When I was fifteen, I bought a purple sweater from a local department store. When I went to put the sweater on to wear it, something didn’t feel right. I  looked at the tag to discover that it was 60% wool and 40% linen. “Shatnez,” I gasped as the sweater fell right to the floor. Shatnez, the prohibition to wear garments that combine wool and linen, is featured in this week’s Parasha, Ki Tetze. After returning the sweater, I wondered why Shatnez was prohibited in the first place. Shatnez is categorized as a “Chok,” a law in the Torah that cannot be explained. We do know, however, that the Kohanim were commanded to wear garments that contained Shatnez, so perhaps Shatnez was meant to delineate Bnai Yisrael from the priestly class.

• Why do you think there is no reason provided the biblical law of Shatnez?
• What are potential advantages and drawbacks to having such fashion restrictions?

Speaking of things to wear, have you ordered your High Holidays Nail Decals? The offer to Buy 3 Get 1 FREE expires this Friday. Spread the Yamim Noraim spirit with Midrash Manicures!