Halakhah zu Wajikra 13:47

Rabbi Yonatan Steif advances a rather curious argument in support of the position that garments made of synthetic materials are exempt from zizit. Menaḥot 39b cites specific biblical references to linen and wool as the materials of which "garments" are woven. The Gemara then proceeds to query, "Whence can garments of camel hair or rabbit hair, or goats' hair, or of raw silk or floss-silk or fine silk be added?" In answer, the Gemara cites the redundant phrase "or a garment" (Lev. 13:47). It is usually assumed that the materials enumerated by the Gemara are simply common examples of materials used in weaving garments but that that list is by no means exhaustive. Rabbi Steif, however, maintains that the enumerated materials exhaust the category of begged; other materials are not mentioned because they are not beggadim. According to this position, even other natural fibers not recorded in this list are exempt from zizit.

The commandment of the matter of ailments of clothing: To act with ailments of clothing like the statute written in the section of the Torah, as it is stated (Leviticus 13:47), "And the garment that has an ailment in it, etc." And this commandment includes all of the laws of the tsaraat of clothing: how they become impure and how they do not become impure; which ones of them require quarantine, or tearing or burning, or washing and purification.