Tzitzit: Our Special Jewish Uniform

What. Tzitzit is one of the most important mitzvot in the Torah, often described as being as significant as all the commandments combined. This commandment requires that any garment with four corners must have four groups of threads tied at each of the corners. Today, since four-cornered garments are less common, it is customary to wear a special garment called a tallit katan to fulfill this mitzvah. Additionally, it’s also traditional to wrap oneself in a larger tallit during prayer, which includes a blessing to wear tzitzit.

When wearing the small tallit katan under one’s clothes, the blessing is usually not recited, because it's not considered "wrapping" in the same way as the large tallit used during prayer. There are different customs for wearing the tallit katan: Sephardic and Middle Eastern communities often wear it under their shirts, with the tzitzit tucked in, while Ashkenazi Jews typically leave the tzitzit hanging outside their clothing. Some Hasidic Ashkenazim wear their tallit katan over their clothes.

Why. The reason behind this mitzvah is explained in the verse from Numbers 15:39, which says, "And it shall be to you for tzitzit, and you shall see it, and remember all the commandments of Hashem, and do them." Essentially, the tzitzit serves as a reminder to follow the commandments and resist the temptations of the heart and eyes. The Sages further explain that the blue thread (techelet) in the tzitzit evokes the image of the sea, the sky, and Hashem’s throne of glory, guiding us away from sin. Tzitzit also symbolizes our connection to the people of Israel and helps us remember our relationship with Hashem.

A Fun Fact About Tzitzit. Originally, the mitzvah of tzitzit had two components: the regular threads and the blue techelet thread. This special blue color was meant to be made from a particular sea creature. However, during the Muslim period in Israel, the tradition of using techelet was lost. Over time, the law established that the absence of techelet would not invalidate the tzitzit, so today we wear tzitzit without the blue thread. There have been various efforts to rediscover the source of techelet, and many believe it comes from a snail called Murex trunculus, though there’s no clear halachic ruling on including this in tzitzit today.

Tzitzit remains a timeless reminder of our commitment to the commandments and our special connection to Hashem, guiding us in our daily lives.