I’ve heard many times about an infamous “mixed fiber” rule in the Bible, in which it is made clear (supposedly) that wearing clothes of mixed fibers is sinful. Could anyone point this out to me, and tell me about the context in which this rule is stated?
Pretty sure it’s Leviticus, don’t have time now to look it up though.
Leviticus 19:19
“Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.”
Yeah, I’ve always wondered about the point of that rule. Could it be that when the garment gets wet, the wool and flax (from which linen is made) will shrink at a dramatically different rate, creating the risk of the garment falling apart and leaving its wearer naked in public?
Linsey-wolsey is a blend of linen and wool originated in England. It’s tough, hard-wearing, and warm, and was often used where appearance was not an issue (cassocks, travel wear, servants’ outerwear).
It’s not an impractical fabric.
The commandment of shatnes (not combining linen and wool) is a chok, a commandment for which the reasons are not understandable for humans. Although various explanations have been advanced, it is followed not because the power of these explanations, but because it is a Divine command.
I had always assumed that it was somehow related to the underlying theme of meat-good-plant-bad in Genesis, which in turn I think is understood to be allegorical to the birth of civilization - sedentary shepherds vs. nomadic hunter gatherers. I am not a Talmudic scholar, obviously.
Here are a couple of sites with additional explanation:
http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/970523/clothes.shtml
http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-mitzvos-shatnes.htm