Tzitzit are specially knotted ritual fringes, tassels or wool strings that are tied to each of the four corners of the garment, including the tallit (prayer shawl) worn by observant Jews and Samaritans. Traditionally most of the clothes had four corners.
According to Kabbalah, being covered in a four-cornered shawl or tallit with tzitzit attached to it while praying arouses God's mercy. For this purpose, Jewish men prefer to wear a four-cornered shawl or tallit tied with tzitzit during the morning prayers, holidays and on Yom Kippur.
The Torah spares women from most commandments that are confined to specific points. Women are not obligated to wear tzitzit as it needs to be worn only during the day. Although Jewish women may also fulfill Mitzvot that they are exempt from, the Torah forbids cross-dressing, thereby not allowing the women to wear a Tallit. Nonetheless, the tallit has always been a male garment from historical times.
Tying the knot
The strings of the tzitzit can be tied in several ways. There are also some crucial elements that need to be followed when tying the strings, knots and coils defined in the Gemara and Rishonim, in order to have the tzitzit be kosher (adding up to a total of 613). The customs between Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, Yemenite Jews and Chabad differ a lot about how the strings need to be tied. When it comes to the wearing of the Tekhelet (the beautiful indigo strings in some tzitzit), there are different traditions explained in Jewish law.
The most widely used method for tying in the North American Jewish community is the Ashkenazi tradition, which follows the teachings of Rashi (Rabbi ShlomoYitzchaki). As per Rashi, the Tzitzit strings are tied with double knots that aid in dividing four groups of coiled string. This includes groups of 7, 8, 11 and 13 coilings. The Chassidish Jews follow the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, who is also known as the Arizal. Also, a slightly different variation is followed by Chabad. Most tallit and tzitzitKatan with pre-tied tzitzit obeys the Ashkenazi tradition. And, a reminder, a boy over the age of 13 who has completed his bat mitzvah ceremony should be the only one tying his tzitzit. However, since young boys do not have any necessity to wear tzitzit, especially for Chinuch purposes, a woman or another young boy can stretch or redo the base knots.
What Do Tzitzit Mean?
The eight strings and the five knots on the tzitzit are the physical representation of the Torah’s 613 mitzvahs. It significantly works this way: every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding numerical value or gematria. The numerical calculations of those five letters which comprise the Hebrew word tzitzit should sum up to 600. Then add the 8 strings and 5 knots of every tassel and the sum is 613.
Fabrics
Traditionally, the tzitzit were made from wool. However, in modern times, the tzitzits are made from cotton also. The main difference between the materials may be more relevant for children or other persons who may have skin sensitivities.
According to Biblical law, all garments made from wool or linen (the typical materials of Biblical garments) require tzitzit. However, the medieval rabbis debated whether the requirement is Biblical or rabbinic if the garment is made from any other material. The opinions differed from one community to another where the ShulchanAruch ruled that this obligation is rabbinic, while the Rema ruled that it is Biblical.
To Sum Up
For those who want to buy wool tzitzit, you can purchase with confidence at Galilee Silks- an Israel-based online shop that sells tallits and tallit katan in various fabrics, colors and styles to customers around the world.
According to Kabbalah, being covered in a four-cornered shawl or tallit with tzitzit attached to it while praying arouses God's mercy. For this purpose, Jewish men prefer to wear a four-cornered shawl or tallit tied with tzitzit during the morning prayers, holidays and on Yom Kippur.
The Torah spares women from most commandments that are confined to specific points. Women are not obligated to wear tzitzit as it needs to be worn only during the day. Although Jewish women may also fulfill Mitzvot that they are exempt from, the Torah forbids cross-dressing, thereby not allowing the women to wear a Tallit. Nonetheless, the tallit has always been a male garment from historical times.
Tying the knot
The strings of the tzitzit can be tied in several ways. There are also some crucial elements that need to be followed when tying the strings, knots and coils defined in the Gemara and Rishonim, in order to have the tzitzit be kosher (adding up to a total of 613). The customs between Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, Yemenite Jews and Chabad differ a lot about how the strings need to be tied. When it comes to the wearing of the Tekhelet (the beautiful indigo strings in some tzitzit), there are different traditions explained in Jewish law.
The most widely used method for tying in the North American Jewish community is the Ashkenazi tradition, which follows the teachings of Rashi (Rabbi ShlomoYitzchaki). As per Rashi, the Tzitzit strings are tied with double knots that aid in dividing four groups of coiled string. This includes groups of 7, 8, 11 and 13 coilings. The Chassidish Jews follow the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, who is also known as the Arizal. Also, a slightly different variation is followed by Chabad. Most tallit and tzitzitKatan with pre-tied tzitzit obeys the Ashkenazi tradition. And, a reminder, a boy over the age of 13 who has completed his bat mitzvah ceremony should be the only one tying his tzitzit. However, since young boys do not have any necessity to wear tzitzit, especially for Chinuch purposes, a woman or another young boy can stretch or redo the base knots.
What Do Tzitzit Mean?
The eight strings and the five knots on the tzitzit are the physical representation of the Torah’s 613 mitzvahs. It significantly works this way: every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding numerical value or gematria. The numerical calculations of those five letters which comprise the Hebrew word tzitzit should sum up to 600. Then add the 8 strings and 5 knots of every tassel and the sum is 613.
Fabrics
Traditionally, the tzitzit were made from wool. However, in modern times, the tzitzits are made from cotton also. The main difference between the materials may be more relevant for children or other persons who may have skin sensitivities.
According to Biblical law, all garments made from wool or linen (the typical materials of Biblical garments) require tzitzit. However, the medieval rabbis debated whether the requirement is Biblical or rabbinic if the garment is made from any other material. The opinions differed from one community to another where the ShulchanAruch ruled that this obligation is rabbinic, while the Rema ruled that it is Biblical.
To Sum Up
For those who want to buy wool tzitzit, you can purchase with confidence at Galilee Silks- an Israel-based online shop that sells tallits and tallit katan in various fabrics, colors and styles to customers around the world.