Rounding the Corner of a Kapota
A garment which has 4 corners is obligated in Tzitzis. In fact, a garment with more than 4 corners is also obligated in Tzitzis, but only 4 Tzitzis are placed into the garment, on the 4 corners which are furthest away from one another.
Jackets which are open all the way down the front technically have 4 corners as well - 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. Nonetheless, the Ram”o rules that that such a garment is exempt from Tzitzis since it does not have 2 corners in the front and 2 corresponding corners in the back of the garment. Rather all of the corners are on the front side.
The Magen Avraham questions this basis for leniency and rules that a G-d-fearing individual should round off one of the corners. The Alter Rebbe brings the ruling of the Magen Avraham that a Yarei Shamayim should be stringent.
On this halocha, the Mishna Berura brings a case in which all authorities would agree that the jacket in obligated in Tzitzis: A Kapota (long frock-coat) which has a slit at the back genuinely creates 4 corners, with 2 in the front and 2 in the back of the garment.
If the slit extends upwards for the majority of the height of the garment (measured from the top of the neck to the bottom of the Kapota), the Kapota would require Tzitzis. If the slit extends less than half way, the Kapota would not require Tzitzis. The same would apply if the slit is sewn tightly closed so that it does not extend up for the majority of the garment. Snaps, Velcro or buttons which are easily undone would not suffice to minimise the slit. If the slit goes exactly half way, there is a doubt whether the garment requires Tzitzis. In such a case, Tzitzis would be required but a bracha would not be recited over them.
But you don’t see too many people walking around with Tzitzis on their Kapotas! The remedy to exempt this type of garment from Tzitzis is as mentioned above, to round one of the corners. A rounded corner is not defined as a corner and the Kapota will now only have 3 corners.
The Mishna Berura goes a step fur-ther and recommends that 3 corners should be rounded. This is out of concern that the corners of the collar are also considered corners. Thus the Kapota in fact has 6 corners. Other Poskim disagree, since the corners of the collar are made and always worn so that they are folded over on top of the garment. The Alter Rebbe also does not seem to share the Mishna Berura’s concern, writing that since the corners are not on the edge of the garment, it is like someone sewing 2 corners onto the middle of the garment, which is not the type of corner referred to in the Torah.
There are lenient opinions based on other leniencies and the Aruch Hashulchan writes that only mehadrin would round off a corner. However the Mishna Berura’s ruling is emphatic and should be followed.
It is important that the rounded corner is created by cutting away the fabric. Folding and stitching the corner will not suffice even if it is stitched tightly.
Secondly, the cut must be round. Merely cutting off the corner with a straight line does not solve the prob-lem. On the contrary, this actually creates additional corners on the Kapota (the definition of a corner is not limited to a right angle).
The Mishna Berura questions how much the corner needs to be rounded, since it is inconceivable that only slightly rounding the corner would suffice. Eishel Avraham writes that it is indeed sufficient even the slightest rounding of the corner, as long as it is noticeable that the corner appears round.
The Yavetz however requires that the rounding extend across the entire measure which is halachically defined as the corner. This measure is equivalent to 6cm (3 fingerbreadths) on each side of the corner. Most Poskim concur with this opinion.
The Ketzos Hashulchan gives a prac-tical suggestion for how to measure and cut the corner correctly. A circle with a 12cm diameter should be cut out of paper. It should then be positioned on the corner of the garment so that it touches the 2 sides of the corner (refer to diagram). This will mark the correct shape and position for cutting. This method can also be used to check that your Kapota is tailored correctly.
Not all Kapotas have been made with particular care to these halachos, especially when they have not been tailored by frum individuals. If the corner is not sufficiently rounded, one who wears the Kapota with-out Tzitzis is negating a positive Biblical Commandment. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch assures that one who is careful in observing the Mitzvah of Tzitzis is assured that they will see the presence of the Shechina.
Jackets which are open all the way down the front technically have 4 corners as well - 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. Nonetheless, the Ram”o rules that that such a garment is exempt from Tzitzis since it does not have 2 corners in the front and 2 corresponding corners in the back of the garment. Rather all of the corners are on the front side.
The Magen Avraham questions this basis for leniency and rules that a G-d-fearing individual should round off one of the corners. The Alter Rebbe brings the ruling of the Magen Avraham that a Yarei Shamayim should be stringent.
On this halocha, the Mishna Berura brings a case in which all authorities would agree that the jacket in obligated in Tzitzis: A Kapota (long frock-coat) which has a slit at the back genuinely creates 4 corners, with 2 in the front and 2 in the back of the garment.
If the slit extends upwards for the majority of the height of the garment (measured from the top of the neck to the bottom of the Kapota), the Kapota would require Tzitzis. If the slit extends less than half way, the Kapota would not require Tzitzis. The same would apply if the slit is sewn tightly closed so that it does not extend up for the majority of the garment. Snaps, Velcro or buttons which are easily undone would not suffice to minimise the slit. If the slit goes exactly half way, there is a doubt whether the garment requires Tzitzis. In such a case, Tzitzis would be required but a bracha would not be recited over them.
But you don’t see too many people walking around with Tzitzis on their Kapotas! The remedy to exempt this type of garment from Tzitzis is as mentioned above, to round one of the corners. A rounded corner is not defined as a corner and the Kapota will now only have 3 corners.
The Mishna Berura goes a step fur-ther and recommends that 3 corners should be rounded. This is out of concern that the corners of the collar are also considered corners. Thus the Kapota in fact has 6 corners. Other Poskim disagree, since the corners of the collar are made and always worn so that they are folded over on top of the garment. The Alter Rebbe also does not seem to share the Mishna Berura’s concern, writing that since the corners are not on the edge of the garment, it is like someone sewing 2 corners onto the middle of the garment, which is not the type of corner referred to in the Torah.
There are lenient opinions based on other leniencies and the Aruch Hashulchan writes that only mehadrin would round off a corner. However the Mishna Berura’s ruling is emphatic and should be followed.
It is important that the rounded corner is created by cutting away the fabric. Folding and stitching the corner will not suffice even if it is stitched tightly.
Secondly, the cut must be round. Merely cutting off the corner with a straight line does not solve the prob-lem. On the contrary, this actually creates additional corners on the Kapota (the definition of a corner is not limited to a right angle).
The Mishna Berura questions how much the corner needs to be rounded, since it is inconceivable that only slightly rounding the corner would suffice. Eishel Avraham writes that it is indeed sufficient even the slightest rounding of the corner, as long as it is noticeable that the corner appears round.
The Yavetz however requires that the rounding extend across the entire measure which is halachically defined as the corner. This measure is equivalent to 6cm (3 fingerbreadths) on each side of the corner. Most Poskim concur with this opinion.
The Ketzos Hashulchan gives a prac-tical suggestion for how to measure and cut the corner correctly. A circle with a 12cm diameter should be cut out of paper. It should then be positioned on the corner of the garment so that it touches the 2 sides of the corner (refer to diagram). This will mark the correct shape and position for cutting. This method can also be used to check that your Kapota is tailored correctly.
Not all Kapotas have been made with particular care to these halachos, especially when they have not been tailored by frum individuals. If the corner is not sufficiently rounded, one who wears the Kapota with-out Tzitzis is negating a positive Biblical Commandment. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch assures that one who is careful in observing the Mitzvah of Tzitzis is assured that they will see the presence of the Shechina.
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