Halacha Page 3: Shatnez Testers of America (STAM)

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SHATNEZ HALACHA SERIES

PART 3

WEARING WOOL AND LINEN GARMENTS TOGETHER

BY RABBI AVROHOM MILLER

If you were asked to define shatnez, you would simply answer: A garment containing wool and linen. That is correct. This is the standard type of shatnez. There is, however, another form of shatnez that many of us are unaware of. When a wool garment is worn on top of a linen garment, or vice versa.

Although the wool and linen are not actually sewn or connected together, it can be rabbinically prohibited, depending on the conditions described below. In fact, this is the source of a custom mentioned in the poskim of not wearing wool garments at all. It was customary then for a shirt or undershirt to be made from linen; and in order not to transgress this rabbinic prohibition; they would not wear any wool garments in any circumstances. With the frequency of linen being used in today's fashions, it is important to clarify the halachos of how and when wool and linen garments may be attached or worn together.

Methods of Attaching Wool And Linen Garments Together

A. Attaching Garments Through Sewing Or Knotting: If a wool garment and linen garment are attached together by sewing, knotting or any other permanent form (including bonding), the combination is considered shatnez. This is the basic meaning of the word "Yachdov" Joining where the Torah forbids a wool and linen fabric from being joined together using any permanent technique.

B. Attaching Buttons, Zippers, Velcro or Snaps: Buttoning a wool and linen garment together - even on a permanent basis - is not considered an attachment because the garments can easily, be unfastened. It should, therefore, be permitted to wear a raincoat, containing linen, together with its buttoned in wool lining. The same applies with an attachment of snaps or Velcro, as they can simply be detached.

Regarding zippers, there is a difference of opinions. Some authorities consider a zipper as a form of attachment and would prohibit a zippered in lining. Others maintain that this, too, is similar to buttons due to the ease of removal and is, therefore, permitted.

C. Belts: If a wool garment and a linen garment are being worn together with a belt fastened around them, the garments may be worn together although the belt does not allow them to be separated. A wool belt may be worn over a linen skirt, even if there are belt loops on the skirt. It would be prohibited if the belt was tied so that it could not be removed from the skirt.

D. Wearing Wool and Linen Garments On Top Of Each Other: This issue arises commonly in contemporary fashion, when a linen garment (dress, sweater, jacket) is worn together with a woolen garment (coat, sweater etc.). The halachic requirements are as follows:

One needs to determine if the inner garment can somehow be removed without completely removing the outer garment. If not, the garments are considered attached to one another. There are various opinions in the poskim as to how this must be accomplished. Most describe it as follows: One must be able to remove his hands from the sleeves of the outer garment while the garment is still on his shoulders. He then must be able to remove the inner garment with the outer garment remaining on his shoulders. If this cannot be accomplished, as is commonly the case with fitted garments, the garments are considered "attached" and, therefore, shatnez.

Socks are a simple example of where a bottom garment cannot be removed front under the top one. Wearing a wool sock together with a linen sock on the same leg is considered wearing shatnez." Likewise, wearing wool trousers over a linen undergarment is considered shatnez. Thus, in regard to coats, sweaters, jackets, dresses, and blouses one must determine if the garments underneath can be removed without removing the top one first.

In the permissible cases where the garment underneath can be removed from below the upper garment, one may then proceed to button or tie the belt of the upper garment, although this Will trap the garments together. This is due to the fact that he intends later to unbutton or unbuckle the belt.

When wool fabric is only found in certain parts of the garment, (cuffs, ornamentation etc.), if those specific woolen parts do not trap the linen garment underneath (or are not trapped themselves by the linen garment) the garment may be worn. This is so even if the rest of the garment underneath cannot be removed.

Similarly, if there is a third garment separating between a wool and linen one, the garments may be worn together. One must not, of course, attach these garments together through sewing, bonding etc. In that case, other halachos apply.

Those of Sephardic descent may have additional leniencies based on the Bais Yosef's opinion in the Shulchan Aruch. One should consult their rabbonim concerning this.

Taking into consideration the above leniencies, if someone notices another person wearing a wool and linen garment together, he is not obligated, to force the person to remove one of the garments, as is normally the case when one discovers shatnez is being worn. Rather, he should bring to his attention that a question exists.

CAUTION: Because of the various halachos of how linen garments can be worn, it is necessary for one to know which garments are linen. Common "linen look" fabrics may contain linen although it is not mentioned on the content label. A shatnez tester can verify the presence of any linen or flax. Additionally, linen look fabrics require testing, as they may contain actual shatnez.

OTHER ITEMS

A. Hats Made of or Lined with Linen: Linen hats, caps or Russian fur hats which contain linen linings in their inner construction are permitted to be worn over a wool yarmulke. This applies even if the hat is tied down under the neck.

B. Linen Kittel: Wearing a linen kittel over a woolen sweater would be permitted because the oversize fit of the kittel allows for the sweater to be removed while the kittel is being worn (as explained previously). Wearing a woolen coat over the kittel, however, may present a problem.

C. Linen Stitching in Shoes: The Chazon Ish did not permit his shoes to be sewn with linen thread, since he would wear them over woolen socks. Other authorities permit this, especially when the linen stitching is on the outside of the shoe." The Brisker Rav known to have a chumrah to cut a hole by the toes of his wool socks in order to be able to pull up the socks while wearing shoes.

Nowadays, shoemakers use linen thread to repair the soles of shoes. However, with the exception of moccasin style shoes, the linen stitching is found on the outside welt of the sole and does not touch the socks. In the case of moccasins, cellophane or other tape may be placed over the linen stitching, thereby alleviating the problem. Other poskim feel even this is not necessary.

D. The Vilna Goan on a Woolen Tallis Katon: The Vilna Gaon was careful not to wear a tallis katon made out of wool. Some say his reason was due to a shatnez problem. His undershirt that was worn under the tallis katon was linen, and he, therefore, would not wear a woolen garment on top. Based upon the above conditions, it is not clear why this particular situation was prohibited. The lesson we should take from this is that although there are some opinions which are lenient in regard to this halacha, we should be stringent and follow the guidelines as described above.