Tzitzit: Difference between revisions

# The proper age of [[chinuch]] for the mitzvah of tzitzit is nine years old. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, the proper time for tzitzit and who is obligated, seif 2 </ref>

#Sephardim generally follow the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch<ref> S"A 9:1. This is based off of Rav Nachman in Gemara Menachot 39b and is purported by the Rif and Rambam Hilchot Tzitzit 3:2 and Sefer Hamitzvot aseh 14 </ref>  that only garments made of wool or linen  have a torah obligation to be affixed with tzitzit strands. Accordingly, all other materials only require tzitzit on a rabbinic level. As such, it is preferable for one to wear a wool or linen garment. Nevertheless, it one finds it uncomfortable to wear wool tzitzit, he may wear tzitzit made from other materials. <ref>Rav Ben Zion Abba Shaul in Ohr LeZion 9:1; Rav Ovadya Yosef in Yalkut Yosef 9:1</ref>  

# Tzitzit strings may not be made from stolen material. <ref> S"A, OC, 11:6 </ref> However, the Rama says that if one turned stolen wool into strings it is permissible to use them bediavad. <ref> Rama on S"A, OC, 11:6 </ref> Everyone agrees that one may not make a beracha on a talit made with such tzitzit. <ref> Halacha Berura, 11:25 </ref>  

# Some say that the strings of the talit should be the same color as the talit itself and the custom is to do so. However, Ashkenazim do not have this custom and wear white strings on their talit in all cases. <ref> S"A OC 9:5 and the Rama </ref>

# In order for a garment to be obligated to have tzitzit, the corners must be square, not round. <ref> S"A, OC, 10:9 </ref>

# If the majority of a garment's side is open then it must have tzitzit, but if a minority of a garment's side is open then is exempt from tzitzit. If a garment's side is open only half way then it is a safek and therefore one should tie tzitzit on it but there is an issue of the melacha of transferring on Shabbat with that garment. <Ref> S"A, OC, 10:7 </ref>

# If one buys a new tallit, a [[Shehecheyanu]] is recited. <ref> S"A 22:1, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, the proper time for tzitzit and who is obligated, seif 5 </ref> According to Ashkenazim some poskim say to say it after the beracha on the tallit<ref> Mishna Brurah 22:3 </ref>, while some say to say it prior to the beracha on the tallit<ref> Baer Heitev 22:2 </ref>. Sephardim should say it after. <ref> Birkei Yosef 22:2. </ref>

# The beracha may be recited as long as someone is still wearing it for his first time. <ref> Halacha Berura 22:7, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, the proper time for tzitzit and who is obligated, seif 5 </ref>

# [[Shehecheyanu]] should not be recited if one acquired a new [[talit]] katan. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, the proper time for tzitzit and who is obligated, seif 6 </ref>

# If one wears multiple pairs of tzitzit, one could make one beracha on both of them by having in mind to include both pairs in that single beracha. One should be sure to not make a hefsek between putting on the first and second pair of tzitzit. <ref> S"A, Orach Chaim, 8:12 </ref>

# One should check one's tzitzit (the strings from the edge until the knots and the strings after the knots) daily before making a bracha on them. <ref> Rambam Hilchot Tzitzit 1:8. S"A 8:9 writes clearly that one must check one's tzitzit before making the bracha so that one doesn't make a bracha levatala in case the tzitzit are ripped. Mishna Brurah 8:21 adds that there's also a need to check the strings close to the [[talit]] before the knots. Yalkut Yosef (Hilchot Tzitzit pg 80) writes that the minhag is to be lenient as this halacha is only a midat chasidut not to make a bracha levatala. </ref>

# If one of the 8 strings ripped from the point that the strings hang from the last double knot, the Tzitzit is Kosher. However, if 2 of the 8 strings ripped completely down to the knots, the Tzitzit is Kosher only if the two ripped strings come from different sets of 4 strings (one from one side, and the other from the other), assuming that it was tied consistently with the same 4 strings on each side throughout the knotting. (See diagram on right for picture of what is meant by the 2 sets of 4 strings hanging off the tzitzit knots).<ref>Kitzur S"A 9:13. If tzitzit strings ripped: There are two basic opinions which the Shulchan Aruch 12:1 quotes:  

# Some ashkenazim have the minhag to tuck their strings in and some leave them out. <ref> Mishna Brurah 8:26 was strongly against those who wear their tzitzit in and says that by doing so you are disgracing mitzvot and adds that if you received a gift from the king you would surely wear it outside to show off to others. He also says that tucking them out fulfills the pasuk of "u'riitem oto." This is the psak of S"A Harav 8:18, and the Magen Avraham 8:13 based on the Tosafot [[Berachot]] 18a which allows for tucking them in on for a dead person because they don’t have to fulfill "uritem oto" if they cannot see. Magen Avraham says this implies that they should normally be out. He says to at least least leave them tucked out for long enough for the time that it takes to walk four [[amot]]. Aruch HaShulchan OC 8:17, 23:2 says that in many communities in eastern Europe they would took the strings in but he says this isn't really correct. In Nefesh HaRav page 105 Rabbi Herschel Schachter says that some have the minhag to tuck the strings into their pockets or wrap it around the belt and this was the minhag of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik. Tzitz Eliezer 8:3 says that whatever you do is fine. </ref> The sephardi minhag is to wear them tucked in. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 2:1, Sh"t Yaskil Avdi 5:3 and 8:2, Rabbi Shalom Messas in Shemesh U'Magen OC 2:74. Rav Ovadia in Yechave Daat 2:1 quotes opinions that if a sephardi wears them out he is disrespected the earlier sephardi poskim. Rav Yaakov Hillel writes in Gevurat HaAri page 137 that the strings should be revealed based on the Arizal (Shaar Hakavanot 7c and Olat Tamid 39a). </ref> A sephardic boy can wear his tzitzit out if it will help him with his yirat shamayim or if he is in an ashkenazi yeshiva and feels uncomfortable. <ref> Sh"t Otzrot Yosef 1:27, Sh"t Or Litzion 2:2:2 </ref>

# At a cemetery one must tuck in his strings. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 23:1, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, laws of tzitzit in a cemetary, seif 1 </ref>

# The five knots of the tzitzit represent the 5 books of the Torah. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, proper behavior while wearing tzitzit, seif 1 </ref>

# One should make sure his tzitzit stay clean and wash them often so that they remain white in color. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 9, proper behavior while wearing tzitzit, seif 1 </ref>

# One may remove strings from one pair of Tzitzit in order to be put onto another pair of Tzitzit, however, one may not remove the strings from a pair of Tzitzit if it is not going to be used. <ref>Tosfot ([[Shabbat]] 22a s.v. 22a), S"A 15:1</ref>

# One should not enter the bathroom with his tallit gadol. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 21:3, Chayei Adam 11:37, Mishnah Berura 21:14, S"A Harav 21:3. </ref>

# One shouldn't enter the bathroom with his tallit katan if it is on top of his clothing. It is permitted to enter with the tallit katan under his clothing. <ref> S"A 21:3, Kaf Hachayim 21:13. </ref>

# One should try to prevent his strings from touching the ground. <ref> S"A 21:4, Baer Heitev 21:5, Shaare [[Teshuva]] 21:5, S"A Harav 21:5 </ref>

# If tzitzit fringes broke, it is permissible to throw them into the garbage because tzitzit do not have intrinsic holiness. <ref> S"A 21:1 </ref>

# As long as the tzitzit fringes are still attached, it is prohibited to use them for one's own benefit. <ref> S"A 21:1 </ref>

# If one tallit gadol fell off and to the floor, he doesn't recite a new beracha when putting it back on. <ref> Sh"t Yabia Omer YD 3:17:11, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefilin]], seif 22 </ref>

# The [[talit]] gadol should be removed after the [[tefilin]]. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefilin]], seif 40. </ref>

# One should wear the talit with two corners in front and two in back so that one is surrounded by mitzvot. <ref> S"A, Orach Chaim, 8:4 </ref>

# The Bracha for a Tallit Gadol is LeHitatef BeTzitzit. <ref>S"A 8:6 writes that for a Tzitzit one can say LeHitatef BeTzitzit.</ref>

# For a pair of Tzitzit, according to Ashkenazim, the Bracha is Al Mitzvat Tzitzit, while according to Sephardim, if one puts on the Tzitzit regularly the Bracha is Al Mitzvat Tzitzit, but if one wraps one's head with the Tzitzit, one should make LeHitatef BeTzitzit.<Ref>S"A 8:6 writes that for a Tzitzit one can say LeHitatef BeTzitzit. Rama argues that for Tzitzit one should say Al Mitzvat Tzitzit. Ben Ish Chai (Beresheet #6) and Kaf HaChaim 8:27 write that if one puts on the Tzitzit regularly the Bracha is Al Mitzvat Tzitzit, but if one wraps one's head with the Tzitzit, one should make LeHitatef BeTzitzit.</ref>

# One should recite the bracha just before putting on the Tzitzit.<ref>S"A 8:1</ref>

# If ones talit falls, he may put it back on without reciting a new beracha as long as the entire talit did not fall. <Ref> S"A, OC, 8:15 </ref>

# If one removes his talit and had in mind to put it back on then he is not obligated to make a new beracha when he does so. <Ref> Kaf Hachaim, 8:52, which contradicts S"A, OC, 8:14 </ref>

# If one wore his talit during the night, he must take it off, recite a new beracha on it, and put it back on once day comes. <Ref> S"A, OC, 8:16 </ref>