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From: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Wool vs Linen
Message-ID: <1855@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Mar-85 22:29:37 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.1855
Posted: Fri Mar 22 22:29:37 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 25-Mar-85 02:21:21 EST
References: <653@pyuxd.UUCP> <200@ihu1n.UUCP> <1291@shark.UUCP>
Reply-To: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 22
Summary: 

Recently in a discussion of shattnes, someone asked just why Wool and
Linen were singled out as two types of cloth not to mix for a garment.
Here's a couple of possible ideas (not attempting to suggest they are
either the only reasons nor sufficient reasons for fulfilling the mitzva).

Wool is derived from an animal; linen from a plant.
     This might lead to a generalization not to mix animal fibres and
plant fibres in clothing.  (Insect-made fibres like silk might count
as animal or as a third caegory.  Mineral-derived fibres like nylon
might count as neutral.)

Wool is cleansed by immersion in COLD water; linen by immersion in
BOILING water.  This means that you can NEVER get a garment that
mixes linen and wool completely clean by conventional soap & water
washing.
     This might lead to a generalization about not mixing items that
would create a product that couldn't be kept non-grungy.

I'm not familiar with the halacha on this issue.  Does it take either
line of approach or a third one?

--Lee Gold