Finding the Good Within Yourself: Rabbi Nachman's Path to Joy and the Torah Laws of Shaatnez

"A person must search within himself and find even a small measure of goodness in order to revive his spirit and come to joy.

He must not allow himself to fall into despair.

Instead, he should strengthen himself by searching for and discovering the good points within himself, gathering and refining those positive qualities.

Then he can pray, sing, and give thanks to God.

'I will sing to my God while I still exist' means that I sing to God through the 'little bit of me'—the goodness that I am able to find within myself."

— Likutei Moharan 282

Two Daily Halachot

From BeHalachah U'VeAggadah, based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

What Is the Prohibition of Shaatnez?

The Torah states: "A garment made of mixed fibers, shaatnez, shall not come upon you."

It also says: "Do not wear shaatnez, wool and linen together."

The Torah prohibits only a mixture of sheep's or ram's wool and linen. The prohibition does not apply to other types of fibers. Therefore, camel wool, rabbit wool, cotton, goat hair, and other natural fibers may be combined with linen without violating the prohibition of shaatnez.

Does the Prohibition of Shaatnez Apply to Women?

Yes. The prohibition of shaatnez applies equally to men and women.

It is in effect in the Land of Israel and throughout the world, and applies both today and during the time when the Holy Temple stood.

Because women's garments sometimes contain a significant possibility of shaatnez, any clothing that may contain a wool-linen blend should be submitted to a qualified shaatnez laboratory for inspection before being worn.