Explore the significance of the ritually fringed four-cornered garment.
| |
|
Latest Comments:
It is my understanding that each of the 12 tribes had a unique pattern of lines on the prayer shawl. Where can I find information about those embroidered lines and to which tribe each is associated?
|
Devora, you wrote that you're looking for inspirational stories for a son going through teen challenges. How about "The Would-Be Sinner," on Menachos 44a?
It's too explicit for young teens. You'll want to preview it and decide whether it's appropriate for your son.
|
Jacob Shaner,
I would suggest that you wear your tzizit over your undershirt and then wear a t-shirt over it. This is perfectly fine to proudly wear at home. Tzizit don't have to be worn with formal dress only. Many Chassidim wear a pair of night tzizit over or under their PJs.
Since you did your research, perhaps you can help me. Have you come across any inspirational stories I can forward to my son to encourage him to put back on his tzizit? He's going thru teen challanges stage right now...??
|
I watched the video, Ive searched the internet, I read every source available, but have not gotten an answer: how do I wear tzitzit if I spend my days home (disabled) and either don't get dressed for the day, or wear jeans and a t-shirt? I cant let the tzitzit touch my skin, so an undershirt is necessary, then another shirt over? I should wash them every day? I so want to perform this mitzvot, but it was much easier when I worked in NYC and dressed in a suit everyday. Now, it's pjs, warm ups, shorts and T's. I can't wear a suit everyday
|
Problem is that if they are not techeles, the thread must be the same color as the garment that they are fixed to.
|
I do understand this. I know what the Tal'mud says about not using a substitute for tekheles which looks like tekheles, but if one uses an extremely dark blue, or an extremely light blue, it does not resemble tekheles, but is still blue - and is at least closer to the mitz'vah than omitting the blue thread all together.
|
suggesting that we use another dye instead of techelet is like asking a doctor to place another similar looking liquid into the bag dripping into the arm of the patient since they ran out of the stuff they normally put in the i.v. or asking your a chef to put mud into the spaghetti since there is no beef and they look almost alike. They may look alike, but one nourishes and the other does not.
Techelet is the mitzvah that G-d asked for and indigo or blueberries just won't make the cut.
|
why must the tekheles be such a specific and rare dye? and in the absence of such a dye, should we not do our best to fulfill the mitz'vah of a "thread of blue", to the best of our ability? Why not use a blue that is either darker or lighter than actual tekheles, so that it cannot be mistaken for tekheles, but is still blue?
|
We read in Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 8:11) that one should wear the tzitzit over his other garments so that he can constantly see them and be reminded of the mitzvot.
In fact, Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan (known as the Chafetz Chaim) strongly objected to those who tucked their tzitzit into their pants. He wrote (Mishnah Brurah 8:26) that doing so is a denigration of the mitzvot. He gives an example of a person who received a garment as a gift from a king -- obviously he would proudly expose it for all to see. All the more so, then, should one make a point of exposing the tzitzit.
On the other hand, we see in the kabbalistic writings (Pri Etz Chaim, Shaar Tzitzit I) that the AriZal would wear his tzitzit under his other garments. The reason for this practice is because the talit katan represents a more internal level while the talit gadol represents the external and therefore worn over the other garments. The Rebbe (Likuttei Sichot 23 Shlach III) explains that in the talit katan reality, the fact that one knows about his tzitzit is considered vision since he internally sees them in his mind's eye. On the other hand, the talit gadol which represent the external aspects must be visible to the naked eye as well.
Many Sephardim base their practice on this precedent and therefore tuck their tzitzit into their pants. They fulfill the obligation of actually “seeing” the tzitzit through wearing their talit gadol over the other garments.
The Alter Rebbe writes (Shulchan Aruch 8:18) that nonetheless one should leave the tzitzit out so that they serve as a constant reminder, and this is the accepted Chabad practice.
|
I'm just curious why Sfaradim and even Mitnagdim tuck in their tzitzit if must be seen. Does it have to be seen 24/7? Also, do you fulfill the mitzvah of wearing tzitzit if you put it on, say the bracha, but then take it off? Is there a prescribed amount of time per day one must wear tzitzit?
|
|
|
 |
|
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
18 Comments
