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On most Tallitot and Sephardi Tallitot Ketanot there are little knots on the bottom or side. What are they? Why are they there? What are their significance?

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2 Answers

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These knots help ensure that the front Tzitzises (which are holier) are not accidentally moved to the back.

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Good answer! But what aboht Talit Gadol (unless I'm missing how it works for Talit Gadol)? – Hacham Gabriel Dec 23 '11 at 22:08
@H'Gabriel the Atara takes care of it – Shmuel Brin Dec 23 '11 at 22:36
Some of the tzitzit are holier than others? How do you figure? – Double AA♦ Dec 25 '11 at 0:26
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@DoubleAA, tzitzis should stay where they were (we learn this from the k'rashim (planks) of the mishkan, which had the same rule). (The baal haTanya says it's not necessary for tzitzis, which is why Lubavitchers don't have ataros.) I don't have a citation at the moment, but will bl"n try to find one. – msh210♦ Dec 25 '11 at 3:58
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... Mishna B'rura 8:9, and it's the Ari (citied there in the MB), not the baal haTanya. @H'Gabriel, courtesy ping. – msh210♦ Dec 25 '11 at 4:04
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The threads at the end of the garment are unfinished, so they get balled up and knotted. Is that for halachic reasons or practical ones, I have no idea.

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But some have them and some don't...Also, in modern times they couldn't come up with a way to make them not stick and not have to put the knots? – Hacham Gabriel Dec 23 '11 at 20:10
What will happen to the Tzitzis if they get cut off? – Shmuel Brin Dec 25 '11 at 18:43
@ShmuelBrin The wife of the Lubavitcher rebbe did not like those knots and would cut them off. As a result Lubavitchers fold their tallis "backwards", hiding the knots under the tallis instead of having them visible on top. – Ariel Aug 7 '12 at 8:43
@Ariel interesting. Are you referring to the wife of the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe? – Shmuel Brin Aug 7 '12 at 20:13
@ShmuelBrin I'm not sure, sorry. I was told the story only in passing to explain why the Tallis was folded under. – Ariel Aug 7 '12 at 22:15
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