B"H
Friday, Sivan 27, 5780 / June 19, 2020
One of the 613 Torah commandments is the mitzvah of Tzitzit, which is found at the end of this week’s Torah reading in the Diaspora, Parshat Shlach. Tzitzit are the fringes placed on the four corners of the Tallit.
The Torah says, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: They should make fringes (Tzitzit) on the corners of their garments… that you may see it and remember all the commandments of G-d to perform them, and you will not follow after your hearts and after your eyes, which lead you astray…” The reason for wearing Tzitzit is to remember all the commandments.
Q. What is the meaning of the word “Tzitzit”?
A. One explanation is that it means “strings.” Thus, it refers to the strings on the four corners of the Tallit. Another explanation is that it comes from the word “meitzit”, to look. They are called Tzitzit because the purpose of the mitzvah is to look at the Tzitzit and remember to perform all the mitzvot.
Q. How does this mitzvah remind us of all the mitzvot?
A. Rashi explains that the numerical value of the Hebrew letters which make up the word “Tzitzit” is 600. When you add the eight strings and five knots on each tzitzah, we have 613, the exact number as the mitzvot. Thus, the Tzitzit remind us of all the mitzvot.
Q. Why, in the Ashkenazic custom is the Tallit worn only after one is married?
A. Later in the Torah (Deut. 22:11) the mitzvah of Tzitzit is mentioned again. Right after that the Torah speaks about marriage. Thus, the Ashkenazic custom is to put on the Tallit in connection with marriage.
Q. Why, for the daily morning prayer do we put on the Tallit first and then the Tefillin?
A. There is a general rule that when we have two mitzvot to perform, we first do the mitzvah which is performed more often. Being that the Tallit we wear every day, including Shabbat and holidays, while the Tefillin are not worn on Shabbat and holidays, for this we put on the Tallit first as its mitzvah applies each day.
Q. What is the significance of the eight strings on each corner of the Tallit?
A. The total number of strings on a Tallit is 32 (4x8=32). Thirty two is the numerical value of the word, “Lev” (heart). The mitzvah of Tzitzit is, as the Torah says, “Not to be led astray to follow your heart and eyes.” The purpose of the Tzitzit is to remind us not to follow after the desires of one’s heart.
Also, the Torah begins with the letter “Bet” and ends with the letter “Lamed.” The numerical value of the fringes in the Tzitzit and the numerical value of the first and last letter of the Torah are the same. This alludes to the importance of the mitzvah of Tzitzit. Fulfilling the mitzvah of Tzitzit is compared to fulfilling the entire Torah.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:28 / Shabbat ends: 9:45
Dedicated in memory of Saul Wolman – Zalmen ben Arieh Leib – whose yartzeit is today, Sivan 27.
May his soul rest in peace in Gan Eden. May his memory be a blessing to all his family.
From: his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren