Tying Tzitzis with Techeiles
Different opinions on how the Chulios and knots should be made
At the end of Parshas Shelach[1] we read about the Mitzvah of Tzitzis and the requirement of having a Techeiles coloured wool string (פתיל תכלת).
Parshas Korach begins with the words ויקח קרח, and Korach took. Based on the juxtaposition to the Parsha of Tzitzis, the Gemara[2] teaches that Korach “took” a Tallis made entirely of Techeiles wool and asked Moshe whether it too required the Techeiles string. His intention was to ridicule Moshe. Moshe answered that such a Tallis still requires the Techeiles string.
The Techeiles was a turquoise dye made from the Chilazon[3]. At some point in time after the Talmudic era, the Techeiles became lost and our Tzitzis are made with only white strings. For hundreds of years this has been the status quo. In the last 150 years, various attempts to rediscover the Techeiles were made by a different Rabbis, based on the criteria of the Chilazon described in the Gemara and Midrash. Following their differing conclusions, it is common to see blue strings on Tzitzis re-emerging[4].
Can the Mitzvah be fulfilled without Techeiles
The Mishna[5] teaches that the absence of the Techeiles does not prevent one from fulfilling the Mitzvah with the white strings and the absence of the white strings does not prevent one from fulfilling the Mitzvah with the Techeiles[6].
The white strings need not be white. They are called white only because we are not obligated to dye them. Unlike the other Tzitzis strings that could be made of linen, the Techeiles string must be of wool[7].
This Mishna reflects the view of the Chachamim. However, according to Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, the Mitzvah of Tzitzis can only be Biblicallly fulfilled with Techeiles. Some Rishonim[8] follow the view of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi. According to them, our Tzitzis nowadays is only Rabbinic. Most of the Rishonim[9] rule like the Chachamim in the Mishna that the Biblical Mitzvah can be fulfilled without Techeiles.
How many Techeiles strings
The Halacha follows Beis Shammai who rule that the Tzitzis are to be made up of 4 strings. This is in contrast to Beis Hillel who rule that Tzitzis should be made with 3 strings[10]. The 4 strings are inserted into the garment and folded in half, giving rise to a total of 8 strings.
According to Rashi[11], Tosfos[12] and the Rosh[13], when Techeiles is used, 2 of the 4 full strings should be Techeiles and 2 white, giving rise to 4 Techeiles strings and 4 white strings. The Raavad and other Rishonim rule that only 1 of the 4 full strings should be Techeiles, so that 2 out of 8 strings will be Techeiles[14]. The Sema”g[15] writes that one may follow either of these 2 approaches. The Rambam has a unique opinion whereby only 1 of the 8 strings is Techeiles[16]. This is achieved by dying only half a string Techeiles.
Chulios Windings
The Gemara teaches that the windings of the Tzitzis should be made in Chulios. A Chulia is a group of 3 windings[17]. The Tzitzis should not have less than 7 Chulios, corresponding to the 7 heavens. There should not be more than 13 Chulios, corresponding to the 7 heavens and the voids between them. There should be a knot after each Chulia.
Whilst some have the custom to tie the Tzitzis with Chulios even in the absence of Techeiles, they are only mandatory when one has Techeiles[18].
The Gemara teaches that the first winding should be with a white string. This is because it should be like the colour of the garment. The last winding should also be white because מעלין בקודש ואין מורידין. The Rambam understands that all of the windings should be with the Techeiles string, with the exception of the very first and very last winding. This is also the opinion of the Ariza”l.
According to Rashi, the first 3 windings (Chulia) should be white as should the last Chulia. The rest of the Chulios are of Techeiles. According to Rav Amram Gaon, the Chulios should be alternated from white to Techeiles, beginning and ending with a white Chulia.
The Raavad has an interesting opinion that the 7 Chulios refer to the windings in each group between the knots. In his view, the single windings should alternate from white to Techeiles, starting and ending with the white string.
Five Knots
Aside from the first knot that connects the Tzitzis to the garment, the Gemara does not mention the need for any other knots. Nonetheless, there is an ancient custom going back to the time of the Geonim to make 5 double-knots in the Tzitzis[19]. This is brought by Rav Natrunai Gaon, Rashi, Tosfos and Raavad.
Most Poskim are of the view that these knots are only made nowadays in the absence of Techeiles. When using Techeiles, these knots are not tied and the main focus is on the Chulios. According to some Rishonim, including the Raavad, the 5 knots are still tied when using Techeiles. This is also the opinion of the Ariza”l according to Kabbalah.
A Tallis made entirely of Techeiles.
A Tallis garment that is made entirely of Techeiles certainly requires the Techeiles string as well, as Moshe answered Korach’s challenge. However, there is a question about how many Techeiles strings are required in this scenario.
According to many authorities[20], the “white strings” should be dyed the same colour as the garment itself. This is derived from the verse ציצית הכנף, “the Tzitzis of the corner”, meaning that the Tzitzis should be like the corner. The Shulchan Aruch[21] rules that those who are careful with Mitzvos do this. But what about where the garment is Techeiles coloured? Should the white strings be dyed Techeiles as well?
The Gemara[22] rules that the Tzitzis strings of an entirely Techeiles garment can be dyed any colour except for Kela Ilan (an indigo dye that resembles Techeiles and is made from a plant extract). Based on this, the Rambam, as explained by the Beis Yosef, rules that even though the Tzitzis strings should be of the same colour as the garment, in this scenario, the white strings should not be dyed Techeiles. They should also not be dyed a colour that is similar to Techeiles, such as black. This is so that we don’t add to, or appear to be adding to the obligatory number of Techeiles strings.
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[1] Bamidbar 15:38-41. This is the third passage of the Shema
[2] Sanhedrin 110a. See also Midrash Tanchuma Parshas Korach.
[3] Tosefta Menachos 9:6
[4] The conclusions of these Rabbis and the general pursuit of reinstituting Techeiles has been subject to great debate and dispute. This fascinating topic is beyond the scope of this work.
[5] Menachos 38a
[6] Consensus is that the white strings and the Techeiles are counted a 1 Mitzvah rather than 2 separate Mitzvos.
[7] Biblically, even a linen garment requires the wool Techeiles. The sages learn from the juxtaposition of the Mitzvah of Tzitzis and Shaatnez in Devarim 22, that Tzitzis with Techeiles do not violate Shaatnez.
[8] Rabbi Zerachia Halevi – Maor Hakatan Shabbos 11.
[9] Rashi Menachos 38a, Rosh Hilchos Tzitzis, Ramban, Rambam Hilchos Tzitzis 1:4
[10] Menachos 41b. There is a dispute whether this number of strings is Biblically required or only Rabbinic.
[11] Menachos 38a
[12] Menachos 38a ד"ה התכלת
[13] Piskei Harosh
[14] This is also the opinion of the Vilna Gaon
[15] Hilchos Tzitzis
[16] Hilchos Tzitzis 1:6. Teshuvos Harambam. Some learn that this is also the opinion of the Ramban and Sefer Hachinuch.
[17] Menachos 39a
[18] Rambam Hilchos Tzitzis 1:7-9, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:14, Mishna Berura and Shulchan Aruch Harav
[19] Rashi explains the connection between Tzitzis and remembering all of the Mitzvos of the Torah is because ציצית has the Gematria of 600. Adding the 5 knots and 8 strings adds up to 613.
[20] Rambam 2:8 and Rashi. Tosfos disputes Rashi’s understanding of the Gemara.
[21] Orach Chaim 9:5. The Ram”o writes that he did not see people dye the white strings to match the garment and that it should not be done. To be Yotzai according to all opinions, it is customary for the Tallis to be white, so that it matches the white strings.
[22] Menachos 41b
Parshas Korach begins with the words ויקח קרח, and Korach took. Based on the juxtaposition to the Parsha of Tzitzis, the Gemara[2] teaches that Korach “took” a Tallis made entirely of Techeiles wool and asked Moshe whether it too required the Techeiles string. His intention was to ridicule Moshe. Moshe answered that such a Tallis still requires the Techeiles string.
The Techeiles was a turquoise dye made from the Chilazon[3]. At some point in time after the Talmudic era, the Techeiles became lost and our Tzitzis are made with only white strings. For hundreds of years this has been the status quo. In the last 150 years, various attempts to rediscover the Techeiles were made by a different Rabbis, based on the criteria of the Chilazon described in the Gemara and Midrash. Following their differing conclusions, it is common to see blue strings on Tzitzis re-emerging[4].
Can the Mitzvah be fulfilled without Techeiles
The Mishna[5] teaches that the absence of the Techeiles does not prevent one from fulfilling the Mitzvah with the white strings and the absence of the white strings does not prevent one from fulfilling the Mitzvah with the Techeiles[6].
The white strings need not be white. They are called white only because we are not obligated to dye them. Unlike the other Tzitzis strings that could be made of linen, the Techeiles string must be of wool[7].
This Mishna reflects the view of the Chachamim. However, according to Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, the Mitzvah of Tzitzis can only be Biblicallly fulfilled with Techeiles. Some Rishonim[8] follow the view of Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi. According to them, our Tzitzis nowadays is only Rabbinic. Most of the Rishonim[9] rule like the Chachamim in the Mishna that the Biblical Mitzvah can be fulfilled without Techeiles.
How many Techeiles strings
The Halacha follows Beis Shammai who rule that the Tzitzis are to be made up of 4 strings. This is in contrast to Beis Hillel who rule that Tzitzis should be made with 3 strings[10]. The 4 strings are inserted into the garment and folded in half, giving rise to a total of 8 strings.
According to Rashi[11], Tosfos[12] and the Rosh[13], when Techeiles is used, 2 of the 4 full strings should be Techeiles and 2 white, giving rise to 4 Techeiles strings and 4 white strings. The Raavad and other Rishonim rule that only 1 of the 4 full strings should be Techeiles, so that 2 out of 8 strings will be Techeiles[14]. The Sema”g[15] writes that one may follow either of these 2 approaches. The Rambam has a unique opinion whereby only 1 of the 8 strings is Techeiles[16]. This is achieved by dying only half a string Techeiles.
Chulios Windings
The Gemara teaches that the windings of the Tzitzis should be made in Chulios. A Chulia is a group of 3 windings[17]. The Tzitzis should not have less than 7 Chulios, corresponding to the 7 heavens. There should not be more than 13 Chulios, corresponding to the 7 heavens and the voids between them. There should be a knot after each Chulia.
Whilst some have the custom to tie the Tzitzis with Chulios even in the absence of Techeiles, they are only mandatory when one has Techeiles[18].
The Gemara teaches that the first winding should be with a white string. This is because it should be like the colour of the garment. The last winding should also be white because מעלין בקודש ואין מורידין. The Rambam understands that all of the windings should be with the Techeiles string, with the exception of the very first and very last winding. This is also the opinion of the Ariza”l.
According to Rashi, the first 3 windings (Chulia) should be white as should the last Chulia. The rest of the Chulios are of Techeiles. According to Rav Amram Gaon, the Chulios should be alternated from white to Techeiles, beginning and ending with a white Chulia.
The Raavad has an interesting opinion that the 7 Chulios refer to the windings in each group between the knots. In his view, the single windings should alternate from white to Techeiles, starting and ending with the white string.
Five Knots
Aside from the first knot that connects the Tzitzis to the garment, the Gemara does not mention the need for any other knots. Nonetheless, there is an ancient custom going back to the time of the Geonim to make 5 double-knots in the Tzitzis[19]. This is brought by Rav Natrunai Gaon, Rashi, Tosfos and Raavad.
Most Poskim are of the view that these knots are only made nowadays in the absence of Techeiles. When using Techeiles, these knots are not tied and the main focus is on the Chulios. According to some Rishonim, including the Raavad, the 5 knots are still tied when using Techeiles. This is also the opinion of the Ariza”l according to Kabbalah.
A Tallis made entirely of Techeiles.
A Tallis garment that is made entirely of Techeiles certainly requires the Techeiles string as well, as Moshe answered Korach’s challenge. However, there is a question about how many Techeiles strings are required in this scenario.
According to many authorities[20], the “white strings” should be dyed the same colour as the garment itself. This is derived from the verse ציצית הכנף, “the Tzitzis of the corner”, meaning that the Tzitzis should be like the corner. The Shulchan Aruch[21] rules that those who are careful with Mitzvos do this. But what about where the garment is Techeiles coloured? Should the white strings be dyed Techeiles as well?
The Gemara[22] rules that the Tzitzis strings of an entirely Techeiles garment can be dyed any colour except for Kela Ilan (an indigo dye that resembles Techeiles and is made from a plant extract). Based on this, the Rambam, as explained by the Beis Yosef, rules that even though the Tzitzis strings should be of the same colour as the garment, in this scenario, the white strings should not be dyed Techeiles. They should also not be dyed a colour that is similar to Techeiles, such as black. This is so that we don’t add to, or appear to be adding to the obligatory number of Techeiles strings.
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[1] Bamidbar 15:38-41. This is the third passage of the Shema
[2] Sanhedrin 110a. See also Midrash Tanchuma Parshas Korach.
[3] Tosefta Menachos 9:6
[4] The conclusions of these Rabbis and the general pursuit of reinstituting Techeiles has been subject to great debate and dispute. This fascinating topic is beyond the scope of this work.
[5] Menachos 38a
[6] Consensus is that the white strings and the Techeiles are counted a 1 Mitzvah rather than 2 separate Mitzvos.
[7] Biblically, even a linen garment requires the wool Techeiles. The sages learn from the juxtaposition of the Mitzvah of Tzitzis and Shaatnez in Devarim 22, that Tzitzis with Techeiles do not violate Shaatnez.
[8] Rabbi Zerachia Halevi – Maor Hakatan Shabbos 11.
[9] Rashi Menachos 38a, Rosh Hilchos Tzitzis, Ramban, Rambam Hilchos Tzitzis 1:4
[10] Menachos 41b. There is a dispute whether this number of strings is Biblically required or only Rabbinic.
[11] Menachos 38a
[12] Menachos 38a ד"ה התכלת
[13] Piskei Harosh
[14] This is also the opinion of the Vilna Gaon
[15] Hilchos Tzitzis
[16] Hilchos Tzitzis 1:6. Teshuvos Harambam. Some learn that this is also the opinion of the Ramban and Sefer Hachinuch.
[17] Menachos 39a
[18] Rambam Hilchos Tzitzis 1:7-9, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:14, Mishna Berura and Shulchan Aruch Harav
[19] Rashi explains the connection between Tzitzis and remembering all of the Mitzvos of the Torah is because ציצית has the Gematria of 600. Adding the 5 knots and 8 strings adds up to 613.
[20] Rambam 2:8 and Rashi. Tosfos disputes Rashi’s understanding of the Gemara.
[21] Orach Chaim 9:5. The Ram”o writes that he did not see people dye the white strings to match the garment and that it should not be done. To be Yotzai according to all opinions, it is customary for the Tallis to be white, so that it matches the white strings.
[22] Menachos 41b