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Why do I see people "fingering" the fringes of their tallit before they put it on?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Mitzvot » Tallit and Tzitzit | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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Two or more torn strings of Tzitzit could invalidate an entire Tallit. (In such an instance, the tallit should be shown to a rabbi, who will advise you whether the strings need to be replaced.) Therefore, the strings of the tzitzit and/or tallit must be inspected every day before donning them to ensure that they are still Kosher.1

Each string is a mitzvah, and every mitzvah is uniquely precious, and shouldn’t be “entangled” with another
During the tzitzit inspection, it is proper to separate all the fringes from each other, and certainly to ensure that none of the strings are entangled. Each string is a Mitzvah, and every mitzvah is uniquely precious, and shouldn’t be “entangled” with another.

Footnotes

  • 1. If one is called up for an aliyah, and the entire congregation is waiting for him to don a tallit and ascend to the bimah, the string inspection should wait until after the aliyah. Respect for the waiting congregation supercedes the need to inspect the tzitzit.

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RELATED CATEGORIES

Daily Life » Clothing » Tallit and Tzitzit
Mitzvah
(pl. Mitzvot). A commandment from G-d. Mitzvah also means a connection, for a Jew connects with G–d through fulfilling His commandments.
Kosher
Literally means "fit." Commonly used to describe foods which are permitted by Jewish dietary laws, but is also used to describe religious articles (such as a Torah scroll or Sukkah) which meet the requirements of Jewish law.
Tallit
A prayer shawl. A large four-cornered woolen garment with fringes attached to its corners in a specific manner. This garment is worn by males during the morning prayers, fulfilling the Biblical obligation of attaching fringes to four-cornered garments.
Tzitzit
Literally: the fringes which are attached to four cornered garments, as Biblically mandated. Normally this word refers to a t-shirt sized four cornered garment which contains such fringes, and is usually worn beneath the shirt.