(Rabah): The Torah requires making the highest knot (closest to the end of the strings; some explain, closest to the garment);

If this were only mid'Rabanan, we would not need a verse to permit (woolen Techeles strings on) a linen garment. The strings could be inserted without tying them. One does not transgress Kil'ayim for wearing such a garment, since this is not a connection!

Rather, the Torah requires making a knot. One would transgress if the Aseh did not override the Lav.

(Rabah bar Rav Ada): If a string totally snapped, it is Pasul.

Question (Rava - Beraisa): (There is a Shi'ur to the length of Tzitzis when making them, but) Shirei (remnants) and remains of Tzitzis of any size are Kesherim.

Question: What are 'remnants and remains of Tzitzis'?

Suggestion: 'Remnants' are when something remains. 'Remains' are when nothing remains.

Answer (to both questions - Rav Nachman): No; the Beraisa teaches one matter. Remnants of remains of Tzitzis of any size are Kesherim.

Question: If so, it should have said 'remains of Tzitzis of any size are Kesherim'. Why did it mention Shirei (remnants)?

Answer: This teaches that a Shi'ur (a minimal required size) must remain, i.e. enough to make a bow.

(Rabah citing Rav): The string wrapped around the others counts towards the required number of strings.

Rav Yosef: Shmuel said that, and not Rav!

(Rabah bar bar Chanah): The string wrapped around the others counts towards the required number of strings.

(Rabah citing Shmuel): If the Gedil (windings) takes up more space than the Pesil (where the strings lie straight), it is Kosher.

Rav Yosef: Rav said that, and not Shmuel!

Version #1 - (Rav Huna bar Yehudah citing Rav): If the windings take up more space than the Pesil, it is Kosher.

Version #2 - R. Chiya brei d'Rav Noson - (Rav Huna citing Rav): If the windings take up more space than the Pesil, it is Kosher;

Even if there is only one Chulyah (set of windings), it is Kosher.

The ideal proportion is one third windings and two thirds Pesil.

Question: How big should the Chulyah be?

Answer (Beraisa - Rebbi): It must be at least three windings.

(Beraisa): One should not have less than seven (Chulyos on each corner; some explain, windings in each Chulyah), corresponding to the Reki'im (firmaments between levels of Shamayim);

One should not have more than 13, corresponding to the seven Reki'im and the spaces between them.

(Beraisa): One should begin (wrapping the first Chulyah) with Lavan, for it says "ha'Kanaf", i.e. strings similar to the corner;

One should end (the last Chulyah) with Lavan, for we ascend in Kedushah, and we do not descend. (Since the Torah teaches that we start with Lavan, it is considered more Kadosh.)

A man was wearing a garment that was entirely Techeles. Gedil was attached, but no Pesil.

Rav: The garment is beautiful, but not the Tzitzis;

Rabah bar bar Chanah: The garment is beautiful, and also the Tzitzis.

Question: What do they argue about?

Answer: The Torah calls Tzitzis "Gedilim". Elsewhere it says "Pesil";

Rabah bar bar Chanah expounds that they must be Gedil (wound) or Pesil (straight);

Rav say that Pesil is needed in every case. "Gedilim" teaches about the number of strings;

'Gedil' connotes two. "Gedilim" connotes four. We must make Gedilim and (attach them to the corner and double them over) and make the Pesil from the Gedilim (the string used to wrap them counts towards the required number. Alternatively, leave Pesil (straight strings) below the Gedilim (windings).)

(Shmuel): Woolen (Lavan) strings exempt (i.e. fulfill the Mitzvah for) a linen garment.

Question: Do linen strings exempt a woolen garment?

Wool can be used for Lavan, since it can be used for Techeles (which must always be wool), but we have no source to use linen in a wool garment;

Or, perhaps "Lo Silbash Sha'atnez Tzemer u'Fishtim Yachdav; Gedilim Ta'aseh Lach" permits linen strings in a woolen garment and wool strings in a linen garment;

Answer: We learn from Rachbah (that they do);

(Rachbah): Wool strings exempt a linen garment, and linen strings exempt a woolen garment;

Wool and linen strings exempt all garments, even silk, Klach (waste silk) or Serikin (carded silk).

Rachbah argues with Rav Nachman;

(Rav Nachman): Silk is exempt from Tzitzis.

Question (Rava - Beraisa): One must put Tzitzis on garments of silk, Klach and Serikin.

Answer: That is mid'Rabanan. Mid'Oraisa they are exempt.

Question (Seifa): Wool and linen strings exempt all of these.

Granted, if the Mitzvah applies mid'Oraisa, this is why Kil'ayim (Sha'atnez) is permitted;

However, if the Mitzvah is only mid'Rabanan, how can this override Kilayim mid'Oraisa?!

Answer: It means, wool or linen strings exempt all of these. (However, wool and linen may not be put on the same garment.)

Support (Seifa): (Strings of) each of these materials exempts its own kind, but not other materials.

Granted, if the Mitzvah is mid'Rabanan, Chachamim enacted that they are obligated, and they enacted that the same species may be used for Tzitzis.

If it is mid'Oraisa, the Torah requires strings of wool or linen!

Rejection: The Torah also allows the material itself, like Rava expounded;

Contradiction (Rava): "Ha'Kanaf" connotes strings like the corner (of the same material). "Tzemer u'Fishtim" is only wool and linen!

Resolution: Wool or linen exempts any material. Any other material exempts only a garment of that material.

Rav Nachman holds like Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael;

(Beraisa - Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael): The Torah discusses garments without specifying the material (e.g. in the Parshah of Tzitzis). Regarding other garments it specifies (wool and linen, e.g. regarding Tzara'as, or Kilayim);

Just like the latter refers to wool and linen, also the former.

(Abaye): The following Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael argues with the previous Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael!

(Beraisa - Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael) Suggestion: "Beged" refers only to a garment of (sheep's) wool or linen! (Rashi - only they receive Tzara'as; Tosfos - only they are Mekabel Tum'as Sheretz.)

Rejection: "Oh (b')Beged" includes garments of camel's, rabbit's and goat's wool, silk, Klach or Serikin (and all other materials).