Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 232/ספרי דברים רל״ב
א(דברים כב יא) לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ שַׁעַטְנֵז, יָכוֹל לֹא יִלְבַּשׁ גִּיזֵּי צֶמֶר וַאֲנִיצֵי פִשְׁתָּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: שַׁעַטְנֵז, דָּבָר שֶׁשּׁוּעַ טָווּי וְנוּז. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: נָלוֹז וּמֵלִיז הוּא אֶת אָבִיו שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם עָלָיו.
1Pisqa’ 2321431“Do not wear wool and linen fibers mingled144 as one”(Dt. 22:11)—is it possible to say that[the prohibition includes] shorn wool and linen shreds[that have yet to be woven together]?The Teaching states:“Fibers mingled” (Dt. 22:11)—145 per.4:18.this specifies any garment which iscombed (shu`a), spun (tavui), and woven (nuz).146) of other words or phrases.R. Shimon b. Elazar says:[“Mingled”-wearers] are twisted,147 Note the word play with nuz, “woven.”.forcing their Heavenly Fatherto deal with them in a twisted way.148 per.4:18.
בלֹא תִלְבַּשׁ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יִלְבַּשׁ; מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יִתְכַּסֶּה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא יט יט): ״לֹא יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ״. יָכוֹל לֹא יַפְשִׁילֶנּוּ בְּקוּפָּה לְאַחֲרָיו? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ, לְבִישָׁה בִּכְלָל הָיְתָה, וְלָמָּה יָצָאת? לְהַקִּישׁ אֵלֶיהָ וְלוֹמַר לְךָ: מַה לְּבִישָׁה מְיֻחֶדֶת, שֶׁהִיא הֲנָיַת הַגּוּף – אַף כָּל שֶׁהוּא הֲנָיַת הַגּוּף.
22. “Do not wear” (Dt. 22:11)—I might infer only thatyou shouldn’t wear [mingled garments].How do I know that the rule applies as wellto merely covering up with them?The Teaching states:“And a garment of mingled incompatible fibers shall not be placed upon you” (Lv. 19:19)—[even placing them on the body is forbidden].Is it possible to say thathe may not strap a packof such garments on his back?The Teaching states:“Do not wear” (Dt. 22:11)—[and carrying is distinct from wearing].Now, wearing should have been includedin the general statement of the rule.Why, then, is it singled out for emphasis?In order to make a comparative observationand inform you thatjust as wearing is distinctive,in that it benefits the body,only [a mingled fabric] that benefits the body,[is considered to be worn as a garment].
גיַחְדָּו, יָכוֹל לֹא יִלְבַּשׁ חָלוּק שֶׁל צֶמֶר עַל גַּבֵּי חָלוּק שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן וְחָלוּק שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן עַל גַּבֵּי חָלוּק שֶׁל צֶמֶר? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: יַחְדָּו.
33. “As one” (Dt. 22:11)—is it possible to say thatone should not weara wool shirt over a linen shirt,or a linen shirt over a wool shirt?The Teaching states:“As one” (Dt. 22:11)—[the rule applies only to one garmentwoven of two mingled threads].
דרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יִקְשֹׁר סֶרֶט שֶׁל צֶמֶר בְּשֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן, לַחְגּוֹר בּוֹ אֶת מָתְנָיו, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָרְצוּעָה בָּאֶמְצַע? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: יַחְדָּו, מִכָּל מָקוֹם. כְּשֶׁתִּמְצָא אוֹמֵר: הַשַּׂק וְהַקֻּפָּה מְצָרְפִים אֶת הַכִּלְאַיִם.
4R. Hananiah b. Gamliel says:How do I know thatone shouldn’t knot a strip of wool fabricto one of linen fabricand tie it around his waist,even though a leather strap interposes?149The Teaching states:“As one” (Dt. 22:11)—any arrangement[of the fabrics into a single article stands under the rule].Thus you can argue thatsack-cloth [containing wool]and a basket [containing linen]combine [when bound together]to produce an incompatible mixture[that may not be carried on the shoulders].150
הצֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים יַחְדָּו, אֲבָל זֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְזֶה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ מֻתָּר. הַלְּבָדִים אֲסוּרִים מִשּׁוּם כִּלְאַיִם; אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם אָרִיג, יֵשׁ בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם שׁוּעַ.
5“Wool and linen fibers mingled as one” (Dt. 22:11)—but a garment of either one on its own is permitted[to be worn with a garment of the other fabric].Articles of felt are prohibitedas incompatible mixtures,for even though they arenot weaves of woolen thread,they are combed-wool mattings[That may contain fibers of linen].151