Tzitzit: Difference between revisions

==Source of Requirement==

==People Obligated in Tzitzit==

#There are various opinions<ref>This range emanates from the gemara Menachot 40b, where it is dictated that the garment needs to be the size for it to be able to cover the head and majority of a minor. There are different interpretations as to how old the minor is to whom the gemara is referring: The [[Chinuch]] (Shelach: 386) and Bach (16) say the reference is to a 6 or 7 year old, the Tur (16) says 9 years old, and the Radbaz (6, 2:106) explains it to be a 5 year old. There is additionally ambiguity as to whether the majority requirement means that the garment needs to cover the head and then in addition a majority of the child’s body (Radbaz) or if it only needs to cover in total the majority of the child; head included ([[Chinuch]]). Meaning, the question between the Radbaz and Chinuch is whether it would be sufficient if it could cover the child’s head and another 30% to 40% of the rest of it's body, or whether it needs to be able to cover the head and an additional 51% of their body</ref> as to how big the garment needs to be to qualify as a halachically bona fide garment, in order to be able to make a bracha without needing to worry about the possibility of it being a bracha levatala (a bracha said in vein or wasted):

#Additionally, there are two different opinions for the conversion of one [[amah]], or 6 [[Tefachim]] (fists), to modern [[measurements]]:  Rav Chaim Na’eh holds it is 48 cm or 18.9 inches make up an [[amah]], while the Chazon Ish holds it is 57.7 cm or 22.7 inches.

==Garment Requiremnts==

==Other Garments==

#For several reasons, an apron that one wears during a haircut doesn't need tzitzit<ref>Halacha Berura vol. 1 pg. 376 </ref>

#If one wears more than one four-cornered garment they are all obligated in Tzitzit but the bracha is only recited on the first one that one puts on. However, if one recited the bracha and only had in mind to wear one four-cornered garment and then changed one's mind and put on another one, one has to recite a new bracha. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 8:12 </ref>

#Tzitzit without techelet is tied in four sections with a double knot before and after each section. Between each section one white string is wound around the others. In the first section it is wound 7 times, the next 8 times, then 11 and 13. Altogether there are 5 double-knots and 39 windings.<ref>Shulchan Aruch OC 11:14. Tosfot Menachot 39a s.v. lo writes that we don't have between 7 and 13 sections as does the Rambam because today we don't have techelet. Alternatively, we have between 7 and 13 windings for each section. Mishna Brurah 11:70 explains that the windings add up to 39 which is the gematria of Hashem Eched. Tosfot explains that there are 5 knots between Tzitzit is gematria 600, and together with the 8 strings and 5 knots it represents 613, since Tzitzit is equivalent to all the mitzvot.</ref>

==Tying Requirements==

#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. Shulchan Aruch 8:9 writes clearly that one must check one's Tzitzit before making the bracha so that one does not make a bracha levatala in case the Tzitzit were ripped. Mishna Brurah 8:21 adds that there is also a need to check the strings close to the Tallit 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. One may rely on the fact that the Tzitzit were kosher the last time they were worn, though it is good to check anyway in order not to run the risk of making a bracha levatalla, Yalkut Yosef does not consider it an obligation. </ref>

#One can check the Tzitziyot before putting one's Tallit back in it's case/bag and then does not have to check again in the morning before making the bracha. <ref>Mishna Brurah 8:22, Yalkut Yosef (Hilchot Tzitzit pg 84) </ref>

#One should not miss [[Tefillah]] Betzibuur because one was checking one's Tzitzit. As long as one knows the strings were complete the day before one should make the bracha without checking, if the alternative would be missing [[Tefillah]] Betzibbur. <ref>Mishna Brurah 8:22, Yalkut Yosef (Hilchot Tzitzit pg 84), See also Ben Ish Chai Bereishit Halacha 3</ref>

#Tzitzit strings which become entangled are still kosher, although it is good to separate them. <ref>Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:23:5 </ref> One should separate the strings of the Tzitzit before making the bracha, however if one is late to shul, then one does not have to. <ref>S”A 8:7, Beiur Halacha s.v. Tzarich writes that surely it is preferable to seperate the Tzitziyot before making the bracha because the Gra considers this a certain obligation. However, Mishna Brurah 8:18 writes that if one is late to shul one does not have to seperate the strings. </ref>

#One may untangle Tzitzit on [[Shabbat]], unless they have never been worn before, in which case it would be considered mitaken. <ref>Sh"t Yabia Omer OC 5:3 </ref>

==If the Strings Ripped==

===Garment===

==Symbolism of Tzitzit==

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

#One should not take off their tzitzit when playing ball.<ref>Rav Binyamin Zilber (Shut Az Nidbaru 2:55) says it is disgraceful to the tzitzit to take them off to play a game.</ref>

==Tallit Gadol==