As the High Holy Days approach, Norfolk resident Chava Goldberg, an interior designer turned shatnez specialist, is busy at her sewing table opening linings, collars and waistbands of clients’ garments. Her mission: to locate any hidden blend of sheep’s wool and linen, a mixture the Torah expressly forbids (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11).
Why the testing matters
Observant Jews traditionally buy new clothing for Rosh Hashanah, making the period especially hectic for testers. The prohibition against shatnez is one of the 613 commandments, alongside keeping the Sabbath and honoring parents, yet it remains little known outside Orthodox circles.
Rabbi Ezra Sarna of the Orthodox Union explains that while some mitzvot have obvious ethical purposes, others, like shatnez, do not. Various theories link the rule to the biblical story of Cain and Abel or to idolatrous priestly practices, but the exact reason remains debated.
Growing demand for experts
Goldberg is among roughly 200‑250 qualified shatnez inspectors worldwide. The practice was revived in the United States after Holocaust survivor Joseph Rosenberger opened the first shatnez laboratory in the 1940s. Today, about 150 testers operate across North America, many trained through a 40‑hour course in Lakewood, New Jersey, that covers textile science, microscopy and Jewish law.
Testing is meticulous. Inspectors examine up to three dozen hidden components—collar reinforcements, shoulder pads, linings, and more—using microscopes to identify fibers. Labels are unreliable because they only describe the outer fabric; hidden supports may be wool‑linen blends.
Local impact
Rabbi Mordechai Djavaheri, a Yeshiva University instructor, recently began testing in upper Manhattan after noting a lack of local services. He estimates a full suit takes one‑and‑a‑half to two hours to examine, though seasoned testers can finish in 20‑40 minutes. “The money people pay me is a little extra; I do this for the community,” Djavaheri says.
Goldberg stresses the responsibility she feels: “I don’t want somebody walking around with shatnez because of me. So, I take my time and I’m very deliberate and very careful.” Her careful work helps families fulfill a Torah commandment during the most sacred time of the year.
Future efforts
The Orthodox Union is even sending rabbis to Chinese textile factories to explore ways to create controlled environments for certifying shatnez‑free clothing. While no guarantees exist that any given garment is free of the prohibited blend, ongoing testing and education aim to keep the tradition alive for future generations.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
