Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 9 - Garments that Require Tzitzis and Those that are Exempt

SECTION 9 The Garments that Require Tzitzis and Those that are Exempt. (1–9)

1 There is a verse that states,1 “And they shall attach a cord of techeiles2 to the tzitzis of [every] corner.” The word “corner” would appear to be superfluous, for the same verse previously stated that “they shall make tzitzis for themselves on the corners of their garments.” Why then is the word “corner” mentioned? To teach you that tzi­tzis must be made of the same fiber of which the corner is made. Thus if a tallis is made of silk, the tzitzis should [likewise] be of silk.

Other verses state,3 “You shall not wear shaatnez, wool and flax together. You shall make yourself tzitzis on the four corners of your garment.” The sequence implies that the tzitzis should be made of wool or flax only.

[Our Sages4 reconciled this seeming contradiction as follows:] Tzitzis of wool or of flax are acceptable whether on a tallis of wool or of flax, or on a tallis of other fibers. This is the implication of [the sequence] “wool and flax... You shall make yourself [tzitzis].” Tzitzis made from other fibers, however, are acceptable only for a tallis made of the same fiber as the tzitzis, such as silk tzitzis for a silk tallis, and hemp tzitzis for a hemp tallis.5

2 Although the “cord of techeiles” mentioned in the Torah refers to blue-dyed wool, according to Scriptural Law it may be attached even to a tallis of flax, because the use of a mixture of fibers6 is permitted for tzitzis.7 Nevertheless, our Sages8 forbade [the use of woolen tzitzis] on a garment of flax, lest they also be attached to a [flaxen] garment worn at night, in which case one would be wearing a forbidden mixture of fibers at a time when the mitzvah [of tzitzis] does not apply.

It is forbidden to attach even tzitzis of flax to a tallis of flax, lest one attach a thread of [woolen] techeiles [to the tallis]. One should therefore never make a tallis of flax, for there is no obligation whatsoever to attach tzitzis to it.

When does the above apply? At a time when [the dye of] techeiles was available. In the present age, when it is not available,9 it is not relevant to forbid [the use of flaxen tzitzis on a flaxen tallis] lest one attach a thread of [woolen] techeiles to a flaxen tallis. Therefore, if one can only wear a tallis of flax, he should be permitted to attach flaxen tzitzis to it, and he may also recite a blessing over it.10 Alternatively, he may make the corners [of the garment] of leather and then attach tzitzis of wool. (See Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, sec. 300:5.)11

3 It is advisable to be careful not to attach tzitzis of flax even to a garment made of other fibers, lest one come to attach them to a garment of wool. If, however, flaxen tzitzis are one’s only available option, it is permitted [to attach them to a tallis of other fibers] just as [this is permitted] with a tallis of flax, as explained above.

4 There are authorities who maintain that tzitzis made of wool or flax may not be used for garments made of other fibers unless the tzitzis are made of both wool and flax together,12 i.e., two strands of [woolen] techeiles and two strands of flax, as reflected by the sequence, “wool and flax together. You shall make yourself tzitzis.” If, however, the tzitzis are made of wool alone or of flax alone, they may be used only for [a garment made] of that fiber.

Although the custom is not to follow this opinion, for woolen tzitzis are [commonly] attached to a garment of silk, every G‑d-fearing person should undertake this stringency upon himself and make tzitzis of silk for a tallis of silk. The same applies with regard to other fibers.13

[Moreover,] some authorities hold that according to Scriptural Law any garment which is not made of wool or flax is not obligated to have tzitzis at all; this is merely a Rabbinic decree.14 Accordingly, anyone who desires to observe this mitzvah in the optimum manner should make a point of having a tallis gadol and a tallis katan made of white15 wool to which he should attach tzitzis of white wool. In this manner, he fulfills the mitzvah of tzitzis in a manner that is free of all doubt.

5 [A question arises when] the warp of a tallis is wool and the woof is silk or another fiber — or vice versa. According to the authorities who maintain that woolen tzitzis may not be used for garments made of other fibers, there is no way to satisfy [the obligation of tzitzis] for this garment: one may not attach tzitzis of wool, because it contains other fibers, nor may one attach tzitzis of other fibers, because it contains wool. Therefore, no G‑d-fearing person should wear such a garment.

Those who follow the practice of attaching woolen tzitzis to a tallis of silk, however, should likewise attach woolen tzitzis to this tallis [of mixed fibers]. Nevertheless, it is proper not to recite a blessing over a tallis made of wool with interwoven silk threads, if its tzitzis are woolen. This certainly applies if [the tallis] is made entirely of silk or other fibers and the tzitzis are woolen. Instead, one should recite the blessing over another tallis with the intent that it also apply to this one.16 If, however, the tzitzis are made of the same fiber as the tallis, e.g., silk [tzitzis] for a silk tallis, or hemp [tzitzis] for a hemp tallis, a blessing may be recited.17

6 The above applies to a tallis which combines strands of wool with strands of other fibers. [Different rules apply,] however, if wool which has not been spun is blended with silk or other fibers that have not been spun, and a tallis is made of [the mixture]. If the majority [of the mixture] is wool, the tzitzis should be made of wool. If the majority is made of the other fibers, the tzitzis may be made of the other fibers. If the mixture is half and half, one should make tzitzis of wool, because they may be used to fulfill one’s obligation with regard to all garments, even those made of other fibers. [Nevertheless,] according to the view that tzitzis of wool may not be used to fulfill one’s obligation with regard to garments made of other fibers, there is no way to satisfy one’s obligations for this garment. Therefore, a G‑d-fearing person should not wear a garment of this type.

7 All four tzitzis may only be made from the same type of fiber. For example, for a silk tallis one should not attach some tzitzis of wool and others of silk. [The rationale is that] it is possible that the Torah permitted tzitzis of wool or linen to be used for garments of other fibers only when they were used for all the tzitzis. When, however, some of the tzitzis are of the same fiber as the garment, and some are of wool or linen, it is possible that this is not included in the Torah’s command. It is thus possible that [such tzitzis] are invalid according to Scriptural Law.

8 The term tzemer, when unqualified, throughout the Torah refers only to sheep’s wool; goat’s wool is referred to as no­tzah. Though camel’s hair and rabbit’s hair are [also] referred to as tzemer, they are always described by an additional epithet such as camel’s wool or hare’s wool. Accordingly, tzi­tzis made of such wool may not be used for a garment unless the garment is itself made of that fiber, as is the law with regard to tzitzis made of any other fiber. For with regard to tzitzis, the Torah speaks of tzemer without any qualifying description, as it is written, “wool (tzemer) and flax together. You shall make yourself tzitzis.”

9 Certain authorities18 maintain that since the Torah teaches that the tzitzis must be of the same fiber as the corner of the garment, they must also be of the same color as the corner of the garment. For example, if the tallis is red, the tzitzis attached to it should also be red; if it is green, green tzitzis should be attached to it.

Other authorities,19 however, maintain that the Torah was concerned only that the substance of the tzitzis should be of the same type of fiber as the substance of the tallis; the Torah was not at all concerned that [the tzitzis] should be of the same color as the tallis. This in fact is the halachah.

Thus in these countries it has become customary to make white tzitzis even for colored garments. Our Sages relate20 that when the Holy One, blessed be He, [taught Moshe the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy], He enwrapped Himself [in a tallis] as a sheliach tzibbur. It is written, moreover,21 that “His garment was white as snow.” Accordingly, it is proper for every person who is conscientious about his conduct to likewise have a white22 tallis gadol and tallis katan made, so that by attaching white tzitzis to them he will be fulfilling his obligation according to all authorities.