Scarf or Cloak

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 17: 

9. (beginning) A scarf does not require ziziyoth, even though it has four corners and is wide enough to be used as a tallith.  A cloak, the four corners of which are all at the front, is also exempt from ziziyoth, but a G-d-fearing person should make one of the corners rounded, in order to make sure that the garment should not require ziziyoth according to all opinions.  Most people are not particular about this, but it is a laudable practice.

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Corner of Tallith Torn

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15-16: 

8 (continued).['Odh Yosef Hai (18) If the corner of the tallith (with the zizith attached) gets torn off at a point further than three finger-breadths from the edge, one may not simply sew it back on as it is, as that would constitute preconstruction.  One must first remove the zizith from the corner and affix it only after sewing the corner back on.

If less than three finger-breadths is torn from the corner of the tallith, the piece which has been torn off may not be replaced, because it is too small to be significant.  A piece measuring larger than three by three finger-breadths must be sewn back on to the corner, and the zizith affixed to that.

If, however, the edge is not torn off completely, and something - even a few threads - remains attached to the tallith, it may be resewn, even if the torn portion measures less than three by three finger-breadths.

When doing any sewing to the corners of the tallith, it is important to remember not to use wool on a woolen tallith (the reason for this will be given later).  Only silk thread should be used on a woolen or cotton tallith; and only cotton thread on a silk tallith.]

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Tzitzit and Memory - from Rabbi Lazer Brody

Last week Rabbi Lazer Brody posted a class on his site where he brings a famous Gemara story about the power of the yetzer hara and the role of tzitzit in overcoming it and aiding with memory. He also talks about how memory works in a spiritual sense - 101 vs. 100 in surpassing nature, guarding the eyes, etc.

http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2014/01/magical-memory.html

Less than Half of Tallith Torn

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15-16: 

8 (continued). If a tallith becomes torn across less than half its width or breadth, it may be sewn up again, without having the ziziyoth removed beforehand and tied again afterwards.

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Tallith Torn Across More than Half its Width or Breadth

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15-16: 

8 (continued). If the tallith becomes torn across more than half its width or breadth, the Poseqim HaAharonim rule that one must first untie the ziziyoth, and only affix them again, once the tallith has been repaired (cf. parashath Lech Lecha, 10).

(The reason for this is because, if the tallith becomes torn across more than half its width or breadth, it now clearly has more than four corners, and we must take into account the opinion (above, 6) that it is now exempt from ziziyoth.  If the ziziyoth were still attached whilst the repairs are made, they would be pasul as this would involve preconstruction.

Although the final ruling does not follow the opinion that a tallith may not have more than four corners (above, 6) and Maran z'l does not accept it either, the Poseqim HaAharonim concur that it should be taken into consideration whenever possible.

A situation where this problem could easily arise is when a tallith is made up of two pieces of material, and the seam may come unsewn, or tear, until the tallith is torn more than halfway across.)

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

If the Edge of a Tallith Tears

With H-shem's help, we are learning Hilchot Tzitzit with the Ben Ish Chai, Hacham Yosef Hayyim of Baghdad. The sefer is translated by Shmuel Hiley and published by Yeshivath Ahavath Shalom Publications in Jerusalem 5765/2005. He calls the names of the Chapters by the names of Parashiot, so instead of Chapter One, the first chapter is called Parashath Bereshith, Laws of Ziziyoth. Please note these are for learning purposes only.  For the halacha lemaaseh, i.e. for what to do yourself please ask your own Rav.  

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15: 

8 (beginning). If the edge of a tallith tears, it should be repaired immediately, so that the tallith does not remain with six corners {the two additional corners being formed by the two edges of the tear}.

(This is in order to take into consideration the opinion {mentioned above, 6} that a tallith with more than four corners does not require ziziyoth.)

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Square, not Rounded Corners

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15: 

7. The corners of the tallith to which the ziziyoth are tied must be square and not rounded, as a round corner does not meet the specification of a corner as defined in Halachah. It is particularly important to watch out for this on a tallith qatan, as the corners are usually sewn, and can easily become rounded in the process.

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Tallith with Fewer or More than Four Corners

With H-shem's help, we are learning Hilchot Tzitzit with the Ben Ish Chai, Hacham Yosef Hayyim of Baghdad. The sefer is translated by Shmuel Hiley and published by Yeshivath Ahavath Shalom Publications in Jerusalem 5765/2005. He calls the names of the Chapters by the names of Parashiot, so instead of Chapter One, the first chapter is called Parashath Bereshith, Laws of Ziziyoth. Please note these are for learning purposes only.  For the halacha lemaaseh, i.e. for what to do yourself please ask your own Rav.  

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 15: 

6. A tallith which has fewer than four corners does not require ziziyoth; but if it has more than four corners, it does require ziziyoth.  Regardless of how many corners a tallith may have, it may only have four ziziyoth, and the four corners to which they should be affixed are those furthest apart, as they are considered the true corners of the garment

One transgresses the prohibition of adding to a precept (Devarim, 4:2) if one wears a tallith to which more than four ziziyoth have been affixed.

One should avoid wearing a tallith which has more than four corners, even if it only has ziziyoth on four corners, since there are some Authorities who say that a tallith with more than four corners does not require ziziyoth at all.  Even though we do not rule like those Authorities, it is still not correct to use such a tallith.

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Footnote About the Dye for Techelet

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 14: 

1. The formula for the dye, as also the process through which the threads were dyed, was lost when the centres of Jewish settlement moved away from the Mediterranean.  Although some scholars attempted to rediscover the process of making and using the dye, their findings have not been accepted by the majority of halachic authorities.  Thus, in view of the severity of the prohibition of sha'atnez, one may not rely on the dyed threads available today to render a lenient ruling. 

(Note from the poster: This note relates to item 2 which talks about linen tzitziot - they can only be affixed to a woolen tallit if they include techelet).

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Linen Tallit, Linen Tzitziot

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 14: 

5. One should not wear a linen tallith even with linen ziziyoth, in order not to come to affix woolen ziziyoth to the tallith by mistake at some later date.  However, if it is impossible to obtain any other tallith, it is permissible to affix ziziyoth to a linen tallith - but only linen ones, and only when no other tallith is available.

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.

Using Techeleth or Not?

About this learning series

Parashath Noah, Laws of Ziziyoth, Page 13-14: 

4. (conclusion) [Odh Yosef Hai (1) Nowadays that we do not use techeleth, and all the threads of the zizith are white, we are still able to fulfill the positive commandment of zizith.

(We rule in this matter according to the majority opinion in the Talmudh, that techeleth is not indispensable, and that white threads alone may also be used.  Even though there is an opinion (Rezah z'l and the teacher of R. Meir of Rothenburg) which supports the minority view in the Talmudh that, unless ziziyoth contain techeleth, they are not kasher, this is not the dominant ruling, and it need not be taken into consideration.)]

This learning should be in memory of Maran, HaRav HaGaon Ovadia Yosef, ztz'l.