koberstein
Active member
Shatnez, the biblical law that forbids wearing a garment containing a mixture of
linen and wool, is generally regarded as the quintessential example of a law for
which there is no rational explanation The Bible offers no reason for this ordinance.
It speaks of Shatnez first in Leviticus 19:19, in the verse following "Love your
neighbor as yourself," where the prohibition is stated vaguely: "You shall not put
on cloth from a mixture of two kinds of material." Deuteronomy 22:11 which
specifies "You shall not wear cloth combining wool and linen," is understood to
be an elaboration of the earlier verse.
Few non-Orthodox Jews are aware how punctilious their coreligionists are in
observing this biblical law. A company called Shatnez Laboratories, located
in Brooklyn, New York, checks woolen garments to make sure that no linen
has been mixed in. Large department stores that have an observant
Jewish clientele are well aware of this regulation.
linen and wool, is generally regarded as the quintessential example of a law for
which there is no rational explanation The Bible offers no reason for this ordinance.
It speaks of Shatnez first in Leviticus 19:19, in the verse following "Love your
neighbor as yourself," where the prohibition is stated vaguely: "You shall not put
on cloth from a mixture of two kinds of material." Deuteronomy 22:11 which
specifies "You shall not wear cloth combining wool and linen," is understood to
be an elaboration of the earlier verse.
Few non-Orthodox Jews are aware how punctilious their coreligionists are in
observing this biblical law. A company called Shatnez Laboratories, located
in Brooklyn, New York, checks woolen garments to make sure that no linen
has been mixed in. Large department stores that have an observant
Jewish clientele are well aware of this regulation.
