And I will walk at ease because wearing tzizit proclaims Liberty in the land!
Tzitzit
What, Why, and How
Numbers 15:37-41
“37 And YHVH spoke to Moses saying,
38 ‘Speak unto the children of Yisra’el, and bid them throughout their generations to make tzitziyot* on the corners of their garments, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners.
39 And it shall be unto you for a tzitzit, that you may gaze upon it, and shall remember all the commandments of YHVH and shall do them, and not go about after your own heart and your own eyes after which you use to go whoring;
40 that you remember, and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your G-d.
41 I am YHVH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. I am YHVH your Elohim.”
*tzitzityot is the plural form of tzitzit
Deut 22:12
“You shall make twisted cords on the four corners of the mantle with which you cover yourself with.”
What are tzitzit? What do they symbolize? Why wear them? How does one wear them? These are some of the questions that this article hopes to answer.
WHAT
So, what are tzitzit? Tzitzit are often called tassels or fringes - they hang from the four corners of garments worn by observant Jews. The commandment is found in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deut 22:12 (Quotations appear above). The central idea and significance according to these Scriptural references is that tzitzit remind us of AD-NAI and the commandments (Torah) so that we do them rather than following our own wills, aspirations, doctrines, as well as to remember the deliverance from Egypt.
The tzitzit are a reminder not to sin; to be good stewards of the world! We are supposed to be in the image of HaShem, so we should [at least begin to] act like it. It is our duty to help bring the world to its proper sinless and abundant state. Stewards can be good or bad – they can help make peace or they can oppress. Tzitzit remind us to treat the world properly because we love HaShem and His Torah.
Tzitzit remind us to think of the Eternal daily and at every moment so that the Torah is written on our hearts (Deut 6:22; Eze 11:19)! We are not only to remember the specific ways (mitzvoth) on how to love Adonai and His creation (i.e., our neighbors, animals, kosher, enemies), but that at each moment we obey because we love Him: His will is that we lovingly obey Him and that we not sin; we entered into that covenant to obey not by coercion, but by choice. There are more than 611 ways to show that love! They are not exclusive, only inclusive. These tzitzit remind us of this.
Tzitzit are a reminder to serve Him, obey Him, and to do what He has commanded us. Our wills are faulty and though we may say we will do this or that, we don’t always meet the challenge. Like the prophets and servants who remind us this, we are to seek to do His will to make Israel a Light unto the other nations so that every person will be delivered from oppression and will worship HaShem. Psalm 119 & Deut 30 teaches that love and desire of G-d and His commandments is possible and what we are to strive for; wearing tzitzit proclaims this as well and shows our reverence (fear) for HaShem by fulfilling our duty (with love)!
Also with regards to the inherent symbolism, the conjunction of tzitziyot with the deliverance from Egypt is attested in Scripture. Therefore, the symbolism of the tzitzit is also that we have been freed from labor (slavery) and religious assimilation/constriction (oppression; inability to be whole) by HaShem and these we wear to show that we have been saved ("salvation" and justice in Hebraic thought are related: justice being the redemption of the oppressed and requital of oppressors). Today it may seem odd to wear them hanging out (and surely some workplaces may discriminate against it) since it is not the cultural practice, but if we look to the tzitzit as a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and to spur us to act in the way that we want to act – then not wearing them is like sealing out a part of our innermost heart, our heritage, and our G-d. Whether we believe that these are the divine words spoken to HaShem by Moses or whether they are part of the custom of our ancestors, it would certainly be true to state that even secular Jews can find meaning in tzitzit. They are one way to combat assimilation, to provide us a link to our heritage, to proclaim the humanitarianism & progressive nature of Torah (charity, treatment of animals & nature, women's issues, et. al. were more progressive than most cultures even today), and to be free from coercion from those who wish to change, demean or challenge us.
In the ancient Near East, some scholars say that free peoples wore fringes on their garments. Other scholars say that Egyptian priests wore fringes to denote priesthood. Whether or not these are true is debatable; and more debatable is whether the Israelites wore them first or if it was syncretism by the Israelites. Nonetheless, most scholars agree that the fringes (tzitzit) of the Israelites were different from other ANE cultures because the fringes were on the four corners (rather than everywhere on the edges; though some Israelite garments may have had both), that they were corded like a lock of hair or chain (not free hanging fringe), and that they had at least one color thread - that being a blue one. So, whether or not the tzitzit symbolized freedom or priesthood, the Israelites were given both. We are called to be a royal-priesthood and we were delivered from Mitzrayim (Egypt). But, to say this is THE significance denies what Adonai gave us as the significance, “...and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of YHVH and shall do them...”
The cord of blue is absent from most tzitzit in the modern world because “we don’t know what type of dye was used to make the proper shade of blue.” Some claim it comes from a mollusk and others do not (some point out it is an unclean animal which in Lev 11:11 says to not even touch the carcass) or of indigo or of any particular thing. Perhaps it is even the blue cord itself which serves to give us remembrance and spur us to act, rather than all the rest of the tzitzityot themselves. The blue is a Biblical symbol of ruler-ship and it should serve to remind us that He is our King, even though we can be as kings serving under Him. It is ruler-ship that reminds us to see and remember and do; to yoke ourselves under the kingdom of Heaven.
However, the tzitzit should also do their job to remind us of the other commandments - like helping the poor and needy, helping a hurt or helpless animal, praying for our “enemies”, to teach Scripture, to correct a brother/sister kindly, to be equitable in treating the rich and poor (no favoritism), to bless Adonai at all times, to remain religiously aware in secular situations, et. al. Wearing the tzitzit and continually neglecting what we hold in our hearts is contradictory, additionally they should not be worn in pride. They should remind us, convict us, and motivate us to seek and do what is right.
According to the Talmud (Oral Torah), by wearing them it is as if we have already fulfilled all the commandments - the tzitzit are like a mediator (that is, they ideally remind us and show our dedication to strive to fulfill the Torah's obligations with love and joy) and a way for Adonai to account to us perfect righteousness. They are in many ways seen as a measure of our righteousness. If we truly come to wearing and continually wear them with the thoughts and desires in accordance with Scripture – to remember and do all the commandments – then that is like David who desired to know G-d. Even though he sinned, he was still accorded with prestige and righteousness. G-d seeks our hearts and our deeds – but it is both, not one or the other.
WHY
After discussing the above interpretations about what tzitzit are, why to wear them, and about their signifance, why should a Jew wear tzitzit (Gentiles are prohibited in Jewish law from wearing them; only the Jews were commanded to wear them after all)? First and foremost, out of love for God and for mankind. Why? In order to properly fulfill the commandment, to remember and obey, we must have the desire to do so - and this comes from love (Avraham Avinu surely embodied love and his emunah was conceived in it and refined by fear/reverence).
Even if a person is a liberal historical-critical scholar who may or may not believe that these are truly the commandments of God, tzitzit should be worn to express our faith, our heritage, and our commitment to be holy, righteous, and free-peoples. Some may argue that nowadays we don't have 4-cornered garments, however the commandment is to "make tzitziyot on the corners of their garments" meaning that we should have a garment with corners to fulfill this commandment. It does not say, "if they wear a 4-cornered garment, then they shall wear..." or some similar either/or communication.
Tzitzit are there for us to gaze into, to see, what Torah is and to obey it. Wearing tzitzit is a way of saying that we uphold all of Torah, that we are committed to it, and that we are members of His eternal covenant that we, the Jewish people belong to. It is not so much what we believe in, but what we desire and as a result, what it is that we do. We desire to have a proper relationship with God and His creation and Torah is the means by which we do so. Belief in God sparks us to this realization and will refine us and keep us searching for truth and a deeper relationship.
It should also be noted that women are not prohibited from wearing tzitzit - that is not found in Scripture though some argue it can be inferred. However, this is simply reading into the text what one wants rather than understanding it. Additionally, things like donning a kippah (yarmulke) and abstaining from alcohol could be inferred by Scripture (perhaps as more ideal) even though they are not, but the command to wear tzitzit is clear. Kippahs are not even bound by Oral Law or Jewish tradition (though see my article on them to see that perhaps they really are)! Tzitzit are the symbol that HaShem gave us to set us apart and they serve to remind us of Him and His commandments.
HOW
Many different stores offer tzitzit if you should want to don a tallit (a four cornered garment traditionally used) with tzitzit. It should be noted that many times mystical or mathematical significance is placed on how to tie the tzitzit. This is a rabbinic tradition (613 is a man-made distinction on the number of commandments - no list was given like this in Scripture, so the exact number is unclear and not relevant, as the idea is to study and write all the commands on the heart rather than blind obedience without context or by cutting up commandments into two or by creating ones that are impossible to follow outside of the context that may have many more – for instance, please see Deut ch. 6 and compare to the list of 613; even the rabbinic commentators note this is a false distinction and that many more commandments actually exist. The reason for this division is detailed and outside this article's scope, but it is based on the idea of completeness & synergy).
There are traditional blessings before and after donning the garment with the tzitzit. To thank and praise Adonai at all times (Deut 8:10), so it should be encouraged to pray before and after donning them, and throughout the day as well (indeed in our tradition, from Yitzhak to Rebbe Nachman & Chassidus we find that praying from the heart through the lips is encouraged)!
No matter if you wear them or not, read this to understand the Jewish culture, or to adopt the commands (or customs) of Torah - may you be blessed by HaShem and may we all be a blessing to everything within His creation! Amein!
Part 2 regarding more of the significance and other advanced concepts.
Glossary of Terms:
Fringe / Tzitzit - lit. “little tent.” Lexicons will note that hem or fringe is what is normally used to translate tzitzit into English.
Tassels/twisted cords (g’dilim) - lit. “great things.” From Deut 22:12
Corner - wings (kanfot). Garments were often rectangular and had “wings” that draped over the body. The outer garment, much like a modern poncho, was styled this way and had the tzitzit.
Tallit - the common name for such garments that have 4 corners (2 wings) and the tzitzit attached. Sometimes in the Tanakh (OT), it is translated as mantle - these had the tzitzit attached. Examples include: 1 Sam 15:27; 28:14.
Other Related Scripture to Ponder:
2 Kings 2:8, 14
Isaiah 8:8
Isaiah 63:1-4
Psalm 2:3-12
Psalm 17:8
Psalm 35:7
Psalm 61:4-5
Psalm 63:7-8
Psalm 91:4
Ruth 2:12
Links (does not indicate sponsorship or agreement):
Karaite discussion and pictures
Jewish store; they use the blue dye from the snail
Basic discussion from Judaism 101
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Page Last Updated 22 Iyyar / 05-20-06