New tzitzit or tefillin during the Three Weeks

Hi,

May I wear new tzitzis or tefillin during the Three Weeks?

During the "Three Weeks" period between the 17^th of Tammuz and Tishah b'Av we do not wear clothing which would require a berachah of shehechiyanu, because of the joy involved. This includes wearing a new tallis; it also applies to wearing tzitzis, where new tzitzis garments are uncommon and bring joy.

Many authorities do permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat, before the Nine Days begin. Some specify not to recite shehechiyanu, although they permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat. One should follow communal custom.

New tefillin may be worn during the Three Weeks. Even though some do recite shehechiyanu on the first occasion of wearing tefillin, that is because of joy in the mitzvah, not because of the joy of wearing new clothing.

(Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Berachos 11:9; Beit Yosef Orach Chaim 22:1; Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 551:10-11; Avnei Nezer Orach Chaim 428; Chayyei Adam 133:8; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 551:18; Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

Have a good day,

Mordechai

Tzitzit pockets

Hi,

One may insert the strings of tzitzis into pockets, which are then sewn closed, for their protection while the tzitzis are being laundered.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:23:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tangled tzitzit strings

Hi,

Tzitzis strings which become tangled together are still kosher, although it is good to separate them.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:23:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The age to start wearing tzitzit

Hi,

One should train a child in each mitzvah when he is intellectually ready; there is no fixed age. Local custom is to start at the age of 3, and so that is when one should attempt to train the child in this mitzvah.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Obligating one's self in Tzitzit

Hi,

Technically, the law of Tzitzit requires only that one who is wearing a four-cornered garment must attach the strings of Tzitzit. There is no requirement, biblically, to put on a four-cornered garment in order to be obligated in Tzitzit.

However: Since the universal custom among observant Jewish males is to wear a four-cornered garment daily in order to fulfill this mitzvah, and since this custom enables accrual of merit, one may not diverge from this custom.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Buying mitzvah items during the Nine Days

Hi,

One may purchase tefillin during the Nine Days, as these are purchased for their mitzvah.

One may not purchase a Tallit, because it is a garment and it is important enough to warrant a Shehechiyanu.

One may purchase a Tallit Katan (tzitzit) if the garment is not significant to him [I believe the definition of significance is in terms of the joy it brings the wearer].

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Cotton and Polyester Tzitzit

Hi,

According to the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, four-cornered wool or linen garments require tzitzit biblically, but garments of other material do not require tzitzit biblically. Therefore, one should not use garments of other materials, like cotton and polyester, for tzitzit, since he is not fulfilling the biblical mitzvah.

On the other hand, the Rama ruled that these other woven materials do require tzitzit.

Therefore, one who is suffering from heat would be permitted to rely on the Rama and use garments of these other materials, but this is not ideal in general.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:1)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Tzitzit materials

Hi,

Ideally, one should wear tzitzit garments made of wool, with tzitzit strings made of wool.

One who cannot wear a wool garment, such as due to heat, may wear non-wool, but then he should also use tzitzit strings made of the same material as the garment. If that is not possible, he should use wool strings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Touching tefillin and tzitzit while reciting Shema

Hi,

One who is wearing tefillin while reciting Shema should touch the arm and head tefillin when reciting the verses that mention them. Similarly, one who is wearing tzitzit should touch the tzitzit when reciting the verses that mention them.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 61:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Used tallit and tzitzit strings

Hi,

Technically, tzitzit-strings that have become separated from a tallit possess no sanctity. However, out of respect for their mitzvah we don't discard them in a disrespectful fashion. Some people bury them, and others discard them in a respectful manner, wrapping them to avoid contact with refuse. Others recycle them for another mitzvah - they use the strings as a bookmark in a sefer (book of Torah).

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 21:1; Mishneh Berurah 21:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit for blankets?

Hi,

Four-cornered blankets do not require tzizit, even if a person sleeps in them after morning has begun. Their essential function is a nighttime function. Further, there is debate as to whether lying in a four-cornered item renders it a 'garment.'

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 18:2; Mishneh Berurah 18:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Training children to wear tzitzit

Hi,

Once a boy is old enough to understand how to wear tzitzit, meaning to keep two corners of the garment in front and two behind, and to hold the strings when reciting Shema, we are obligated to acquire a pair of tzitzit for him, and train him.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 17:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tallit for a blind person?

Hi,

Although the Torah states that the mitzvah of tzitzit involves 'seeing' the strings, blind people are also obligated in this mitzvah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 17:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Removing tzitzit strings

Hi,

One may not remove the tzitzit strings from a four-cornered garment, as this would disgrace the mitzvah. One may only remove the strings if the garment has worn out beyond use, or the owner of the garment has died, or one intends to use the strings on a different garment.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 15:1; Mishneh Berurah 15:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Who makes the tzitzit strings?

Hi,

The tzitzit strings, and their attachment to the four-cornered garment, must be done by Jews; the Torah introduces this mitzvah by saying 'Speak to the Jews...'

Some further prefer that this be done by men, specifically, because the mitzvah is obligatory for men, and only optional for women.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 14:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit: All or nothing

Hi,

For the tzitzit on a garment to be valid, one must have the strings on all four corners; all of the strings combine for one overarching mitzvah. If the strings on any corner become invalid, the entire set of tzitzit are invalid.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 13:1; Mishneh Berurah 13:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting the tzitzit strings through the corners

Hi,

Tzitzit have four strings looped through each corner, so that a total of eight string-ends hang down.

One may not put a single long string through the corner four times and then cut it to produce four separate strings; the strings must be unique from the start, such that putting them through the hole is the final act to create a valid set of tzitzit.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:12-13)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

The corners of the tallit

Hi,

The holes in the corners of the tzitzit or tallit garment, through which the tzitzit-strings are looped, may be no more than 3 inches from the edge - otherwise the strings cannot be said to go "through the garment's corner," which is a biblical requirement.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:9; Mishneh Berurah 11:41)

Chag chanukah sameach,
Mordechai

Keeping tzitzit from unraveling

Hi,

Some people tie a small knot at the end of each string of the tzitzit, to keep the strings from unraveling. Others specifically don't tie such a knot, because tzitzit are meant to have a specific number of knots, and this would appear to add to that total.

Because the legality of the knots is disputed, it is better to avoid tying them if there is no real danger of the strings unraveling.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:3; Mishneh Berurah 11:18)

Chag sameach and chodesh tov,
Mordechai

Unraveled tzitzit

Hi,

The strings of the tzitzit are supposed to be corded, meaning that they are to be made of multiple strings wrapped around each other. If that cording becomes unraveled the strings are still valid, so long as a small segment at the base remains intact.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 11:3)

Chag urim sameach,
Mordechai