Tzitzit: Difference between revisions
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====Size Requirements==== | ====Size Requirements==== | ||
#There are various opinions<ref>This range emanates from the | #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 to whom the gemara is referring is: The [[Chinuch]] (Shelach: 386) and Bach (Orach Chaim 16) say the reference is to a 6 or 7 year old, the Tur (Orach Chaim 16) says 9 years old, and the Radbaz (6, 2:106) explains it to be a 5 year old. There is additional 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 his body, or whether it needs to be able to cover the head and an additional 51% of his 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 recite a bracha without needing to worry about the possibility of it being a bracha levatala (a bracha said in vein or wasted): | ||
##1 [[amah]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Pri HaAretz 1; Beit David 8; Shalmei Tzibur 26b; Pri | ##1 [[amah]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Pri HaAretz 1; Beit David 8; Shalmei Tzibur 26b; Pri Ha’Adama 23a; Nachal Eshkol pg. 102:4 ; Ha’Elef Lecha Shelomo 1:4.</ref> | ||
##1.5 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Chazon Ish 3:31; Rav Pe’alim 2:6; Mishna Brurah 16:4;</ref> | ##1.5 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Chazon Ish Orach Chaim 3:31; Rav Pe’alim 2:6; Mishna Brurah 16:4;</ref> | ||
##1.5 [[amot]] by 1.5 [[amot]]<ref>Lev Chaim 1:99; </ref> | ##1.5 [[amot]] by 1.5 [[amot]]<ref>Lev Chaim 1:99; </ref> | ||
##2 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Siddur of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and The Tanya. Similarly, the Gra, without specific numbers, was very strict in this regard and required the garment extend down to one’s knees. Also, the Chazon Ish 3:31 concludes that it is best to follow this size requirement. Likewise, the Mishna Brurah (8:17, 16:4) suggests this size to avoid difference of opinions.</ref> | ##2 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]<ref>Siddur of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and The Tanya. Similarly, the Gra, without specific numbers, was very strict in this regard and required the garment extend down to one’s knees. Also, the Chazon Ish Orach Chaim 3:31 concludes that it is best to follow this size requirement. Likewise, the Mishna Brurah (8:17, 16:4) suggests this size to avoid difference of opinions.</ref> | ||
##There is also an opinion that there is no size requirement at all.<ref>Aruch HaShulchan 16:5</ref> | ##There is also an opinion that there is no size requirement at all.<ref>Aruch HaShulchan Orach Chaim 16:5</ref> | ||
#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. | #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. | ||
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*He offers two explanations disproving the Mishna Brurah's approach. First, if we take the Mishna Brurah’s understanding to its logical extreme, we cannot count any minute hole (there being many since the garment is woven) making it more difficult to reach the proper size requirements. Additionally, he says if every minute hole does not count, then it should be considered an interruption. Once we consider the holes interruptions, there is no unified area with the proper required measure. The Eshel Avraham (16 s.v. Odot) agrees and infers this from the simple language of the poskim who gave measurement without specifying this distinction.</ref> does. | *He offers two explanations disproving the Mishna Brurah's approach. First, if we take the Mishna Brurah’s understanding to its logical extreme, we cannot count any minute hole (there being many since the garment is woven) making it more difficult to reach the proper size requirements. Additionally, he says if every minute hole does not count, then it should be considered an interruption. Once we consider the holes interruptions, there is no unified area with the proper required measure. The Eshel Avraham (16 s.v. Odot) agrees and infers this from the simple language of the poskim who gave measurement without specifying this distinction.</ref> does. | ||
#Halacha Le'Maaseh: | #Halacha Le'Maaseh: | ||
##Sephardim: One has fulfilled the mitzvah BUT cannot make a bracha on it when wearing Tzitzit measuring 1.5 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]. It would be preferable if this shiur did not include a neck hole, but if it does and it is difficult to find Tzitzit that size or they are uncomfortable to wear, one may rely on the opinions that say the neck hole is included. In this case, one should make a bracha on a Tallit Gadol and patur (exempt) the Tallit Katan by doing so. In order to make a bracha on a Tallit Katan, it should measure 2 [[amot]] (37.8") by 1 [[amah]] (18.9")<ref>Yalkut Yosef 16:1, Halacha Brurah 1, 16:1; and See “Tzel Heharim” by R’ Hertzel Hillel Yitzhak, pp. 8-11.</ref>. | ##Sephardim: One has fulfilled the mitzvah BUT cannot make a bracha on it when wearing Tzitzit measuring 1.5 [[amot]] by 1 [[amah]]. It would be preferable if this shiur did not include a neck hole, but if it does and it is difficult to find Tzitzit that size or they are uncomfortable to wear, one may rely on the opinions that say the neck hole is included. In this case, one should make a bracha on a Tallit Gadol and patur (exempt) the Tallit Katan by doing so. In order to make a bracha on a Tallit Katan, it should measure 2 [[amot]] (37.8") by 1 [[amah]] (18.9")<ref>Yalkut Yosef 16:1, Halacha Brurah 1, 16:1; and See “Tzel Heharim” by R’ Hertzel Hillel Yitzhak, pp. 8-11. See Or LeTzion (1 Orach Chaim 7, 2:2:6).</ref>. | ||
##Ashkenazim: In order to follow the Mishna Brurah, one should wear Tzitzit that are 1.5 [[amot]] (in length) by 0.5 [[amah]] (in width) not including the neck hole. <ref>Mishna Brurah 8:17, 16:4 </ref> Accordingly, one can wear Tzitzit that are 32 by 16 inches not including the neck hole. <ref>Rabbi Neustadt, author of [[Daily Halacha]] Discussions, writes that using Rav Moshe's (Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:136) standard of measuring the [[amah]] which is 21.3 inches per [[amah]] one ends up with 32 inches by 16 inches. http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5765/pekudei.html. Rabbi Willing is lenient to allow 26 inches in length ([http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/729840/Rabbi_Zvi_Sobolofsky/Hilchas_Tzitzis_Part_2_(definition_of_a_cornder,_size_of_beget,_straps,_brecha_on_borrowed_tzitzis) Rabbi Sobolofsky] (min 14) in name of Rabbi Willig) </ref> | ##Ashkenazim: In order to follow the Mishna Brurah, one should wear Tzitzit that are 1.5 [[amot]] (in length) by 0.5 [[amah]] (in width) not including the neck hole. <ref>Mishna Brurah 8:17, 16:4 </ref> Accordingly, one can wear Tzitzit that are 32 by 16 inches not including the neck hole. <ref>Rabbi Neustadt, author of [[Daily Halacha]] Discussions, writes that using Rav Moshe's (Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:136) standard of measuring the [[amah]] which is 21.3 inches per [[amah]] one ends up with 32 inches by 16 inches. http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5765/pekudei.html. Rabbi Willing is lenient to allow 26 inches in length ([http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/729840/Rabbi_Zvi_Sobolofsky/Hilchas_Tzitzis_Part_2_(definition_of_a_cornder,_size_of_beget,_straps,_brecha_on_borrowed_tzitzis) Rabbi Sobolofsky] (min 14) in name of Rabbi Willig) </ref> | ||
#The garment with four corners needs to be open at least a majority of the way up. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 10:7 </ref> If there is a button less than half way up but the majority is still open, it is still obligated in Tzitzit. <ref>Halacha Brurah 10:20 </ref> | #The garment with four corners needs to be open at least a majority of the way up. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 10:7 </ref> If there is a button less than half way up but the majority is still open, it is still obligated in Tzitzit. <ref>Halacha Brurah 10:20 </ref> | ||
