The earliest time for tallit and tzitzit

Hi,

There is an "earliest time" for the mitzvah of donning tzitzit or a tallit; before that time, one who puts on tzitzit or a tallit does not recite a blessing on them. Many calculate this time as 45 or 60 minutes before sunrise.

One who puts on tzitzit or tallit before the "earliest time" should wait until the earliest time arrives, then recite the blessing, then shift the tzitzit/tallit around somewhat and re-settle them in place.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 8:16; Mishneh Berurah 8:43)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Overnight tzitzit

Hi,

One who does not remove his tzitzit at night, but instead sleeps in them, he should recite a new blessing on them in the morning. There is some debate on this point, though, and so it would be better to mentally include the tzitzit in the blessing he recites on the tallit.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 8:16; Mishneh Berurah 8:42)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

If a tallit falls off

Hi,

If one's tallit or tzitzit fall entirely off, he must recite a new blessing before putting them back on. This is true even if he picks it up and puts it back on immediately.

Among Sephardic Jews, one who removes his tallit intentionally must recite a new blessing before putting it back on. Among Ashkenazic Jews, though, one who intentionally removes the tallit need not recite a blessing before putting it back on, so long as he did not travel far and did not wait a long time before putting it back on. It is difficult to define "a long time;" ask your local authority for more information.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 8:14-15; Mishneh Berurah 8:40)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

One berachah for both tzitzit and tallit

Hi,

There is debate as to whether the blessing one recites on the tzitzit (tallit katan) in the morning can include the tallit he will don in the synagogue, because the two garments are donned in different locations. Therefore, one should recite separate blessings for each, and not try to include both in one blessing.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 8:13; Mishneh Berurah 8:33-34)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Multiple tzitzit garments

Hi,

One who wears many four-cornered garments simultaneously is obligated to put tzitzit-strings on the corner of each of them. However, one who dons more than one such garment at the same time need recite only one berachah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 8:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit Visibility

Hi,

One should make sure the strings of his tzitzit are visible when he recites the blessing on the garment, even if he will need to tuck them into his clothing later.

Ideally the strings (and even the garment, according to some) should always be visible, as a reminder of the mitzvot of the Torah, but the sages were lenient for Jews who would mix among non-Jews, if there was concern for mockery or violence. [There are also those who keep the strings inside their garments for mystical reasons.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 8:11; Mishneh Berurah 8:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit Check

Hi,

One should make sure, daily, to examine the strings of his tzitzit and tallit before reciting berachot (blessings) and donning these garments, to make sure the strings are whole and the knots have not come undone.

One should even do this on Shabbat, according to many authorities, even though he might be tempted to fix the strings, which is prohibited on Shabbat. The concern for an improper berachah is greater than the concern that he might re-tie the strings.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 8:9; Mishneh Berurah 8:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai