Soncino English Talmud
Shabbat
Daf 27a
— He deduces it from, or raiment. For it was taught: 'raiment': I only know [it] of raiment, how do I know [it of] three [handbreadths] square of other materials? Therefore it is stated, 'or raiment.' And Abaye? how does he employ this or raiment! — He utilizes it to include three [fingerbreadths] square of wool or linen, that it becomes unclean through creeping things. And Raba? — The Merciful One revealed this in reference to leprosy, and the same holds good of reptiles. And Abaye? — It [the analogy] may be refuted: as for leprosy, [the reason is] because the warp and the woof [of wool or linen] become defiled n their case. And the other? — Should you think that leprosy is stricter, let the Divine Law write [it] with reference to reptiles, and leprosy would be learnt from them. And the other? — Leprosy could not be derived from reptiles, because it may be refuted: as for reptiles, [the reason is] because they defile by the size of a lentil. Abaye said: This Tanna of the School of R. Ishmael rebuts another Tanna of the School of R. Ishmael. For the School of R. Ishmael taught: 'A garment': I know it only of a woollen or a linen garment: whence do I know to include camel hair, rabbit wool, goat hair, silk, kallak, and seritim? From the verse, or raiment'. Raba said: When does this Tanna of the School of R. Ishmael reject [the defilement of] other materials? [Only in respect of] three [fingerbreadths] square; but [if it is] three [handbreadths] square, be accepts it. But it was Raba who said that in respect of three [handbreadths] by three in other clothes, R. Simeon b. Eleazar accepts [their liability to defilement], while the Tanna of the School of R. Ishmael rejects it? — Raba retracted from that [view]. Alternatively, this latter [statement] was made by R. Papa. R. Papa said: 'So all [are of wool or flax], is to include kil'ayim. But of kil'ayim it is explicitly stated, Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together? — I might argue, That is only in the manner of wearing, but to place it over oneself any two materials [mingled] are forbidden. Now, does that not follow a fortiori': if of wearing, though the whole body derives benefit from kil'ayim, you say, wool and linen alone [are forbidden] but nothing else; how much more so wrapping oneself! Hence this [dictum] of R. Papa is a fiction. R. Nahman b. Isaac said: 'So all etc.'