The prohibition of <i>kilayim</i> [the product of forbidden crossbreeding or working of certain animals with one another, planting together certain plants, or interweaving certain fibers] applies only to [sheep's] wool and linen, and only wool and linen can become unclean by <i>negaim</i> [diseased patches on skin, clothes, or houses that create impurity]. The priests, while in the service in the Temple only wear [garments] of wool and linen. Camel's wool and sheep's wool that have been mixed together, if the majority [of the wool] is from the camel, it is permitted [to mix them with linen, since the minority is annuled by the majority]. If the majority is from the sheep, it is forbidden [to mix them with linen]. If they are half and half [equal amounts], they are forbidden. The same [rule] applies to hemp and flax that have been mixed together.
English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Introduction
The final chapter of Kilayim deals with kilayim of clothes, or shatnez, as it is called by both Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
Our mishnah also mentions several other halakhot which apply only to wool or linen, the two materials subject to the laws of kilayim.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Nothing is forbidden on account of kilayim except [a mixture of] wool and linen. Deuteronomy 22:11 defines “shatnez” as being wool and linen. Hence only a mixture of wool and linen is prohibited. Wool and cotton, for instance, is not prohibited.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
No [clothing material] is subject to uncleanness by scale disease except wool or linen. The only types of clothes subject to impurity through “scale disease” (sometimes called leprosy) are wool and linen (see Leviticus 13:47).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Priests do not wear any materials to serve in the Temple except for wool and linen. The priestly clothing was made only of linen and wool (see Exodus 39:27-29). It is interesting that while such a mixture was generally prohibited, while the priests were serving in the Temple, this is precisely the clothing that they would wear.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
Camel’s wool with sheep’s wool, that have been mixed together: if the greater part is camel’s wool, it is permitted [to mix it with linen], but if the greater part is sheep’s wool, it is forbidden; if it is half and half, it is forbidden. Camel’s wool is not prohibited in kilayim, only sheep’s wool is prohibited. Therefore, if camel’s wool is mixed up with sheep’s wool such that it becomes impossible to separate them, it is permitted to use the mixture with linen if the quantity of camel’s wools is more than the quantity of sheep’s wool. If the quantity of sheep’s wool is greater than it is prohibited. If they are equal the mixture is still prohibited, because we always tend to be strict in cases of doubt when the prohibition is from the Torah, as is the prohibition of kilayim.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Kilayim
The same applies to hemp and linen mixed together. Hemp can be mixed with wool, whereas linen cannot. So if hemp and linen are mixed together, the mixture can be mixed with wool if the hemp is the majority, but if the linen is the majority or equal to the hemp, it is forbidden.
