Commentary for Menachot 78:15

אמר אביי והאי תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל מפקא מאידך תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל דתנא דבי ר' ישמעאל בגד אין לי אלא בגד צמר מנין לרבות צמר גמלים וצמר ארנבים ונוצה של עזים והכלך והסריקין והשיראין מנין ת"ל או בגד:

Now if you say that it is merely a Rabbinic enactment, then that is why these fulfil the precept in a garment of the same material; but if you say that it is so by the law of the Torah, sure [according to the Torah] only wool and linen can discharge the obligation!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For only wool and linen are mentioned in connection with the zizith; cf. Deut. XXII, 11, 12.');">¹⁷</span> - This is not a conclusive argument, for the text may be explained in accordance with Raba's argument. For Raba pointed out a contradiction: It is written, The corner,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XV, 38.');">¹⁸</span> [which implies that the fringes are to be of] the same kind [of material] as that of the corner, but it is also written, Wool and linen.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Deut. XXII, 11, 12, which shows that the fringes must be either of wool or of linen, whatever the material of the garment is.');">¹⁹</span> How are the texts to be reconciled? Wool and linen fulfil [the precept of zizith] both in garments of their own kind [of material] as well as in garments of a different kind, whereas other kinds of threads<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g., silk.');">²⁰</span> fulfil the precept only in a garment of their own kind [of material], but not in a garment of a different kind [of material]. R'Nahman,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who maintains that silk garments require fringes only by Rabbinic ordinance, for according to the law of the Torah only garments of wool and of linen are subject to zizith.');">²¹</span> however, agrees with the view of the Tanna of the school of R'Ishmael. For a Tanna of the school of R'Ishmael taught: Since in the Torah the word 'garments' is used without being specified,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Num. XV, 38: That they make them fringes in the corners of their garments; or with reference to uncleanness by creeping things, Lev. XI, 32.');">²²</span> but in one particular case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With reference to plagues in garments, Lev. XIII, 47, 48.');">²³</span> Holy Writ specified 'wool and linen', the inference is that all garments are understood as being of wool or of linen. Abaye said, This teaching of a Tanna of the school of R'Ishmael differs from that of another Tanna of the same school. For a Tanna of the school of R'Ishmael taught: By garment<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With reference to plagues in garments, Lev. XIII, 47, 48.');">²³</span> I understand only a garment of [sheep's] wool; whence can I include garments of camel hair, of hare's hair, of goat's hair, or of raw silk or floss-silk or fine silk? Scripture therefore says, Or a garment.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 47: Whether it be a woolen garment or a linen garment; the conjunction 'or' includes other garments too as being subject to the law of plagues.');">²⁴</span>

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