** We would like to invite our readers to make a Mitzvah when traveling to Israel from New York. A group of young men along with Rabbi Shmuel Pinchasi of Jerusalem have organized an effort to provide clothing for brides who can not afford it. The organization provides the clothing and the luggage. Due to Israeli laws, it is not possible to ship via conventional means. We therefore ask our readers to take one additional suitcase filled with clothing when traveling to Israel. There is no donation or cost required. Further, this is very safe and not a security concern. When delivering the suitcase, the organization shall empty out and fill back the case so that you can feel safe. Upon arrival in Israel, the organization shall arrange to have the suitcase picked up at your hotel or other destination. Call 1-646-644-4466 for arrangements.**
Today’s Halacha…
The question arises concerning a case of one who puts on his Talit with the Beracha of "Le’hit’atef Bi’tzitzit," and later while wearing the Talit, he discovers that the Talit is invalid for use. This can happen if one neglected to check the strings before donning the Talit. It also happens to some people that their Talit becomes Pasul (invalid) during the Tefilah. In such a case of course, one must immediately remove the Talit. So the question we ask today is about making the Beracha of "Le’hit’atef Bi’tzitzit" a second time. Must the person recite a new Beracha of "Le’hit’atef Be’tzitzit" when putting on the second Talit?
The consensus among the Poskim (authorities of Halacha), including Maran (author of the Shulchan Aruch), and the Mishna Berura (work on Halacha by Rabbi Yisrael Ha’kohen Kagan, 19th-20th century, Lithuania), is that one must indeed recite a new Beracha when putting on a second Talit. When he recited the first Beracha, he did not intend to wear any Talit other than the one he put on at that moment, and the Beracha therefore cannot apply to any subsequent Talit. The second Talit thus requires its own Beracha.
It is therefore advisable to check the Tzitzit on one’s Talit before wearing it in the morning, so as to avoid this dilemma. Halacha requires one to check not only the eight strings, to ensure that they are intact, but also the corner of the Talit, near the hole where the strings are affixed to the Talit. If even one string snaps in that area, the Talit is invalid for use. One should therefore check not only the eight strings themselves, but also the place near the hole where they are attached to the garment.
Very often, checking the Tzitzit of one’s Talit in the morning is very difficult given the time constraints involved. People are sometimes running late for Shacharit, and might not have the time to properly check their Tzitzit. The Mishna Berura therefore recommends that one check his Tzitzit after Shacharit as he places his Talit in his bag. Since the Talit remains in a secure location until its next use, examining the Tzitzit before placing the Talit in its bag allows one to assume that they are intact the following morning.
In conclusion, one should check the Tzitzit on his Talit before wearing it, either in the morning, just prior to wearing the Talit, or at the end of Shacharit, before placing the Talit in its bag. If one discovers during services that his Talit is invalid, he must immediately remove it and then recite the Beracha of "Li’hit’atef Bi’tzitzit" over a different Talit.
