4

Keep in mind I would not be using this specific Tzitzit in order to fulfill the Mitzvah. I understand that in order to fulfill the Mitzvah you are required to wear the Tzitzit on the four corners of a cornered garment. This would not be a case where I was attempting to circumvent religious obligations in the name of an alternative.

I spent a lot of time practicing my tying method for creating Tzitzit. I have some extra string and I was curious if it would be considered disrespectful or impermissible for someone to use a Tzitzit as a keychain.

Improve this question
3
  • Why do you think that strings tied to resemble tzitzit would be disrespectful to the mitzvah?
    – Noach MiFrankfurt
    Dec 11, 2016 at 22:11
  • I didn't know if it constituted the misuse or disrespect toward the article in question. I wasn't trying to claim that it was. I was simply seeking out clarification as to what the consensus would be. I try to be respectful toward all religious items in general (Jewish or otherwise) and was just worried that my appreciation for Tzitzit knots might not be seen as respectful.
    – user13783
    Dec 11, 2016 at 22:51
  • Were they tied lishmah (for the sake of the mitzvah of tzitzit?)
    – Noach MiFrankfurt
    Dec 11, 2016 at 22:52

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

In the corner

SA OC 21, 1:

חוטי ציצית שנפסקו יכול לזרקן לאשפה מפני שהיא מצוה שאין בגופה קדושה אבל כל זמן שהם קבועים בטלית אסור להשתמש בהם כגון לקשור בהם שום דבר וכיוצא בזה משום בזוי מצוה.‏

... as long as they are tied to the Talit, it's prohibited to utilize them. E. g. it's prohibited to tie with them any object because of the disrespect of the mitsva.

have some extra string and I was curious if it would be considered disrespectful or impermissible for someone to use a Tzitzit as a keychain

--> prohibited because disrespectful

You can see a beautiful pilpul in the Taz sk 1, with a svara to allow but halacha lemaase it is prohibited.

Out of the corner,

  1. Lich'ora there is no mitsva, so no disrespectful use.

  2. One can ask: perhaps the strings were made with intention to be tsitsit of mitsva only by neder (e. g. if the owner said the statement "leshem mitsvat tsitsit") ,

  3. but a priori it's not the case, despite the fact that one said 'leshem mits at tsitsit'; the 'leshem' is regarded as a beginning of mitsva not as a neder, and generally the workers who say it are not owners and cannot prohibit the wires. The end of the mitsva is not mandatory; when the mitsva is not continued, the first steps are not sufficient. BTW, there is a mitsva to make Tsitsit, as there is a mitsva to make succa, which both need beracha of "asher kiddeshanu" according to the Yerushalmi (for the halacha wed do not follow the Yerushalmi). But the tsitsit still not became a chfets shel mitsva.

  4. When a mitsva was already made, two opinions exist (about a wire which was previously tied for tsitsit of mitsva) concerning disrespectful use,

  5. but when it was never used for a mitsva both seem to allow any usage.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    However, if they have already served their purpose for the mitzva of tzitzis (e.g. from old tallis, or torn tzitzis) then it is fine to use them for an auxiliary mitzva purpose, like as a bookmark in a sefer (See Mishna Brura). So too, if one of the keys is to the shul, or to protect one's possessions (including mitzva items like sfarim, tallis and tefillin) then it would seem fine.
    – Adám
    Dec 12, 2016 at 0:19
  • @Adam see edit.
    – kouty
    Dec 12, 2016 at 0:22

You must log in to answer this question.