Shabbat Gathering: What are tzit-tzit?

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

The origin and meaning of tzit-tzit, the fringes on the corner of a tallit, prayer shawl, has largely been lost as the tradition has been handed down through the ages. But this is what we do know about them.

First, there is a commandment to wear tzit-tzit and this is found in Numbers 37:

Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the LORD and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God.

And the commandment is repeated in the V’ahavta section of the Shema prayer.

The commandment is also found in Deuteronomy 22:

You shall make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.

Maimonides considered tzit-tzit so important, he included it along with circumcision and the Passover seder as a major commandment.

Each of the tzit-tzit is made of four strings that are threaded through four holes in the tallit, one in each corner. And there are many different customs as to how the strings are wound and knotted.

When I lived in California, I worked at a Jewish funeral home for a while. Frequently, a family felt divided about whether a family member should be buried in their tallit or whether it should be passed down to the family as an heirloom. When the family decided to bury their relative in their tallit, we would observe an old custom and cut a tzit-tzit off the tallit and present it to the family as a keepsake. The tzit-tzit represents the obligation the wearer has to observe the mitzvot. Now that the person has died, they are released from that obligation and the tzit-tzit would be cut off.

When my daughters had their b'nei mitzvot, it was the custom to make their own tallit and tie their own tzit-tzit. Unfortunately, I didn't learn how because I think it would be a cool crafting project.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

PS

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