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Techelet: Difference between revisions
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Added Ben Ish Chai shita, re-order based on timeline (Rav Netronai Gaon came first), rename from obligation->application
(Added Ben Ish Chai shita, re-order based on timeline (Rav Netronai Gaon came first), rename from obligation->application) |
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"דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אלהם ועשו להם ציצת על כנפי בגדיהם לדרתם ונתנו על ציצת הכנף פתיל תכלת" | "דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אלהם ועשו להם ציצת על כנפי בגדיהם לדרתם ונתנו על ציצת הכנף פתיל תכלת" | ||
==Debate of | ==Debate of Application Nowadays== | ||
*The Mishna (Menachot 38a) writes that wearing [[Tzitzit]] without Techelet also fulfills the mitzvah of [[Tzitzit]] (while lacking a part of the mitzvah).<ref>Rashi on this mishna interprets this differently. When the mishna describes that the lack of white doesn't invalidate blue or vice versa, Rashi says this means that the number of techelet and white strings must be equal.</ref> This is codified in the Rambam ([[Tzitzit]] 1:3). | *The Mishna (Menachot 38a) writes that wearing [[Tzitzit]] without Techelet also fulfills the mitzvah of [[Tzitzit]] (while lacking a part of the mitzvah).<ref>Rashi on this mishna interprets this differently. When the mishna describes that the lack of white doesn't invalidate blue or vice versa, Rashi says this means that the number of techelet and white strings must be equal.</ref> This is codified in the Rambam ([[Tzitzit]] 1:3). | ||
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==Tying Methodology== | ==Tying Methodology== | ||
There are several methods of tying tzitzit with techelet. | There are several methods of tying tzitzit with techelet. We will list the more popular methods below: | ||
* '''Raavad / Rav Natronai Gaon''': The Raavad quotes Rav Natronai Gaon and holds that there should be 4 links and that each link has 7 winds. Each link is separated by a knot. The winds of each link should alternate white and techelet, the first and last wind of each link being white. The Raavad dictates that the link closest to the edge of the garment and the two links farthest from the garment must follow the alternating pattern. However, the unmentioned link can either be all white or the alternating white and techelet pattern.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Hasagot_HaRaavad_on_Mishneh_Torah%2C_Fringes.1.7.1?lang=bi Raavad on Rambam Halachot Tzitzit 1:7]</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/raavad/ Diagrams] | |||
*'''Rav Amram Gaon''': Rav Amram Gaon says that there shall be at least 7 links that each have 3 winds. After tying a knot closest to the garment, the first link should be white. Every link after should alternate in color. One can extend the pattern to 13 links if desired. There is also a knot at the end.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=64815&pgnum=336 Goanika, v. 2 p. 331]. It is clear that Rav Amram Goan writes that there is a knot at the beginning and the end. He doesn't note that it must be a double knot, so [https://www.tekhelet.com/tekhelet-tying-tools/tying-tzitzit/ Ptil Techelet] writes that it is a single knot with the winding string. This single knot is obscured in the picture because it is covered over by the windings.</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/rav-amram-gaon/ Diagrams] | *'''Rav Amram Gaon''': Rav Amram Gaon says that there shall be at least 7 links that each have 3 winds. After tying a knot closest to the garment, the first link should be white. Every link after should alternate in color. One can extend the pattern to 13 links if desired. There is also a knot at the end.<ref>[https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=64815&pgnum=336 Goanika, v. 2 p. 331]. It is clear that Rav Amram Goan writes that there is a knot at the beginning and the end. He doesn't note that it must be a double knot, so [https://www.tekhelet.com/tekhelet-tying-tools/tying-tzitzit/ Ptil Techelet] writes that it is a single knot with the winding string. This single knot is obscured in the picture because it is covered over by the windings.</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/rav-amram-gaon/ Diagrams] | ||
*'''Rambam''': The Rambam maintains that there should be between 7-13 links (chulyot) and that each link should have 3 winds (krichot). In the closest link to the garment, the first wind should be white, while the other two winds of that link should be techelet. In the farthest link from the garment, the final wind should be white, while the other two winds of that link should be techelet. All other links contain only techelet.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Fringes.1?lang=bi Rambam, Halachot Tzitzit Chapter 1]</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/rambam/ Diagrams] | |||
*''' | *'''Sefer Hachinuch''': The Sefer Hachinuch writes that there should be 13 links broken up by 5 double knots. The first 3 sections have 3 links, while the fourth has 4 links. Each section is broken up by a double knot.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sefer_HaChinukh.386.5?lang=bi Sefer Hachinuch Mitzvah 386]</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/chinuch-2/ Diagrams]<ref>Note, the diagram interprets Chinuch as holding that each link should be three winds, which is not clear. Also, it interprets that the links should alternate colors, beginning and ending with white, which is also unclear from the Chinuch.</ref> | ||
*'''Tosafot''': Baalei Tosafot holds that one should use 7 links of 3 winds each, with 5 total knots separating them. Between the first and second knot, second and third knot, and third and fourth knot, there should be one link of white followed by one link of techelet. Between the fourth and fifth knot, one link of white should be used.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Tosafot_on_Menachot.39a.10.1?lang=bi Tosafot on Menachot 39a]</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/baalei-tosafot-raavad-7/ Diagrams]<ref>[https://www.ykr.org.il/question/19225 Rav Yonatan Mazuz] writes that one should tie the techelet like one ties the white strings, with sections of 7, 8, 11, and 13 windings and knots in between. The only difference is that the first and last winding should be white and everything else techelet.</ref> | *'''Tosafot''': Baalei Tosafot holds that one should use 7 links of 3 winds each, with 5 total knots separating them. Between the first and second knot, second and third knot, and third and fourth knot, there should be one link of white followed by one link of techelet. Between the fourth and fifth knot, one link of white should be used.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Tosafot_on_Menachot.39a.10.1?lang=bi Tosafot on Menachot 39a]</ref> [https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/baalei-tosafot-raavad-7/ Diagrams]<ref>[https://www.ykr.org.il/question/19225 Rav Yonatan Mazuz] writes that one should tie the techelet like one ties the white strings, with sections of 7, 8, 11, and 13 windings and knots in between. The only difference is that the first and last winding should be white and everything else techelet.</ref> | ||
*'''Ben Ish Chai''': Based on the Arizal, the Ben Ish Chai (Lech Lecha) rules that there should be 4 links, broken up into 7, 8, 11 & 13 winds separated by double knots. When joined together with the double knots on the beginning and end of the tie, one satisfies the five-knots requirement of the Midrash. Within these winds, one should make smaller links of 3 winds each, separated by a space between. The first and last wind of the tie should be white.<ref>[https://bluefringes.com/textual_sources/ben-ish-hai-lech-lecha/ Ben Ish Hai - Lech Lecha]</ref>[https://www.tekhelet.com/tying/ben-ish-chai/ Diagrams] | |||
*''' | |||
*'''Rav Hershel Schachter''': There is an argument among Rishonim what the gemara means when it says we need between "7 and 13" for the tzitzit. Some say it refers to the number of links (chulyot) and others say number of winds (krichot). Rav Schachter incorporates each understanding by having 7 links of 7 winds each. Each link is separated by a double knot. the first three winds of the first link are white, and the last three winds of the last link are white (to satisfy Tosafot). All other winds are techelet (to satisfy Rambam).<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/857819/rabbi-hershel-schachter/details-regarding-the-tying-of-tekhelet/ YUTorah.org, Rav Hershel Schachter, "Details regarding the tying of Tekhelet"]</ref> [https://www.mywesternwall.net/2019/04/02/techeiles-how-to-tie-tzitzis-like-r-hershel-schachters-method.html How to tie]. [https://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/Schachter7TyingDiagram2.pdf Diagram] | *'''Rav Hershel Schachter''': There is an argument among Rishonim what the gemara means when it says we need between "7 and 13" for the tzitzit. Some say it refers to the number of links (chulyot) and others say number of winds (krichot). Rav Schachter incorporates each understanding by having 7 links of 7 winds each. Each link is separated by a double knot. the first three winds of the first link are white, and the last three winds of the last link are white (to satisfy Tosafot). All other winds are techelet (to satisfy Rambam).<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/857819/rabbi-hershel-schachter/details-regarding-the-tying-of-tekhelet/ YUTorah.org, Rav Hershel Schachter, "Details regarding the tying of Tekhelet"]</ref> [https://www.mywesternwall.net/2019/04/02/techeiles-how-to-tie-tzitzis-like-r-hershel-schachters-method.html How to tie]. [https://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/Schachter7TyingDiagram2.pdf Diagram] | ||
