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Topic: Linen & Wool, Wearing Together

Layve Rabinowitz wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Can you wear a yarmulka made out of linen and wool?


David N. wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Is it permissible to wear a wool coat on top of a linen shirt, since they are not the same garment?


Dear Layve Rabinowitz and David N.,

The Torah forbids wearing Shatnez -- a garment made of sheep's wool and linen. A 'garment' is defined as something which provides warmth or protection from the sun. A yarmulka fits this definition. So if it contains wool and linen, you can't wear it.

According to the Torah the wool and linen must be connected to be considered Shatnez. However, the Sages prohibited wearing a woolen garment over a linen one, or vice versa, if you can't remove the inner garment without removing the outer one. In such a case, it is considered as if the fabrics are connected.

Which reminds me of the following exchange:

Mother: Where is your brother? He's going to be late for school!
Son: He's upstairs getting dressed.
Mother: What's taking him so long?
Son: He accidentally put his shirt on backwards, and now he's trying to turn it around without taking it off.
Sources:
  • Deuteronomy 22:11, Leviticus 19:15
  • Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 300
  • Mishna Kelayim 9:3

 
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