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

Making the tzitzit strings

Hi,

The strings hung on the corners of the tzitzit must be spun for the sake of use with tzitzit; one may not just use any string.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 11:1; Mishneh Berurah 11:2)

Chag urim sameach,
Mordechai

The scarf tallit

Hi,

A scarf worn around the neck is exempt from tzitzit, even if it is of significant length. [This is one of the reasons that a tallit should not be worn around one's neck, but rather should be draped over the body.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 10:11; Mishneh Berurah 10:34)

Chag sameach,
Mordechai

Which materials require tzitzit?

Hi,

Only garments made of woven materials are obligated in tzitzit. If the majority of the garment is made of some other material, such as rubber or leather, there is no obligation to have tzitzit-strings.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 10:4; Mishneh Berurah 10:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit in a drawer

Hi,

The mitzvah of tzitzit is an obligation for the wearer, not the garment. This means that if I have a four-cornered garment but I'm not wearing it right now, the garment doesn't require tzitzit strings. Any four-cornered garment I am currently wearing requires tzitzit strings.

(Mishneh Berurah 8:44)

Have a great day,
Mordechai