examining clothing for Schatnes using microscopy and chemical tests.

The internationally organized textile production has made it difficult to see exactly how a piece of clothing was made. The experts at the Schatnes Centers have therefore organized themselves in a network to exchange information about problematic items of clothing. A classic case are men's coats made of wool, in which linen fabric has been incorporated to stiffen the collar. Clothing that, according to the label, is 100% synthetic can also meet the requirements of Schatnes. On the one hand, the legislator allows slight deviations from the declared percentage values ​​without labeling, on the other hand the label refers to fabrics and not to yarn.

If Schatnes is found in a piece of clothing, one can try to completely remove the fibers concerned; if this measure succeeds, the item of clothing is suitable again.

Schatnes in the broader sense

Bed linen made from mixed fabrics is also unsuitable as it covers the body. "Those who follow the commandment very strictly also ensure that sofas, armchairs and other upholstered furniture do not contain any mixed fabrics."

literature

  • Orit Shamir: Sha'atnez - The Biblical Prohibition Against Wearing Mixed Wool and Linen Together and the Observance and Enforcement of the Command in the Orthodox Jewish Communities Today . In: Salvatore Gaspa, Cécile Michel, Marie-Louise Nosch (eds.): Textile Terminologies from the Orient to the Mediterranean and Europe, 1000 BC to 1000 AD . Zea Books. University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 2017, p. 164–172 , doi : 10.13014 / K2M32SZH (English, unl.edu [PDF; 3.0 MB ; accessed on February 14, 2018]).
  • Israel Meir Lau : How Jews Live, Faith - Everyday Life - Festivals . Gütersloh 1988, ISBN 3-579-02155-9 (Hebrew: … Givatayim 1978. Translated by Miriam Magall).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Wilhelm Gesenius: Hebrew and Aramaic concise dictionary on the Old Testament . Ed .: Herbert Donner. 18th edition. S. 1396 .
  2. ^ Matthew J. Goff: 4QInstruction . Ed .: Society of Biblical Literature. 2013, p. 268 .
  3. ↑ Dietrich Correns (ed.): The Mishna . Wiesbaden 2005, p. 54 .
  4. ↑ The Mishnah . S. 53 .
  5. ↑ David Nakman: Josephus and Halacha . In: Honora Howell Chapman, Zuleika Rodgers (eds.): A Companion to Josephus . Chichester 2016, p. 285 .
  6. ↑ a b c d e Orit Shamir: Sha'atnez - The Biblical Prohibition Against Wearing Mixed Wool and Linen Together and the Observance and Enforcement of the Command in the Orthodox Jewish Communities Today . In: Salvatore Gaspa, Cécile Michel, Marie-Louise Nosch (eds.): Textile Terminologies from the Orient to the Mediterranean and Europe, 1000 BC to 1000 AD . Zea Books. University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 2017, p. 164–172 , doi : 10.13014 / K2M32SZH (English, unl.edu [PDF; 3.0 MB ; accessed on February 14, 2018]).
  7. ↑ Israel Meir Lau : How Jews Live, Faith - Everyday Life - Festivals . Gütersloh 1988, ISBN 3-579-02155-9 (Hebrew: … Givatayim 1978. Translated by Miriam Magall).