Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 4 down vote favorite

Based on this answer do tzitzit have to be white?

Where is the source that they should be?

I know that they are supposed to have at least one blue (techelet) string, but even that is disputed nowadays.

share|improve this question
related: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/8321/… – Menachem Jan 17 '12 at 17:30
2  
The fact that it requires a blue string isn't disputed, the dispute is the "blue strings" you see in the stores today count. – Hahu Gavra Jun 5 '12 at 21:19
I learned this while making a new garment( tzitzit) for pessach. So I made a beged green blue and black, and colored the strings the same! – user2089 Nov 14 '12 at 13:16
Hello Avrahamitz and welcome to Mi Yodeya. Thank you for your contribution, and I hope you stick around and enjoy the site. This seems more like a comment (it doesn't actually answer the question), so I'm going to convert it to one. – Monica Cellio♦ Nov 14 '12 at 15:18

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

The Gemara talks about "white strings" vs. techelet strings.

As I heard it from Rabbi Hershel Shachter mp3:

Rambam reads "white" as "matching the color of the garment." Thus, a pink garment would have pink strings (except for one techelet). The other Rishonim read "white" as "white" (or at least the natural color of the fiber, not sure you'd have to bleach it.)

While it's quite clear that the halacha here doesn't follow the Rambam, to avoid contradicting his view, we prefer a white garment -- hence, white strings according to everyone.

share|improve this answer
2  
Careful -- the halacha is like the Rambam for Acheinu Benei Sepharad. – Double AA♦ Jan 17 '12 at 23:32
@DoubleAA, really? Cool! I didn't know that. I guess RHS was just talking for Ashkenazim then. Wow now I really want to see a Sefardi wearing a silver Tallis with silver strings. That's got to look awesome. – Shalom Jan 18 '12 at 1:27
See Shulchan Aruch OC 9:5 – Double AA♦ Jan 18 '12 at 2:26
up vote 2 down vote

The Shaarei Taamei HaMitzvos says that the reason Tzitzis is white is since white is the color of Selicha, Kapara, and Rachamim.

See Machzor Vitri.

share|improve this answer
1  
Did that machzor vitri just say that you can only have tzitzit on a white piece of clothing?! – Double AA♦ Jan 17 '12 at 19:19

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.