Exploring the Mitzvah of Tzitzit: Spiritual Protection and Divine Connection

The Mitzvah of Tzitzit in the Torah

The Torah describes the mitzvah of tzitzit in Sefer Bamidbar (the Book of Numbers, 15:37-41):

“Hashem instructed Moshe, stating: ‘Speak to Bnei Yisrael and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall place a sky-blue thread on the fringe of each corner.

“This shall be fringes to you, and when you see it, you will remember all the mitzvot of Hashem and do them; and you shall not wander after your hearts and after your eyes after which you go astray.

“So that you shall remember and perform all My mitzvot and you shall be holy to your G-d. I am the Lord, your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt to be your G-d; I am the Lord your G-d.”

Purpose of the Mitzvah

The purpose of this mitzvah, the Torah makes clear, is to serve as a reminder of the mitzvot, encouraging adherence to them and helping us to avoid the distractions of the material world. Interestingly, the word “tzitzit” has the Gematria (numerical value) of six hundred, which, when added to the eight threads and five knots of each fringe, makes 613, the sum total of all the mitzvot of the Torah. These visual reminders envelop us, reinforcing our commitment to Hashem and our determination to focus on the spiritual.

Angels of Protection

In his writings, Rambam (Maimonides) notes that those who place mezuzahs on their doorways, don tefillin, and wear garments with tzitzit, gain Heavenly protection from sin.

“The sages of old said: Whoever has tefillin on his head and arm, tzitzit on his garment, and a mezuzah on his door is presumed not to sin, for he has many reminders, and they are the angels who save him from sin, as it is written, ‘The angel of Hashem encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.’”

Tzitzit: As Significant as All the Mitzvot

Rambam further stresses the importance of tzitzit, noting its equivalence to all the mitzvot combined:

“One should always be meticulous in the mitzvah of tzitzit, for the Torah equates all the mitzvot to it, as it states: ‘And you shall see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem.’”

Garments Requiring Tzitzit

The obligation to attach tzitzit applies only to garments with four corners. However, the usual practice is for men and boys to wear a special four-cornered garment (the tallit katan) in order to be able to fulfill the mitzvah and attach tzitzit. The tallit gadol, which is worn during Shacharit (the morning prayers) is also four-cornered and has tzitzit attached.

Tzitzit as a Shield

The holy Zohar describes tzitzit as a protective shield against spiritual harm. The Kaf Hachaim (Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer, who was born in Baghdad and passed away in 1939 in Jerusalem), writes that gazing at the tzitzit helps a person to overcome anger.

Meriting the Divine Presence

According to the Shulchan Aruch, “A person who is careful with the mitzvah of tzitzit will merit to see the Shechinah [Divine Presence].”

Just before he passed away, the Vilna Gaon took his tzitzit in his hands and cried out, “How difficult it is to leave this world of deeds, where just by fulfilling a mitzvah as simple as this one, which costs just a few pennies, one can merit to see the Shechinah!”