Among the issues discussed concerning the laws of Tzitzit is the direction that the Tzitzit strings should be positioned at the corners of the Talit, meaning, from which direction they should be left to hang from the Talit. Theoretically, one could position the Tzitzit either lengthwise, such that it rests in the same direction as the collar (it would thus be positioned horizontally when one lifts the Talit by the collar), or widthwise, perpendicular to the collar. If one positions the Tzitzit widthwise, they will hang facing directly towards the floor, whereas if one positions the strings in the first manner described, lengthwise, they will rest on the corner of the Talit and will not face the floor directly.
Maran (author of the Shulchan Aruch) writes that one should preferably ensure that the Tzitzit are positioned lengthwise, in the same direction as the collar, such that they rest along the corner of the Talit, rather than facing directly towards the floor. If, however, the Tzitzit were positioned widthwise, perpendicular to the collar, then one has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation; this Halakha applies only on the level of "Lichatchila" – the optimum standard of the Mitzvah's performance.
