## Menachot Daf 39b

###### Menachot 39b:1
[Menachot 39b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:1)

וּגְדִילָא מִיגְּדִיל. אָמַר רַב: יָאֵי גְּלִימָא וְלָא יָאֵי תְּכֵלְתָּא, רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר: יָאֵי גְּלִימָא וְיָאֵי תְּכֵלְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**and** the ritual fringes were composed **entirely** of **windings,** without any portion of the strings hanging loose. **Rav said: The cloak is beautiful, but the** white and **sky-blue** strings are **not beautiful. Rabba bar bar Ḥana said: The cloak is beautiful, and the** white and **sky-blue** strings are also **beautiful.**


###### Menachot 39b:2
[Menachot 39b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:2)

בְּמַאי קָא מִיפַּלְגִי? רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חַנָּה סָבַר: כְּתִיב ״גְּדִיל״ וּכְתִיב ״פְּתִיל״, אוֹ גְדִיל אוֹ פְתִיל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **With regard to what** principle **do they disagree?** The Gemara answers: **Rabba bar bar Ḥana holds** that since **it is written** in one verse: “You shall prepare yourself **twisted cords”** (Deuteronomy 22:12), **and** in another **it is written:** “And they shall put on the fringe of the corner a sky-blue **thread”** (Numbers 15:38), it teaches that the ritual fringes may be composed entirely of **either twisted cords,** i.e., the windings, **or** loose threads or **strings.**


###### Menachot 39b:3
[Menachot 39b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:3)

וְרַב סָבַר: לְעוֹלָם פְּתִיל בָּעֵינַן, וְהָהוּא ״גְּדִילִים״ לְמִנְיָינָא הוּא דַּאֲתָא – גְּדִיל שְׁנַיִם, גְּדִילִים אַרְבָּעָה, עֲשֵׂה גְּדִיל וּפוֹתְלֵיהוּ מִתּוֹכוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rav holds** that **actually, we** also **require** loose **strings** in addition to the windings, **and** when **that** term **“twisted cords”** appears in the verse, **it comes for** the purpose of teaching the **number** of strings that are required. If the verse would have employed the singular term **twisted cord,** it would still indicate that **two** strings are required, as twisted means that two strings are wound around each other. Once the verse uses the plural term **“twisted cords,”** it thereby indicates that **four** strings are required. By using the terms “twisted cords” and “thread,” the verses indicates: **Form twisted cords** with the four strings that one attaches to each corner, **and let** the strings **hang loose from them.**


###### Menachot 39b:4
[Menachot 39b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:4)

אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּלֵוִי: חוּטֵי צֶמֶר פּוֹטְרִין בְּשֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Shmuel says in the name of Levi: Wool strings exempt** a garment made **of linen,** i.e., one fulfills the mitzva by affixing wool strings to a linen garment.


###### Menachot 39b:5
[Menachot 39b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:5)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן מַהוּ שֶׁיִּפְטְרוּ בְּשֶׁל צֶמֶר? צֶמֶר בְּשֶׁל פִּשְׁתִּים הוּא דְּפָטַר, דְּכֵיוָן דִּתְכֵלֶת פָּטְרָה לָבָן נָמֵי פָּטַר, אֲבָל פִּשְׁתִּים בְּצֶמֶר לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: **What is** the *halakha* with regard to whether strings made **of linen exempt** a garment made **of wool?** One can say that **it is** only **wool** strings **that exempt** a garment **of linen, as since the sky-blue** string, which must be wool, **exempts** a linen garment, **white** strings of wool **also exempt** the garment. **But** if one affixes **linen** strings **to a wool** garment, he does **not** fulfill his obligation.


###### Menachot 39b:6
[Menachot 39b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:6)

אוֹ דִלְמָא, כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב: ״לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ שַׁעַטְנֵז צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים יַחְדָּו. גְּדִלִים תַּעֲשֶׂה לָךְ״, לָא שְׁנָא צֶמֶר בְּפִשְׁתִּים וְלָא שְׁנָא פִּשְׁתִּים בְּצֶמֶר?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Or perhaps, since it is written: “You shall not wear diverse kinds, wool and linen together. You shall prepare yourself twisted cords** upon the four corners of your covering” (Deuteronomy 22:11–12), which indicates that one may wear wool and linen together in order to fulfill the mitzva of ritual fringes, there **is no difference** whether one affixes **wool** strings **to** a garment of **linen, and** there **is no difference** whether one affixes **linen** strings **to** a garment of **wool.**


###### Menachot 39b:7
[Menachot 39b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:7)

תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּאָמַר רַחֲבָה אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: חוּטֵי צֶמֶר פּוֹטְרִין בְּשֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן, וְשֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן פּוֹטְרִין בְּשֶׁל צֶמֶר, חוּטֵי צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים פּוֹטְרִין בְּכׇל מָקוֹם, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּשִׁירָאִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests: **Come** and **hear** a resolution to this dilemma, **as Raḥava says** that **Rav Yehuda says: Wool strings exempt** a garment made **of linen,** strings **of linen exempt** a garment made **of wool,** and **strings of wool and linen exempt** a garment **in any case,** i.e., all garments, **and even** garments made **from silks [*beshira’in*].**


###### Menachot 39b:8
[Menachot 39b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:8)

וּפְלִיגָא דְּרַב נַחְמָן, דְּאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: הַשִּׁירָאִין פְּטוּרִין מִן הַצִּיצִית. אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב נַחְמָן: הַשִּׁירָאִין וְהַכָּלָךְ וְהַסְּרִיקִין כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין בְּצִיצִית – מִדְּרַבָּנַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara notes: **And** this last point **disagrees** with a ruling **of Rav Naḥman, as Rav Naḥman says: *Shira’in* are** entirely **exempt from** the obligation of **ritual fringes. Rava raised an objection to** the opinion of **Rav Naḥman** from the following *baraita*: Garments made from types of silks known as ***shira’in*, *kalakh*, and *serikin* all require ritual fringes.** The Gemara answers: The *baraita* means that there is an obligation **by rabbinic law,** whereas Rav Naḥman meant they are exempt by Torah law.


###### Menachot 39b:9
[Menachot 39b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:9)

אִי הָכִי, אֵימָא סֵיפָא: וְכוּלָּן צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים פּוֹטְרִין בָּהֶן. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – הַיְינוּ דְּמִישְׁתְּרוּ בְּהוּ כִּלְאַיִם, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ דְּרַבָּנַן – הֵיכִי מִישְׁתְּרֵי בְּהוּ כִּלְאַיִם? אֵימָא: אוֹ צֶמֶר אוֹ פִּשְׁתִּים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges this suggestion: **If that is so,** then **say the latter clause** of the *baraita*: **And** with regard to **all of these** garments, strings of **wool and linen exempt them.** This indicates that one may affix wool sky-blue strings and white linen strings. **Granted, if you say** that the obligation of ritual fringes for silk garments is **by Torah law, that is** why **diverse kinds are permitted for them. But if you say** that the obligation is **by rabbinic law, how could diverse kinds be permitted for them?** The Gemara answers: **Say** instead: **Either wool or linen** strings exempt silk garments, but one may not affix both wool and linen strings to the same silk garment.


###### Menachot 39b:10
[Menachot 39b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:10)

הָכִי נָמֵי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: הֵן בְּמִינָן פּוֹטְרִין, שֶׁלֹּא בְּמִינָן אֵין פּוֹטְרִין. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא דְּרַבָּנַן – הַיְינוּ דְּמִיפַּטְרוּ בְּמִינָן, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים הוּא דְּפָטַר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **So too, it is reasonable** to assume that this is the correct interpretation of the *baraita*, **as** the *baraita* **teaches** in **the latter clause:** Strings made from **these** silk fabrics **exempt** a garment **of their type** but **do not exempt** a garment **that is not of their type. Granted, if you say** that the obligation to attach ritual fringes to these garments is **by rabbinic law, that is** why **they are exempted** if one affixes strings **of their type. But if you say** that the obligation is **by Torah law,** then **it** should be only **wool or linen that exempt** these garments.


###### Menachot 39b:11
[Menachot 39b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:11)

אִי מִשּׁוּם הָא לָא אִירְיָא, כִּדְרָבָא, דְּרָבָא רָמֵי: כְּתִיב ״הַכָּנָף״ – מִין כָּנָף, וּכְתִיב ״צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara rejects this: **If** it is **due to that** reason, **there is no** conclusive **argument,** because one can maintain that other fabrics also fulfill the obligation of ritual fringes by Torah law, **in accordance with** the opinion **of Rava. As Rava raises a contradiction: It is written** in one verse: “And they shall put on the fringe of the corner a sky-blue thread” (Numbers 15:38). The term **“the corner”** indicates that the fringe must be from the same **type** of fabric as the **corner. And** yet **it is written: “Wool and linen”** (Deuteronomy 22:11), immediately before the verse states: “You shall prepare yourself twisted cords upon the four corners of your covering” (Deuteronomy 22:12), indicating that ritual fringes must be from either wool or linen.


###### Menachot 39b:12
[Menachot 39b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:12)

הָא כֵּיצַד? צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים פּוֹטְרִין בֵּין בְּמִינָן בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בְּמִינָן, שְׁאָר מִינִין – בְּמִינָן פּוֹטְרִין, שֶׁלֹּא בְּמִינָן אֵין פּוֹטְרִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**How so?** Strings made of **wool or linen exempt** any garment, **whether** the garment is made **of their type** of fabric, or **whether** it is **not of their type** of fabric. Strings made of all **other types** of fabric **exempt** garments made **of their type** of fabric, e.g., silk strings exempt a silk garment, but **they do not exempt** a garment made from a fabric **that is not their type,** i.e., a garment made from a different fabric.


###### Menachot 39b:13
[Menachot 39b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:13)

וְרַב נַחְמָן, כִּדְתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara notes: **And Rav Naḥman,** who holds that silk garments do not require ritual fringes by Torah law, holds **in accordance with** the ruling stated by **a *tanna* of the school of Rabbi Yishmael.**


###### Menachot 39b:14
[Menachot 39b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:14)

דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: הוֹאִיל וְנֶאֶמְרוּ בְּגָדִים בַּתּוֹרָה סְתָם, וּפָרַט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים – אַף כֹּל צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**As** a *tanna* **of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: Since** the word **garments is** usually **stated in the Torah without specification** as to the material from which the garments are made, **and the verse specified in one of** its references to garments that it is referring to garments made from **wool or linen,** as it states: “And the garment in which there will be the mark of leprosy, whether it be a woolen garment or a linen garment” (Leviticus 13:47), it may be derived that **so too, all** garments mentioned in the Torah are those made from **wool or linen.** Other fabrics are not classified as garments by Torah law. Consequently, when the Torah requires strings on the corners of garments (see Numbers 15:38), it is referring specifically to garments made of wool or linen.


###### Menachot 39b:15
[Menachot 39b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Menachot/r/39b:15)

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: וְהַאי תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל מַפְּקָא מֵאִידַּךְ תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: ״בֶּגֶד״ – אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בֶּגֶד צֶמֶר, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת צֶמֶר גְּמַלִּים וְצֶמֶר אַרְנָבִים וְנוֹצָה שֶׁל עִזִּים וְהַכָּלָךְ וְהַסְּרִיקִין וְהַשִּׁירָאִין מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אוֹ בֶגֶד״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Abaye said: This** statement by **a *tanna* of the school of Rabbi Yishmael diverges from another** statement by **a *tanna* of the school of Rabbi Yishmael,** who holds that all fabrics are considered garments. **As** a *tanna* **of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught:** From the fact that the verse states: “A woolen **garment”** (Leviticus 13:47), **I have** derived **only** that **a garment of wool** can become ritually impure. **From where** is it derived that garments made of **camels’ hair, rabbits’ wool, goats’ hair, or** the types of silk ***kalakh*, *serikin*, and *shira’in*,** are also **included** in this *halakha*? **The** same **verse states: “Or** a linen **garment.”** The word “or” serves as an amplification to include all types of fabric.