Kenneth Cohen

Positive Beats Negative

The Mitzva of Tzitzit has a unique aspect connected to it. There is a commandment not to wear a garment that has a mixture of wool and linen. This is called “Shatnez.”
This is why observant Jews have their suits checked for this forbidden mixture. Sometimes a suit might be 100% wool, but they might use linen padding in the collar or shoulders.

Despite this law, it is permitted to have wool fringes and a linen garment that make up a pair of kosher Tzitzit. The reason why it is permitted is based on a Halachic principle.

When you have a positive commandment (the obligation to wear Tzitzit) against a negative commandment (the prohibition to wear Shatnez), the positive commandment nullifies the negative commandment.

Another example of this principle is the prohibition of cutting off a leprous growth. However, if it happened that this leprous growth was on the foreskin of a baby, it may be cut as part of the ceremony of Brit Mila.

The positive commandment to circumcise a Jewish baby, cancels the prohibition of cutting a leprous growth.
Jewish Law is fascinating when one learns it in depth, and applies its various principles. It becomes obvious that such laws could only come from Hashem, Himself.

About the Author
Rabbi Cohen has been a Torah instructor at Machon Meir, Jerusalem, for over twenty years while also teaching a Talmud class in the Shtieblach of Old Katamon. Before coming to Israel, he was the founding rabbi of Young Israel of Century City, Los Angeles. He recently published a series of Hebrew language-learning apps, which are available at www.cafehebrew.com
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