Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Tzitzit - Chapter One, Tzitzit - Chapter Two, Tzitzit - Chapter Three
Tzitzit - Chapter One
Introduction to Hilchos Tzitzit
They contain one mitzvah, to make tzitzit on the corners of a garment.
This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.
הלכות ציצית - הקדמה
הלכות ציצית מצות עשה אחת והיא לעשות ציצית על כנפי הכסות וביאור מצוה זו בפרקים אלו:
The tassel that is made on the fringes of a garment from the same fabric as the garment is called tzitzit, because it resembles the locks of the head, as [Ezekiel 8:3] relates, "And he took me by the locks of my head."
This tassel is called the white [strands], because we are not commanded to dye it. The Torah did not establish a fixed number of strands for this tassel.
אענף שעושין על כנף הבגד ממין הבגד הוא הנקרא ציצית מפני שהוא דומה לציצית של ראש שנאמר ויקחני בציצית ראשי וזה הענף הוא הנקרא לבן מפני שאין אנו מצווין לצובעו ואין לחוטי הענף מנין מן התורה:
Then we take a strand of wool that is dyed a sky-like color and wind it around this tassel. This strand is called techelet. The Torah did not establish a fixed requirement for the number of times that this strand should be wound [around the tassel].
בולוקחין חוט צמר שנצבע כעין הרקיע וכורכין אותו על הענף וחוט זה הוא הנקרא תכלת ואין למנין הכריכות שכורך חוט זה שיעור מן התורה:
Thus, this mitzvah contains two commandments: to make a tassel on the fringe [of a garment], and to wind a strand of techelet around the tassel. [Both these dimensions are indicated by Numbers 15:38, which] states: "And you shall make tassels... and you shall place on the tassels of the corner a strand of techelet."
גנמצאו במצוה זו שני צווים שיעשה על הכנף ענף יוצא ממנה ושיכרוך על הענף חוט תכלת שנאמר ועשו להם ציצית ונתנו על ציצית הכנף פתיל תכלת:
The [absence of] techelet does not prevent [the mitzvah from being fulfilled with] the white strands, nor does the [absence of] the white strands prevent [the mitzvah from being fulfilled with] techelet.
What is implied? A person who does not have techelet should make [tzitzit] from white strands alone. Similarly, if [tzitzit] were made from both white strands and techelet, and afterwards, the white strands snapped and were reduced until [they did not extend beyond] the corner [of the garment], and thus only the techelet remained, it is acceptable.
דוהתכלת אינו מעכב את הלבן והלבן אינו מעכב את התכלת כיצד הרי שאין לו תכלת עושה לבן לבדו וכן אם עשה לבן ותכלת ונפסק הלבן ונתמעט עד הכנף ונשאר התכלת לבדו כשר:
Although the [absence of] one does not prevent [the mitzvah from being fulfilled with] the other, they are not considered as two mitzvot. Instead, they are a single mitzvah. Whether [the tzitzit] a person wears on his garment are white, techelet, or a combination of the two colors, he fulfills a single mitzvah.
The Sages of the early generations related: [Numbers 15:39 states:] "And they shall be tzitzit for you." This teaches that they are both one mitzvah.
The [presence of each of the] four tzitzit is necessary [for the mitzvah to be fulfilled], because all four are [elements] of a single mitzvah.
האף על פי שאין אחד מהן מעכב את חבירו אינן שתי מצות אלא מצות עשה אחת אמרו חכמים הראשונים והיה לכם לציצית מלמד ששניהם מצוה אחת וארבע ציציות מעכבות זו את זו שארבעתן מצוה אחת והלובש טלית שיש בה לבן או תכלת או שניהם כאחד הרי קיים מצות עשה אחת:
How are the tzitzit made? One begins from the corner of a garment - i.e., the end of its woven portion. One ascends upward no more than three fingerbreadths from the edge, but no less than the distance from the knuckle of the thumb to its end.
[A hole is made] and four strands inserted, [causing them] to be folded in half. Thus, there will be eight strands hanging down from the corner. These eight strands must be at least four fingerbreadths long. If they are longer - even if they are a cubit or two long - it is acceptable. The term "fingerbreadth" refers to a thumbbreadth.
One of the eight strands should be techelet; the other seven should be white.
וכיצד עושין את הציצית מתחיל מזוית של טלית שהיא סוף הארוג ומרחיק ממנה לא יותר על שלש אצבעות למעלה ולא פחות מקשר גודל ומכניס שם ארבעה חוטין וכופלן באמצע נמצאו שמונה חוטים משולשין תלויין מן הקרן ואורך החוטים השמונה אין פחות מארבע אצבעות ואם היו יותר על כן אפילו אמה או שתים כשרין וכל האצבעות בגודל ויהיה אחד משמנה החוטים חוט תכלת והשבעה לבנים:
Afterwards, one should take one of the white strands and wind it once around the other strands close to the edge of the garment and let it go. Then one takes the strand that was dyed techelet and winds it twice [around the other strands], next to the coil made by the white strand, and then ties the strands in a knot. These three coils are called a segment.
Afterwards, one should leave a slight space, and then make a second segment using only the strand that was dyed techelet. Again, one should leave a slight space, and then make a third segment [using only the strand that was dyed techelet for this segment as well]. One should continue in this manner until the final segment, which is made of two coils of techelet and a final coil using a white strand.1 Since one began with a white strand, one concludes with it, because one should always ascend to a higher level of holiness, but never descend.2
Why should one begin using a white strand? So that [the coil that is] next to the corner of the garment should be similar to [the garment itself].
The same pattern is followed regarding all four corners.
זולוקח חוט אחד מן הלבן וכורך בו כריכה אחת על שאר החוטין בצד הבגד ומניחו ולוקח חוט התכלת וכורך בו שתי כריכות בצד כריכה של לבן וקושר ואלו השלש כריכות הם הנקראין חוליא ומרחיק מעט ועושה חוליא שניה בחוט של תכלת לבדו ומרחיק מעט ועושה חוליא שלישית וכן עד חוליא אחרונה שהוא כורך בה שתי כריכות של תכלת וכריכה אחרונה של לבן מפני שהתחיל בלבן מסיים בו שמעלין בקודש ולא מורידין ולמה יתחיל בלבן כדי שיהא סמוך לכנף מינה ועל דרך זה הוא עושה בארבע הכנפות:
How many segments should be made at every corner? No fewer than seven and no more than thirteen.3
[The above] represents the most preferable way of performing the mitzvah. If, however, one wound only one segment around the strands, it is acceptable.4 Should one wind the techelet around the majority of the [length of the] tzitzit, it is acceptable. For the techelet to be attractive, [however,] all the segments should be in the upper third of the strands, and the [remaining] two thirds should hang loose.5
One must separate the strands like the locks of one's hair.6
חכמה חוליות הוא עושה בכל כנף לא פחות משבע ולא יותר משלש עשרה וזו היא מצוה מן המובחר ואם לא כרך עליה אלא חוליא אחת כשרה ואם כרך התכלת על רוב הציצית כשרה ונוי התכלת שיהיו כל החוליות בשליש החוטין המשולשלין ושני שלישיהן ענף וצריך לפרדו עד שיהיה כציצית שיער הראש:
A person who makes [tzitzit using only] white threads without using techelet7 should take one of the eight strands and wind it around the others, covering one third of [the length of] the strands and leaving two thirds hanging loose.
When winding [this strand around the others], one may create segments as one does when winding the techelet, if one desires. This is our custom. If, however, one desires to wind [the strand around the others] without creating segments, one may.8
The general principle is that one should intend that one third of the tzitzit be bound, and two thirds hang loose.9 There are those, however, who are not precise about this matter when [making tzitzit] with white threads [alone].
Should one wind a white thread around the majority [of the length] of the strands or should one make only a single segment,10 [the tzitzit] are acceptable.
טהעושה לבן בלא תכלת לוקח אחד משמונה החוטין וכורך אותו על שאר החוטין עד שלישן ומניח שני שלישיתן ענף וכריכה זו אם רצה לכרוך אותה חוליות חוליות כעין שכורך בתכלת הרשות בידו וזה הוא מנהגנו ואם רצה לכרוך בלא מנין חוליות עושה כללו של דבר יתכוין להיות הכרוך שליש והענף שני שלישים ויש מי שאינו מדקדק בדבר זה בלבן ואם כרך הלבן על רוב החוטין או שלא כרך אלא חוליא אחת כשרה:
Both the white strands and those dyed techelet may be made out of entwined strands.11 Even a strand that is made from eight threads entwined into a single strand is considered as only a single strand in this context.
יאחד חוטי לבן ואחד חוטי תכלת אם רצה לעשות שזורין עושה אפי' היה החוט כפול משמנה חוטין ושזור עד שנעשה פתיל אחד אינו נחשב אלא חוט אחד:
Both the white strands of the tzitzit and those dyedtechelet must be spun for the sake of being used for [the mitzvah of] tzitzit.
[Tzitzit] may not be made from wool which becomes attached to thorns when sheep graze among them, nor from hairs which are pulled off the animal, and not from the leftover strands of the woof which the weaver leaves over when he completes a garment. Rather, they must be made from shorn wool or from flax.
[Tzitzit] may not be made from wool which was stolen, which came from an ir hanidachat, or which came from a consecrated animal. If such wool was used, it is unacceptable. If a person bows down to an animal, its wool is not acceptable for use for tzitzit. If, however, one bows down to flax which is planted, it is acceptable, because it has been changed.
יאחוטי הציצית בין לבן בין תכלת צריכין טויה לשם ציצית ואין עושין אותן לא מן הצמר הנאחז בקוצים כשהצאן רובצין ביניהם ולא מן הנימין הנתלשין מן הבהמה ולא משיורי שתי שהאורג משייר בסוף הבגד אלא מן הגזה של צמר או מן הפשתן ואין עושין אותן מצמר הגזול ולא משל עיר הנדחת ולא משל קדשים ואם עשה פסול המשתחוה לבהמה צמרה פסול לציצית אבל המשתחוה לפשתן הנטוע הרי זה כשר שהרי נשתנה:
Tzitzit that were made by a gentile are not acceptable, as [implied by Numbers 15:38, which] states: "Speak to the children of Israel... and you shall make tzitzit for yourselves." If, however, a Jew made tzitzit without the intention [that they be used for the mitzvah], they are acceptable.
Tzitzit that are made from those already existing are not acceptable.
יבציצית שעשה אותו כותי פסול שנאמר דבר אל בני ישראל ועשו להם ציצית אבל אם עשה אותה ישראל בלא כוונה כשרה וציצית שנעשה מן העשוי מקודם פסול:
What is implied? Should a person bring the corner of a garment which has tzitzit attached to it and sew it onto another garment, it is not acceptable. [This applies] even if that corner of the garment is a square cubit in size.
[This concept is derived from Numbers 15:38, which] states: "And you shall make tzitzit for yourselves" - i.e., [you should make them] and not [use those] which were made previously,since this would be as if [the mitzvah] came about on its own accord.
It is permissible to remove strands [of tzitzit] - whether white or techelet - from one garment and tie them on another.
יגכיצד הביא כנף שיש בה ציצית ותפרה על הבגד אפילו יש באותה הכנף אמה על אמה פסול שנאמר ועשו להם ציצית לא מן העשוי שהרי זה דומה למי שנעשית מאיליה ומותר להתיר ציצית מבגד זה ולתלותם בבגד אחר בין לבן בין תכלת:
Should one suspend the strands between two corners of the garment and tie [tzitzit on] each of the corners in the proper manner, and then separate them from each other,12 it is unacceptable.
[The rationale is] that, at the time they were tied, they were unacceptable, since the two corners were connected with each other through the strands. When the strands were cut, two tzitzit were made. This is considered as making tzitzit from those which already exist.13
ידתלה החוטין בין שתי כנפים מזו לזו וקשר כנף זו כהלכתה וכנף זו כהלכתה ואח"כ חתכן באמצע ונפרדו זה מזה פסול שהרי בעת שקשרן היו פסולין לפי ששתי הכנפים מעורות זו בזו בחוטין שביניהן ובשעה שפסקן נעשו שתי ציציות נמצא עושה מן העשוי:
[The following rules apply when] a person ties tzitzit over existing tzitzit: Should [he tie the second set] with the intention of nullifying the first set, if he unties or cuts off the first set,14 the tzitzit are acceptable.15
Should, however, [he have tied the second set] with the intention of adding [a second tzitzit, the tzitzit] are not acceptable even though he cuts one of them off.16 When he added the second tzitzit, he disqualified both sets17, and when he unties or cuts off the additional one, the remaining one is [disqualified because it involves] making [tzitzit] from those which are already existing, since the manner in which it existed previously was not acceptable.
טוהטיל ציצית על הציצית אם נתכוון לבטל את הראשונות מתיר הראשונה או חותכה וכשרה ואם נתכוון להוסיף אף על פי שחתך אחת משתיהן הרי זו פסולה שהרי כשהוסיף פסל את הכל וכשהתיר או חתך התוספת נמצא השאר נעשה מן העשוי שעשייתו הראשונה פסולה היתה:
Similarly, all the tzitzit of a garment are unacceptable18
[in the following instance]: A person placed tzitzit on a garment that had three corners.19 afterwards, he made the garment a fourth corner and placed tzitzit on it. [This is also excluded by the commandment, Deuteronomy 22:12:]20 "Make braids," [which implies that one may not use those] which were made previously.
טזוכן המטיל לבעלת שלש ואחר כך השלימה לארבע והטיל לרביעית כולה פסולה שנאמר תעשה ולא מן העשוי:
A garment should not be folded in half, and then tzitzit hung on the four corners of the folded garment,21 unless one sews it along [one] side entirely. [It is sufficient, however, to sew it] on one side alone.22
יזאין כופלין את הטלית לשנים ומטילין ציצית על ד' כנפיה כשהיא כפולה אלא אם כן תפרה כולה ואפילו מרוח אחת:
[The following rules apply] if the corner [of the garment] to which the tzitzit were attached is torn off the garment: If more than three fingerbreadths were torn, it may be sewed back in its place.23
If less than three fingerbreadths were torn off, it should not be sewn back.24
If the portion of the garment is between [the hole through which] the tzitzit [are attached] and the end of the garment, it is acceptable, even though only the smallest portion of the fabric remains.25
Similarly, if the [length of the] strands of the tzitzit was reduced,26 it is acceptable, as long as enough of the strand remains to tie a loop. Should, however, even a single strand be torn off [from the place to which it is attached to the garment], it is no longer acceptable.27
יחנפסק הכנף שיש בה ציצית חוץ לשלש אצבעות תופרה במקומה בתוך שלש לא יתפור נתמעטה זוית של בגד שבין חוטי הציצית ובין סוף הארוג אפילו לא נשאר מן הארוג אלא כל שהוא כשר וכן אם נתמעטו חוטי הציצית אפילו לא נשתייר מהם אלא כדי עניבה כשר ואם נפסק החוט מעיקרו אפילו חוט אחד פסולה:
The pattern of winding the techelet mentioned by the Rambam is based on his interpretation of Menachot 39a. As the Rambam mentions in Halachah 9, it must be followed only when the tzitzit include a strand of techelet. If they do not, as in the case of our tzitzit, different principles apply.
The Ra'avad differs with the Rambam's approach and suggests a different manner of winding the coils of the tzitzit, which resembles the pattern we use today. The Rambam was aware of this approach and, in one of his responsa, explains that the method he mentioned has its source in the Talmud (Menachot, ibid.), while the other approach is of later origin.
Rashi, Menachot, ibid., states that since the white strand was used first, not ending with it would appear to detract from its importance.
The principle, "one should always ascend to a higher level of holiness, but never descend," is applied in many other contexts within Torah law - e.g., Hilchot Tefillin 3:17.
Menachot 39a explains that the techelet reminds one of the heavens. There are seven heavens and six spaces between them, thus resulting in a total of thirteen.
This law also applies at present, as mentioned in the following halachah.
Note the Zohar, Vol. III, p. 228b, which explains the mystical significance of the division of the tzitzit into three portions.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 8:7) obligates one to separate the strands of the tzitzit before putting on one's garment. Note the Mishnah Berurah 8:18, which quotes the Ari zal as stating that the word ציצת is an acronym for the Hebrew words meaning, "A righteous person constantly separates his tzitzit."
As mentioned in Halachot 4-5, the absence of techelet does not prevent one from fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit. Indeed, this is the manner in which most people fulfill the mitzvah at present.
Significantly, besides the knot with which the tzitzit are attached to the garment (Halachah 7), the Rambam does not mention tying knots in the tzitzit at all. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 11:14) mentions the common practice in which five knots are tied on the strands, leaving four spaces, which are filled with coils in between them. There are certain authorities who combine the two opinions, tying the knots as mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch, but dividing the coils into segments as the Rambam mentions (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:27-28,31).
If the tzitzit lack entirely strands which hang loose, they are unacceptable (Kessef Mishneh).
This principle is also accepted by the opinions that do not require that the coils be divided into segments of three. Even so, for tzitzit to be acceptable, they must possess at least three coils (Mishnah Berurah 11:63,66).
The Rambam leaves the use of entwined strands up to a person's choice. The Ra'avad objects, quoting a passage from the Sifre that requires that the strands of the tzitzit be made by entwining different threads together. Numbers 15:38 uses the expression, p'til techelet. The word p'til implies "twisted threads." See the Targum Yonaton to this verse. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 11:2) follows the Ra'avad's view and obligates the use of entwined strands. From Chapter 2, Halachah 7, it appears that the Rambam also considered this as the common practice.
11. The Rambam leaves the use of entwined strands up to a person's choice. The Ra'avad objects, quoting a passage from the Sifre that requires that the strands of the tzitzit be made by entwining different threads together. Numbers 15:38 uses the expression, p'til techelet. The word p'til implies "twisted threads." See the Targum Yonaton to this verse.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 11:2) follows the Ra'avad's view and obligates the use of entwined strands. From Chapter 2, Halachah 7, it appears that the Rambam also considered this as the common practice.
The Rambam is speaking about the following instance: The person used long strands and placed one end of them through each of the two holes. Afterwards, using the strands from each corner that was not passed through the hole, he tied both tzitzit, and then separated them from each other.
This law is based on the Rambam's interpretation of Sukkah 11a-b. Others (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 11:13) interpret that passage as speaking about the tzitzit of a single corner. If one inserts a single long strand in the hole several times, thus producing eight strands, ties the tzitzit, and then separates the strands from each other, the tzitzit are not acceptable. This is also considered as making tzitzit from those which are already existing.
See Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24, which describes the manner in which tzitzit should be removed from a garment.
Since he intended to remove the initial tzitzit, there is nothing wrong with attaching the second one (Menachot 40b).
According to the Rambam, it does not matter which tzitzit he removes. For the tzitzit to be acceptable, both sets have to be removed, and then a single set retied.
By adding the second set, he transgresses the prohibition against adding to the mitzvot of the Torah. Therefore, both sets of tzitzit are disqualified. The Ra'avad and the Ashkenazic authorities do not accept the Rambam's decision. They maintain that while both sets of tzitzit are hanging from the garment, their existence is not considered at all significant. It is as if they do not exist at all. Therefore, by removing the extra set, one is not making tzitzit from ones which previously exist. On the contrary, one is bringing an acceptable set of tzitzit into existence.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 10:6) accepts the Rambam's view. The Ramah, however, follows the other opinions.
The Rambam's statements have raised questions. Though all commentaries agree that the three tzitzit made when the garment had only three corners are unacceptable, the question revolves around the fourth corner. Why is the tzitzit made upon it disqualified? When it was made, the garment already had four corners. On this basis, the Magen Avraham (10:6) rules that, indeed, the fourth tzitzit is not disqualified and may remain.
Tzitzit are required only on a garment with four corners, as stated in the proof-text quoted from Deuteronomy and mentioned in Chapter 3, Halachah 1.
There is a slight difficulty with the Rambam's statements: In this halachah he cites the verse from Deuteronomy as a proof-text, while in Halachah 13 he cited a verse from Numbers.
Although in its present state, the garment has four corners, unless it is sewn it is possible that the folds will open and the position of the corners will change (Menachot 41a). Note the Ramah (Orach Chayim 10:6), who quotes a difference of opinion where the tzitzit should be placed during the time the garment is folded. Because of this difference of opinion, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 10:13 suggests not wearing such a garment unless it is sewn closed.
Our translation follows the explanation of the Beit Yosef (Orach Chayim 10). Note, however, the explanation of the Be'ur Halachah 10.
When the torn portion is three fingerbreadths long, it is considered as the "corner" of the garment. Therefore, the tzitzit are considered to be attached to a significant portion of the garment and need not be untied before the corner can be sewn back on the garment (Nimukei Yosef, Menachot 40b). The commentaries note the apparent contradiction between this law and Halachah 13, which forbids one to sew a piece of a garment to which tzitzit are attached to another garment. The commentaries differentiate between these two laws, explaining that there is a difference between a piece of fabric from another garment (Halachah 13) and a portion of the original garment which was detached (the present halachah). The Turei Zahav 15:3 does not accept this distinction, and maintains that even attaching a piece of the original garment is unacceptable. The later authorities suggest following this stringency.
A portion of a garment less than three fingerbreadths long is not considered significant. Therefore, the tzitzit are no longer considered to be attached to part of the garment. Accordingly, when this fragment is sewn back to the garment, the tzitzit attached to it will be disqualified, based on the principle that one must make tzitzit and not use those existing previously. If, however, one untied the tzitzit, one may sew the detached corner back onto the garment, and then attach new tzitzit to it (Rav David Arameah).
The Kessef Mishneh quotes Rav Amram Gaon as stating that, if such a small portion was detached from the garment, tzitzit may never be attached to the garment again. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 15:4) suggests following this more stringent view if possible.
Although initially the tzitzit had to be positioned a certain distance above the end of the garment, as mentioned in Halachah 6, after they were attached to the garment in the proper manner, there is greater leniency (Menachot 42a). The Ramah (Orach Chayim 11:10) suggests sewing a border around the hole through which the strands are placed so that it will not tear.
For example, they became torn. Based on Menachot 38b, the Rabbis have offered two interpretations of "enough to tie a loop":
a) enough to tie a loop around all the strands of the tzitzit;
b) enough to tie a loop around the strand itself.
The grammatical construction of the Rambam's statements indicates - albeit not definitely - that he favors the latter view.
(Note the Be'ur Halachah 12, which states that the measure "to tie a loop" surely does not exceed four centimeters.)
The Rambam maintains that even if the majority of all the strands of the tzitzit were cut off, as long as "enough to tie a loop remains," the tzitzit are acceptable. If, however, both ends of one long strand are cut off entirely, the tzitzit are not acceptable. Rabbenu Tam does not accept this decision and requires that at least two entire strands remain their full length. (See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 12:1.) The later authorities, particularly in the Ashkenazi community, suggest following Rabbenu Tam's view.
See Turei Zahav 12:3.
Tzitzit - Chapter Two
The term techelet mentioned throughout the Torah refers to wool dyed light blue - i.e., the color of the sky which appears opposite the sun when there is a clear sky.
The term techelet when used regarding tzitzit refers to a specific dye that remains beautiful without changing. [If the techelet] is not dyed with this dye, it is unfit to be used as tzitzit even though it is sky blue in color. For example, using isatis, black dye, or other dark dyes, is unacceptable for tzitzit.
The wool of a ewe that a goat gave birth to is unacceptable for use as tzitzit.
אתכלת האמורה בתורה בכל מקום היא הצמר הצבוע כפתוך שבכחול וזו היא דמות הרקיע הנראית לעין השמש בטהרו של רקיע והתכלת האמורה בציצית צריך שתהיה צביעתה צביעה ידועה שעומדת ביופיה ולא תשתנה וכל שלא נצבע באותה צביעה פסול לציצית אע"פ שהוא כעין הרקיע כגון שצבעו באסטיס או בשחור או בשאר המשחירין הרי זה פסול לציצית רחל בת עז צמרה פסול לציצית:
How is the techelet of tzitzit dyed? Wool is taken and soaked in lime. Afterwards, it is taken and washed until it is clean and then boiled with bleach and the like, as is the dyers' practice, to prepare it to accept the dye. A chilazon is a fish whose color is like the color of the sea and whose blood is black like ink.1 It is found in the Mediterranean Sea.2
The blood is placed in a pot together with herbs - e.g., chamomile - as is the dyers' practice. It is boiled and then the wool is inserted. [It is left there] until it becomes sky-blue. This is the manner in which the techelet of tzitzit [is made].
כיצד צובעין תכלת של ציצית לוקחין הצמר ושורין אותו בסיד ואחר כך מכבסין אותו עד שיהיה נקי ומרתיחים אותו באהלא וכיוצא בו כדרך שהצבעין עושין כדי שיקלוט את העין ואח"כ מביאין דם חלזון והוא דג שדומה עינו לעין התכלת ודמו שחור כדיו ובים המלח הוא מצוי ונותנין את הדם ליורה ונותנין עמו סממנין כמו הקמוניא וכיוצא בהן כדרך שהצבעין עושין ומרתיחין אותו ונותנין בו הצמר עד שיעשה כעין רקיע וזו היא התכלת של ציצית:
One must dye tzitzit techelet with the intention that it be used for the mitzvah. If one did not have such an intention, it is unacceptable.
When one places some wool in the pot in which the dye was placed, to check whether the dye is good or not, the entire pot may no longer be used [for tzitzit].3 [If so,] how should one check [the dye]? He should take some dye from the pot in a small container and place the wool he uses to check in it. Afterwards, he should burn the wool used to check - for it was dyed for the purpose of checking4 - and pour out the dye used to check it, since using it for an experiment disqualified it. Afterwards, he should dye [the wool] techelet with the remainder of the dye which was not used.
גהתכלת של ציצית צריכה צביעה לשמה ואם צבעה שלא לשמה פסולה והיורה שיש בה הצבע אם צבע בה מעט צמר לבדקו אם הוא יפה אם לאו נפסלה היורה כולה אלא כיצד יעשה לוקח הצבע מן היורה בכלי קטן ומניח בו צמר שבודק בו ושורף את שבדק שהרי נצבע לבדיקה ושופך הצבע שבכלי שבדק בו שהרי טעמו ופסלו וצובע התכלת בשאר הצבע שלא נפגם:
Techelet should only be purchased from a recognized dealer because we are concerned that perhaps it was not dyed with the intention that it be used for the mitzvah. Even though it was purchased from a recognized dealer, if it was checked,5 and it was discovered that it was dyed with another dark dye which is not of a permanent nature, it is not acceptable.6
דהתכלת אינה נלקחת אלא מן המומחה חוששין שמא נצבעה שלא לשמה אף על פי שנלקחה מן המומחה אם נבדקה ונודעה שנצבעה באחד משאר צבעונין המשחירים שאינן עומדין פסולה:
How can techelet be checked to see whether it has been dyed properly or not? One takes straw, the secretion of a snail, and urine that had been left standing for forty days and leaves thetechelet in this mixture for an entire day. If the color of thetechelet remained unchanged, without becoming weaker, it is acceptable.
If it became weaker, we place the techelet which changed color inside a dough of barley meal that was left to sour for fish brine. The dough is baked in an oven, and then the techelet is removed. If it became even weaker than it was previously, it is unacceptable. If this strengthened the color and it became darker than it was before being baked, it is acceptable.7
הכיצד בודקין אותה עד שיודע אם נצבעה כהלכתה אם לאו לוקחין תבן וריר של שבלול ומי רגלים שנתחמצו ארבעים יום ושורין התכלת בכולן מעת לעת אם עמדה בעינה ולא כהתה כשרה ואם כהתה לוקחין בצק של שעורין שמעפשין אותו למורייס ונותנין את זו התכלת שנשתנית בתוכו ואופה הבצק בתנור ומוציאים התכלת מן הפת ורואין אותה אם כהתה ממה שהיתה פסולה ואם הוסיף עינה והושחרה יותר ממה שהיתה קודם האפייה כשרה:
One may purchase techelet from an outlet which has established a reputation for authenticity without question. It need not be checked. One may continue to rely [on its reputation] until a reason for suspicion arises.
Should one entrust techelet to a gentile for safekeeping, it is no longer fit for use, [because] we fear that he exchanged it. If it was in a container and closed with two seals, one seal inside the other,8 it is acceptable. If, however, it had only a single seal, it may not be used.
וחצר שמוכרין בה תכלת והיו מוחזקין בכשרות לוקחין ממנה סתם ואין צריך בדיקה והרי היא בחזקתה עד שתחשד המפקיד תכלת אצל הכותי הרי זה פסולה שמא החליפה ואם היתה בכלי והיה חתום בשני חותמות חותם בתוך חותם כשרה בחותם אחד פסולה:
If a person found techelet in the marketplace - even strands which were cut - it is not fit for use.9If they were twisted together, however, they are acceptable.10
[The following rules apply when] a person purchases a garment to which tzitzit are attached in the marketplace. When he purchases it from a Jew, he may presume [that it is acceptable]. If he purchases it from a gentile merchant, it is [presumed to be] acceptable;11
from a non-Jew who is a private person, it is not acceptable.
המוצא תכלת בשוק אפילו מצא חוטין פסוקין פסולה שזורין כשרה הלוקח טלית מצוייצת מן השוק מישראל הרי היא בחזקתה מן הכותי התגר כשרה מן ההדיוט פסולה:
When a garment is entirely red, green, or any other color [besides white], its white strands should be made from the same color as the garment itself. If it is green, they should be green. If it is red, they should be red.12
Should the garment itself be techelet, its white strands should be made from any color other than black,13
for it resembles techelet. He should wind one strand of techelet around all the strands, as one does with other tzitzit that are not colored.
טלית שהיא כולה אדומה או ירוקה או משאר צבעונין עושה חוטי לבן שלה כעין צבעה אם ירוקה ירוקין אם אדומה אדומין היתה כולה תכלת עושה לבן שלה משאר צבעונין חוץ מן השחור מפני שהוא נראה כתכלת וכורך על הכל חוט אחד תכלת כדרך שעושין בשאר ציציות שאינן צבועין:
The punishment given someone who does not wear [tzitzit of white strands] is more severe than that given one who does not wear techelet, because the white strands are easily accessible while techelet is not available in every time and in every era, because of the [unique] dye mentioned above.14
טקשה עונש מי שאינו מניח לבן יותר מעונש שלא הניח תכלת לפי שהלבן מצוי לכל והתכלת אינו מצויה בכ"מ ולא בכל זמן מפני הצבע שאמרנו:
The identity of the chilazon is a matter of question. Menachot 44a states that it would be visible only once in seventy years. From Bechorot 6:2, one can infer that it was a long snakelike fish. From other sources, it appears to be a snaillike animal. In his Commentary on the Mishnah (Menachot 4:1), the Rambam writes that techelet is no longer available. Similarly, Rabbenu Yitzchak Alfasi (who lived two generations before the Rambam) writes that "we do not have techelet."
Approximately one hundred years ago, Rabbi Gershon Henoch Leiner attempted to reintroduce a dye which he determined to betechelet. Similarly, Rabbi Herzog, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel, attempted to locate the chilazon. Although, from a theoretical perspective, the Torah community appreciated the value of their research, in practice, their decisions were not accepted by the majority of Torah scholars.
Though ים המלח generally refers to the Dead Sea, there are times when the Rambam uses this term to refer to the Mediterranean. See the conclusion of his Commentary on the Mishnah.
Menachot 42b interprets the phrase, "totally techelet" (Exodus 28:31), to mean that the entire dye must be intended for a ritual purpose.
Thus, it is unfit to be used for tzitzit. This wool should be burned lest it be discovered by someone else and unknowingly used for tzitzit.
Since it was purchased from a recognized dealer, there is no obligation to check it. Nevertheless, if it was checked, it can be disqualified. See Halachah 6.
The Rambam's statements appear to imply that the blood of the chilazon must be used for tzitzit, not because of a Torah decree, but because it was the only lasting dye they had (Kinat Eliyahu).
These processes are mentioned in Menachot 42b-43a.
The concept of two seals is explained in the laws of kashrut. See Hilchot Ma'achalot Asurot 13:8.
Even if it proves to be techelet, we assume that it was not dyed for the purpose of being used for tzitzit.
We assume that twisted strands of techelet were made to be used for tzitzit. It is unlikely that someone would go to the trouble of twisting strands of techelet for any other purpose. (See the Ra'avad.)
Our text follows the standard published versions of the Mishneh Torah, which is supported by a responsum purported to have been written by the Rambam. The original printings and many authoritative editions of the Mishneh Torah state that even twisted strands of techelet are not acceptable when found in the marketplace. This version appears to be supported by the Rambam's ruling, Hilchot Shabbat 19:24, which is based on the same Talmudic passage, Eruvin 96b.
We assume that a merchant will not risk tarnishing his reputation by misrepresenting an article.
The rationale for this decision is that tzitzit must be "of the same type of fabric as the fringe of the garment." This also implies that they should share the same color as the fringe (Rashi, Menachot 43b).
This decision is not shared by Tosafot, Menachot 41b, which rules that white strands are appropriate even when the garment itself is of another color. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 9:5) mentions that those who are precise in their performance of mitzvot follow the Rambam's view. The Ramah, however, maintains that one should use white tzitziot for all garments.
The Kessef Mishneh notes that the Rambam's statements are not an exact quote from his source, Menachot, ibid., which substitutes the word kelah ilan instead of black. Kelah ilan is a dye which looks almost exactly the same as techelet except that it is not made from the blood of the chilazon. The Kessef Mishneh suggests that the Rambam meant that any dark color is unacceptable although lighter colors would be acceptable. It is necessary that there be a contrast between the color of the strands of tzitzit, just as there is a contrast between white and techelet.
Even in Talmudic times, techelet was very expensive and difficult to obtain. As mentioned in the commentary on Halachah 1, according to most authorities, techelet is not available in the present era, nor has it been available for at least 1000 years.
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Tzitzit - Chapter Three
A garment to which the Torah obligates a person to attach tzitzit [must meet the following requirements]:
a) it must have four - or more than four - corners;
b) it must be large enough to cover both the head and the majority of the body of a child who is able to walk on his own in the marketplace without having someone else accompany him and watch him;
c) it must be made of either wool or linen alone.
כסות שחייב אדם לעשות בה ציצית מן התורה היא כסות שיש לה ארבע כנפים או יותר על ארבע ותהיה מדתה כדי שיתכסה בה ראשו ורובו של קטן המתהלך לבדו בשוק ואינו צריך אחר לשומרו ולילך עמו ותהיה הכסות של צמר או של פשתן בלבד:
In contrast, a garment made of other fabrics - for example, clothes of silk, cotton, camels' wool, hares' wool, goats' wool, and the like - are required to have tzitzit only because of Rabbinic decree, in order to show regard for the mitzvah of tzitzit.
[These garments require tzitzit only] when they are four-cornered - or have more than four corners - and are of the measure mentioned above.
[The motivating principle for this law] is that all the garments mentioned in the Torah without any further explanation refer to those made of either wool or linen alone.
באבל טלית של שאר מינין כגון בגדי משי ובגדי צמר גפן ובגדי צמר גמלים וצמר ארנבים ונוצה של עזים וכיוצא בהן אין חייבין במצות ציצית אלא מדברי חכמים כדי להזהר במצות ציצית והוא שתהיה מרובעת או יותר על ארבע ויהיה שיעורה כשיעור שאמרנו שכל הבגדים האמורים בתורה סתם אינם אלא צמר ופשתים בלבד:
"On the four corners of your garments" (Deuteronomy 22:12): This applies to a garment which possesses four corners, but not to one which possesses only three. Perhaps, [it comes to include] a four-cornered garment and [to exclude] a five-cornered garment? The Torah continues: "with which you cover yourself." This includes even a five- (or more) cornered garment.
Why do I obligate a garment of five corners and exempt a garment of three corners? Neither has four corners [as required by the above verse]. Because a five-cornered garment has four corners.
Accordingly, when one attaches tzitzit to a garment with five or six corners, one should attach the tzitzit only to the four corners which are farthest apart from each other from among these five or six corners, as [implied by the phrase,] "On the four corners of your garments."
געל ארבע כנפות כסותך בעלת ארבע ולא בעלת שלש אם כן בעלת ארבע ולא בעלת חמש תלמוד לומר אשר תכסה בה אפילו בעלת חמש או יותר על זה ולמה אני מחייב בעלת חמש ופוטר בעלת שלש ושתיהן אינן בעלי ארבע כנפות מפני שיש בכלל החמש ארבע לפיכך כשהוא עושה ציצית לבעלת חמש או שש אינו עושה אלא לארבע כנפים המרוחקות זו מזו מאותן החמש או השש בלבד שנאמר על ארבע כנפות כסותך:
If a garment is made of cloth and its corners of leather, it requires tzitzit. If the garment is of leather and its corners are of cloth, it does not require tzitzit. The determining factor is the makeup of the garment itself.
A garment belonging to two partners requires [tzitzit], as [implied by Numbers 15:38]: "On the corners of their garments." The term "your garments" [(Deuteronomy 22:12), which is interpreted as an exclusion,] excludes only a borrowed garment, since a borrowed garment does not require tzitzit for thirty days. Afterwards, it does require them.
דכסות של בגד וכנפיה של עור חייבת היא של עור וכנפיה של בגד פטורה שאין הולכין אלא אחר עיקר הכסות כסות של שני שותפין חייבת שנאמר על כנפי בגדיהם לא נאמר כסותך אלא למעט שאולה שהטלית השאולה פטורה מן הציצית שלשים יום מכאן ואילך חייבת:
For a garment of wool, the white strands should be made of wool. For a garment of linen, the white strands should be made of linen. For garments of other [fabrics], the white strands should be made from the same fabric as the garment itself. For example, silk strands should be used for a silk garment, strands of goats' wool should be used for garments of goats' wool.
If one desired to make white strands of wool or linen for [garments of] any type [of fabric], one may, because [strands of] wool and linen can fulfill the obligation [of tzitzit] for garments made of their own fabric or for garments made of other fabrics. In contrast, [strands made] from other fabrics can fulfill the obligation [of tzitzit] only for garments made of their own fabric.
הכסות של צמר עושין לבן שלה חוטי צמר וכסות של פשתן עושין לבן שלה חוטי פשתן ממינה ושאר בגדים עושין לבן של כל מין ומין ממינו כגון חוטי משי לכסות משי וחוטי נוצה לכסות נוצה ואם רצה לעשות לבן לכל שאר מינים מצמר או מפשתים עושה מפני שהצמר והפשתן פוטרין בין במינן בין שלא במינן ושאר מינין במינן פוטרין שלא במינן אין פוטרין:
What is the ruling regarding making woolen strands for a garment of linen or linen strands for a garment of wool - even though we are speaking only of the white strands without techelet?
One might think that it should be permitted, because sha'atnez is permitted to be used for tzitzit, as evident from the fact that techelet is made using woolen strands, and yet it should be placed on a linen garment. Nevertheless, this is not done.
Why? Because it is possible to make the white strands from the same fabric as [the garment]. Whenever [a conflict exists] between the observance of a positive commandment and the adherence to a negative commandment, [the following rules apply]: If it is possible to observe both of them, one should. If not, the observance of the positive commandment supersedes the negative commandment. In the present instance, however, it is possible to observe both of them.
וומה הוא לעשות חוטי צמר בכסות של פשתן או חוטי פשתן בכסות של צמר אע"פ שהוא לבן לבדו בלא תכלת בדין הוא שיהא מותר שהשעטנז מותר לענין ציצית שהרי התכלת צמר הוא ומטילין אותה לפשתן ומפני מה אין עושין כן מפני שאפשר לעשות הלבן שלה ממינה וכל מקום שאתה מוצא עשה ולא תעשה אם יכול אתה לקיים את שתיהן הרי מוטב ואם לאו יבא עשה וידחה את לא תעשה וכאן אפשר לקיים את שתיהן:
Techelet should not be attached to a linen garment. Rather, one should [make the tzitzit] from white threads of linen alone. This is not because [the prohibition against] sha'atnez supersedes [the mitzvah of] tzitzit, but rather it is a Rabbinical decree [imposed] lest one wear the garment at night, when one is not required to wear tzitzit, and thus violate a negative commandment when the performance of a positive commandment is not involved.
[This is because] the obligation to wear tzitzit applies during the day, but not at night [as can be inferred from Numbers 15:39]: "And you shall see them." [The mitzvah applies only] during a time when one can see. [Nevertheless,] a blind man is obligated to wear tzitzit. Even though he does not see them, others see him [wearing them].
זכסות של פשתן אין מטילין בה תכלת אלא עושין הלבן בלבד של חוטי פשתן לא מפני שהציצית נדחית מפני השעטנז אלא גזירה מדבריהם שמא יתכסה בה בלילה שאינה זמן חיוב ציצית ונמצא עובר על לא תעשה בעת שאין שם מצות עשה שחובת הציצית ביום ולא בלילה שנאמר וראיתם אותו בשעת ראייה וסומא חייב בציצית אף על פי שאינו רואה אחרים רואין אותו:
A person is permitted to wear tzitzit at night, both during the weekdays and on the Sabbath, even though this is not the time when the mitzvah should be fulfilled, provided he does not recite a blessing.
When should the blessing over tzitzit be recited in the morning? When [the sun has risen so] that one can differentiate between the strands of techelet and those which are white.
Which blessing should be recited upon it? "Blessed are you, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to wrap ourselves with tzitzit." Whenever a person wraps himself in tzitzit during the day, he should recite the blessing before doing so.
No blessing should be recited on the tzitzit when making them, because the ultimate purpose of the mitzvah is that one should wrap oneself in [a tallit].
חמותר לאדם ללבוש ציצית בלילה בין בחול בין בשבת ואע"פ שאינו זמנה ובלבד שלא יברך ומאימתי יברך על הציצית בשחר משיכיר בין תכלת שבה ללבן שבה וכיצד מברך עליה ברוך אתה יי' אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להתעטף בציצית וכל זמן שמתעטף בה ביום מברך עליה קודם שיתעטף ואינו מברך על הציצית בשעת עשייתה מפני שסוף המצוה הוא שיתעטף בה:
It is permissible to enter a lavatory or a bathhouse [wearing] tzitzit. If one of the strands of white or techelet becomes torn, it may be discarded in a garbage dump, because tzitzit is a mitzvah which does not confer sanctity on the article itself.
It is forbidden to sell a garment with tzitzit to a gentile until he removes the tzitzit, not because the garment possesses a measure of holiness, but because we are concerned that he will dress in it, and [unknowingly,] a Jew will accompany him, thinking that he is a fellow Jew, and the gentile may kill him.
Women, servants, and minors are not required by the Torah to wear tzitzit. It is, however, a Rabbinical obligation for every child who knows how to dress himself to wear tzitzit in order to educate him to fulfill mitzvot.
Women and servants who wish to wrap themselves in tzitzit may do so without reciting a blessing. Similarly, regarding the other positive commandments which women are not required to fulfill, if they desire to fulfill them without reciting a blessing, they should not be prevented from doing so.
A tumtum and an androgynous are obligated in all positive commandments because of the doubt [about their status]. Therefore, they fulfill [all these positive commandments] without reciting a blessing.
טומותר להכנס בציצית לבית הכסא ולבית המרחץ נפסקו לו חוטי לבן או תכלת זורקו באשפה מפני שהיא מצוה שאין בגופה קדושה ואסור למכור טלית מצוייצת לכותי עד שיתיר ציציותיה לא מפני שיש בגופה קדושה אלא שמא יתעטף בה ויתלוה עמו ישראל וידמה שהוא ישראל ויהרגנו נשים ועבדים וקטנים פטורין מן הציצית מן התורה ומדברי סופרים שכל קטן שיודע להתעטף חייב בציצית כדי לחנכו במצות ונשים ועבדי' שרצו להתעטף בציצית מתעטפים בלא ברכה וכן שאר מצות עשה שהנשים פטורות מהן אם רצו לעשות אותן בלא ברכה אין ממחין בידן טומטום ואנדרוגינוס חייבין בכולן מספק לפיכך אין מברכין אלא עושין בלא ברכה:
What is the nature of the obligation of the commandment of tzitzit? Every person who is obligated to fulfill this mitzvah, if he wears a garment requiring tzitzit, should attach tzitzit to it and then wear it. If he wears it without attaching tzitzit to it, he has negated [this] positive commandment.
There is, however, no obligation to attach tzitzit to a garment which requires tzitzit, as long as it remains folded in its place, without a person wearing it. It is not that a garment requires [tzitzit]. Rather, the requirement is incumbent on the person [wearing] the garment.
יהיאך חיוב מצות הציצית כל אדם שחייב לעשות מצוה זו אם יתכסה בכסות הראוי לציצית יטיל לה ציצית ואח"כ יתכסה בה ואם נתכסה בה בלא ציצית הרי ביטל מצות עשה אבל בגדים הראויים לציצית כל זמן שלא יתכסה בהן אדם אלא מקופלים ומונחים פטורין מן הציצית שאינה חובת הטלית אלא חובת האיש שיש לו טלית:
Even though a person is not obligated to purchase a tallit and wrap himself in it so that he must attach tzitzit to it, it is not proper for a person to release himself from this commandment. Instead, he should always try to be wrapped in a garment which requires tzitzit so that he will fulfill this mitzvah.
In particular, care should be taken regarding this matter during prayer. It is very shameful for a Torah scholar to pray without being wrapped [in a tallit].
יאאף על פי שאין אדם מחוייב לקנות לו טלית ולהתעטף בה כדי שיעשה בה ציצית אין ראוי לאדם חסיד שיפטור עצמו ממצוה זו אלא לעולם ישתדל להיות עטוף בכסות המחוייבת כציצית כדי שיקיים מצוה זו ובשעת התפלה צריך להזהר ביותר גנאי גדול הוא לתלמידי חכמים שיתפללו והם אינם עטופים:
A person should always be careful regarding the mitzvah of tzitzit, because the Torah considered it equal to all the mitzvot and considered them all as dependent on it, as [implied by Numbers 15:39]: "And you shall see them and remember all the mitzvot of God."
יבלעולם יהא אדם זהיר במצות ציצית שהרי הכתוב שקלה ותלה בה כל המצות כולן שנאמר וראיתם אותו וזכרתם את כל מצות יי':
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