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There are those that kiss their Tzitzis during Shema at Shacharis as per Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 17:7 and the Kaf HaChaim 18 and there are those that do not. What is the source and reason for those that do not kiss their Tzitzis during Shema at Shacharis?

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3 Answers

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I have not the exact halachic sources but read that some poskim considered those kissings during the shema as hefsek, for example : The Vilna Gaon, Chazon Ish, The Steipler, Rav Moshe Feinstein (read there : http://halachafortoday.com/questionsandanswers.aspx)

Also I read once that some don't even grasp their tzitzios during shema like for example Rav Chaim Soloveitchik but that's an other subject.

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Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer, zt'l, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, and a graduate of Telz, never kissed his tzitzis during the shema, either. However, one of his students, who later replaced him as a shul rav, Rabbi Dovid Rosenbaum, shlita, does kiss his tzitzis. Knowing Rabbi Anemer, this tells me that he held in accordance to Rav Feinstein (not surprising) but recognized the maklokes and chose not to enforce his view even on his students. – Bruce James Jan 2 at 16:09
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The Bet Yosef says (paraphrase, see comments) 'some say it is pride to kiss the Tzitzis while praying Shema. And some say there is no pride because it is a very common practice. And the second one is the Minhag.' I guess some people are still Hoshesh to the Isur of Yuhura.

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Where in the Bet Yosef? – Double AA♦ Feb 8 '12 at 5:26
R' @DoubleAA not to be found. – Hacham Gabriel Feb 8 '12 at 14:16
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Then where did you get the paraphrase from? – msh210♦ Feb 8 '12 at 17:20
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I'd like to upvote, but a source would be nice. Also, what do you mean "some are still"? Beith Yosef would have written that a very long time ago. – Seth J Feb 8 '12 at 22:04
@msh210 from what I remember. – Hacham Gabriel Feb 9 '12 at 1:19
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Ma'ase Rav Siman 39 says that the GR"A would not kiss his Tzitzit during Keriyat Shema. The Kovetz Mepharshim (printed on the side in the Weinrab edition) supposes that he did so because he held that when saying the third paragraph of Keriyat Shema one should gaze at his tzitziyot (see biur hagra O"H on Siman 24 seif katan 8), and kissing them breaks his focus.

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