DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Egal Ben Zakia

Dedicated By
Anonymous

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 704 KB)
Sisit: Wrapping the Sisit String; Tying Knots at the Ends of the Sisit Strings

When Sisit are tied to a garment, it is customary to wrap one of the strings around the others in between the five knots of the Sisit, and different customs exist concerning the number of wrappings that one should make. The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 11:14) writes that one wraps the string seven times after the first knot, nine after the second, eleven after the third, and thirteen after the fourth. These wrappings combine for a total of forty, which alludes to the phrase, "Hashem Ehad" ("God is one"), which has a total numerical value of thirty-nine. When we add one to include the Name of God, we arrive at forty.

The Hida (Rabbi Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1807) cites a different view, which claims that one should make only twenty-six wrappings, to corresponding with the divine Name of "Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh."

Rabbi Haim Vital (1543-1620) reported that his revered mentor, the Arizal (Rabbi Yishak Luria, 1534-1572), held a different view, namely, that one should make thirty-nine wrappings to correspond with the precise numerical value of the phrase "Hashem Ehad." Whereas the Shulhan Aruch held that the wrappings should be done in the sequence of 7-9-11-13, for a total of forty, the Arizal maintained that the proper sequence is 7-8-11-13, for a total of thirty-nine.

All these views are certainly acceptable, though one should preferably follow the Arizal’s system of 7-8-11-13. This applies both to the Tallit Katan worn under one’s shirt, as well as to the Tallit Gadol worn during prayer.

The Shulhan Aruch records a custom to tie knots at the edges of all the Sisit strings, in order to prevent the strings from unraveling. The Mishna Berura (commentary by Rabbi Yisrael Kagan, 1839-1933) disapproves of this practice, but the Shulhan Aruch clearly endorsed it, and Rabbi Haim Vital reported that the Arizal would tie these knots. Nowadays, the wool used for Sisit strings is generally high quality so the strings do not generally unravel. Nevertheless, if one notices that a string has begun to unravel he may certainly tie knots to prevent the strings from unraveling further. These extra knots are entirely permissible and do not constitute a violation of "Bal Tosif," the prohibition against adding onto the Misvot.

Summary: Several different customs exist concerning the wrappings made around the Sisit when tying them to the garment. It is preferable to follow the Arizal’s custom, of making the wrappings in the sequence of 7-8-11-13. It is permissible to tie knots at the ends of the Sisit strings to prevent them from unraveling.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
May One Ask a Non-Jew to Turn Off a Light on Shabbat?
Asking a Non-Jew to Move a Mukseh Item on Shabbat
Shabbat – If a Non-Jew Mistakenly Turned Off a Light and Then Turned It Back on for a Jew
Asking a Non-Jew to Turn on the Heat or Air Conditioning on Shabbat
If a Non-Jew is Paid to Turn Lights on For a Jew on Shabbat
Giving Precedence to the Shabbat Day Meal Over the Friday Night Meal
Shabbat – The Prohibition Against Eating and Drinking Before Kiddush on Friday Night
Minors Eating Before Kiddush on Friday Night; Eating During Ben Ha’shemashot
Eating and Drinking Before Shaharit, and Before Kiddush on Shabbat
Reciting Kiddush Along With Somebody Else
A Woman’s Obligation of Kiddush
During Which Shabbat Meal Should One Eat His Favorite Food?
May One Wear a Surgical Mask on Shabbat in a Public Domain?
Is it Permissible to Use a Water Filter on Shabbat?
Covering the Bread on the Table for Kiddush and Habdala
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found