Editing Mesechtas Niddah (section)

== The Rebbe's Explanations ==
'''Shatnez''' is a Torah prohibition. There are two types of shatnez: kilayim of the vineyard, which is the prohibition of mixing different seeds together, and kilayim of clothing - mixing wool and linen together.

* In kilayim of the vineyard, the prohibition is to mix two types together, creating together a new reality called shatnez.
* In kilayim of clothing, the matter depends on a dispute among the Rishonim: Rashi's view is that the Torah prohibition only applies if it is "shua, tavi, v'nuz" (combed, spun, and woven), meaning that from the beginning of the making, the weaving, etc., they were woven and made together. The inner explanation of his approach is that since he holds the prohibition is to construct a new reality made of two types, therefore the prohibition is only if they are truly one reality. But Rabbeinu Tam's view is that the prohibition applies even if they were only connected through weaving, after spinning each of them separately. The explanation for this is that according to Rabbeinu Tam, the prohibition of kilayim of clothing is a different prohibition from the prohibition of kilayim of the vineyard, and this prohibition is simply the mixing of two different types, even if they don't become a new reality.[1]