“You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed. . .You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together” (Deuteronomy 22:9-11 ESV).
These three laws appear together twice in the Torah, once here in Deuteronomy and once in Leviticus 19:19. We encounter a law about plants, a law about animals, and a law about wearing wool (an animal-derived material) mixed with linen (a plant-derived material). What is this about?
The answer: unnatural pairing. As we will see, unnatural pairing is any pairing that interferes with growth, strains or aggravates progress, or damages the unity (or harms the integrity) of the whole. To explain, let’s start with the first one listed.
You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed. I like this explanation from Hirsch: “Sowing diverse seeds is forbidden only without separation. Hence, it is permitted to sow two different varieties of seeds one next to the other, provided that one separates them properly. For example: one keeps them far enough away from each other, so that, underground, they draw sustenance separately and not one from the other” (Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Hirsch Chumash, Vayikra, pg. 632). Diverse seeds sharing the same soil can interfere with each other. For instance, if oats and wheat are sown together, the latter is injured and the former ruined (Source).
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. As Rabbi Telushkin explains, “Being of unequal size and strength, both animals—particularly the weaker one—will suffer; the donkey will experience strain and the ox frustration” (Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Code of Jewish Ethics Vol. 2, pg. 301). Note: the practice of yoking a younger, less experienced ox with a stronger, more experienced ox is commonplace, seeing as how the younger ox will take its cues from the older ox and its strength will develop in time. This law isn’t about pairing two similar animals of unequal strength and experience. This law is about yoking two animals together that are hopelessly incompatible.
You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together. After some digging, here’s what I found: When washed, wool and linen react differently. Wool is vulnerable to “felting shrinkage.” This occurs because animal hair fibers (like wool) have scales along the surface. When exposed to moisture and heat, the scales on the wool swell, rub against each other and bind together, thereby creating a denser, shrunken fabric (Source). Linen, on the other hand, is not vulnerable to felting shrinkage. Linen will shrink a small amount, but not as much as wool. The net result is that the two fabrics will tear at each other over time, and the overall garment they serve will be weakened.
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. As Rabbi Telushkin explains, “Being of unequal size and strength, both animals—particularly the weaker one—will suffer; the donkey will experience strain and the ox frustration” (Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Code of Jewish Ethics Vol. 2, pg. 301). Note: the practice of yoking a younger, less experienced ox with a stronger, more experienced ox is commonplace, seeing as how the younger ox will take its cues from the older ox and its strength will develop in time. This law isn’t about pairing two similar animals of unequal strength and experience. This law is about yoking two animals together that are hopelessly incompatible.
You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together. After some digging, here’s what I found: When washed, wool and linen react differently. Wool is vulnerable to “felting shrinkage.” This occurs because animal hair fibers (like wool) have scales along the surface. When exposed to moisture and heat, the scales on the wool swell, rub against each other and bind together, thereby creating a denser, shrunken fabric (Source). Linen, on the other hand, is not vulnerable to felting shrinkage. Linen will shrink a small amount, but not as much as wool. The net result is that the two fabrics will tear at each other over time, and the overall garment they serve will be weakened.
Speaking practically, I see these laws playing out where I work. My position serves a large department in the company, with eight separate teams in my division alone. On each team there are 7-10 people. I’ve observed how much deliberation the managers put into their hiring a new member for their particular team. It goes beyond whether the candidate is qualified and capable. A critical factor that each manager takes into account is the team dynamic. Is this person right for my team? is a central question they ask themselves. To make a wise selection on their part is to adhere to these laws in the Torah. Even more, they must exercise this wisdom in creating something as seemingly simple as the seating arrangement. Since the desks are arranged in such a way that two people sit in close proximity to one another all day every day, an unnatural pairing of two people can be problematic. Personalities may clash, styles may interfere, work may be hindered. I have witnessed an unnatural pairing ignite drama within the team, which then weakens the integrity of the whole and harms the unity of the group.
To summarize, what is an unnatural pairing? A relationship that causes interference to growth, aggravation to purpose, or damages the integrity of one’s character.