21 Jun THE MERITS AND POWER OF TZITZIS

Today there are many

people who do not

wear tzitzis, or in fact

do wear them but do

not know the merits

and power of the

c o m m a n d m e n t .

Through Project

Tzitzis, over 9,500

people have had the

t r e m e n d o u s

opportunity to wear

tzitzis. The movement

has helped people keep

this mitzvah in over twenty-two countries, with

one goal in mind. These pages you are about to

read will provide you with the merits and

power of this awesome mitzvah, and it is the

hope that you will have a better understanding

of what they represent when you wear your

tzitzis.

The Source

The Torah tells us: “Speak to the children of

Israel and tell them to make tzitzis (fringes) on

the corners of their garments throughout their

generations.” The pasuk tells us that when one

looks at his tzitzis, it should remind him of all

other mitzvos. Rashi points out the numerical

value of “tzitzis”— is equal to six

hundred. To which we add the eight strings and

five knots on each of the four corners of the

garment, bringing us to 613, which is an

allusion to the 613 mitzvos of the Torah. The

Chinuch says the point of the mitzvah of tzitzis

is to always remember all the mitzvos of

Hashem. There is nothing greater in the world

to enable us to remember this then to have the

seal of our Master with us, and this is tzitzis.

Tosafos says that wearing tzitzis reminds us

that we are slaves to Hashem. The Targum

Yehonasan mentions that wearing tzitzis is

compared to us being malachim of Hashem.

Obligation or Good Idea

According to the basic halachah, one is only

required to place tzitzis on a garment that has

four corners but is not required to buy a

garment that has four corners and has tzitzis on

it. Hashem praises those who wear tzitzis even

when they are not obligated to do so. The Ohr

Zeru’ah is of the opinion that bringing oneself

to wear a garment which has four corners and

putting tzitzis on it is rabbinic in nature. The

Rambam mentions it is not proper for a

“righteous” person to exempt himself from this

mitzvah, and should always make sure to have

a garment which is obligated in tzitzis. The

Shulchan Aruch says it is a good idea for all

people to do so. This is fascinating since we do

not tell people to buy a home to put up

mezuzos, or build a fence on the roof of one

home which requires a fence. In addition, we

don’t tell people to buy meat to fulfill the

mitzvah of shechitah. Clearly tzitzis is

different. Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l says that

since it has become the practice that we wear a

garment that has four corners and has tzitzis on

it, one is obligated to wear such a garment with

tzitzis.

Reasons for the Mitzvah

The Ohr Hachaim says that we have the

mitzvah of tzitzis on a four-cornered garment

and not one that has three or five corners. Since

tzitzis are a sign of servitude, Hashem

commanded us that the sign itself should

proclaim our Master, as is common among the

kings of the earth: each one has his unique

insignia designated for his servants. So too,

Hashem commanded us to only use a

four-corneredgarment, alluding to the fact that

our King is the Creator of the four corners of

the earth and the Master over them. A

three-cornered or five-cornered garment would

miss the intent and therefore not require tzitzis.

It is mentioned by the Nachal Kedumim that

the reason for the mitzvah of tzitzis is that

Hashem wanted us to wear a garment which

encompasses all 613 mitzvos, and since tzitzis

is equal to all mitzvos, we wear it on our

bodies.

Reward

In the business world, one makes sure that his

investments have the least money and energy

involved for the best return. The mitzvah of

tzitzis is the best reward we can get for the

smallest investment. The cost of tzitzis is

minimal compared to the price of tefillin or a

lulav, but the reward is much greater for tzitzis.

Even if one forgets that the tzitzis is on his

body, he is rewarded each second. If one does

not cash in on this mitzvah, it is foolish. You

can gain millions of mitzvos. The yetzer hara

(evil inclination) knows where to pick his

fights, and the place that has so many benefits

and rewards is where he chooses to fight. He

tries to persuade us against wearing tzitzis

since he understands what is at stake. (He tells

us it is too hot, too uncomfortable, etc.) But this

is not the place to be lenient, since one is

wearing an undershirt anyway, so adding

another garment is not a big deal. However, the

yetzer hara still fights with us and tries to

convince us against wearing it. We have to

fight. Many of the rewards of wearing tzitzis

will be discussed below. The Gemara in

Menachos mentions that the mitzvah of

wearing tzitzis is equal to all of the other

commandments combined. An interesting

question is why would Hashem make it that we

are only obligated in this mitzvah when we

have a garment of four corners? We would

expect this to be a mitzvah one is always

obligated in. The answer is that when a person

goes beyond the letter of the law (in choosing

to wear a four-cornered garment), Hashem will

then lead that person to other mitzvos, and then

one merits to fulfill all the mitzvos. The

Gemara in Maseches Shabbos says one who is

careful with the mitzvah of tzitzis will merit

2,800 servants in the World to Come. Whoever

is careful with this mitzvah merits to see the

Shechinah. The Sifrei says one who fulfills the

mitzvah of tzitzis is considered as if he did all

the 613 mitzvos. This is an amazing thought:

one puts on the tzitzis and is, in essence, doing

613 mitzvos. The Rabbeinu B’Chai mentions

that one who is careful with tzitzis merits

Techiyas Hameisim (Resurrection of the

Dead). The Midrash Tanchuma mentions

wearing tzitzis merits one a wife and children.

Through the mitzvah of tzitzis, one is protected

from danger and from angles of destruction.

The Ben Yehoyada mentions that in order for a

garment to be obligated in tzitzis, it has to have

four corners, and each corner has five knots

and eight strings. Thirteen multiplied by each

corner is fifty-two, which is equal to the word

. Therefore, one who is careful with tzitzis

merits a son. The mitzvah of tzitzis protects

one from being mechalel Shabbos. Tzitzis

protects one from speaking lashon hara.

Mitzvah of Our Generation

The Noam Elimelech mentions that even in his

generation, the mitzvah that needed correction

to make sure it was done properly was that of

tzitzis.

Focus on Looking at the Tzitzis

We mentioned that one should look at his

tzitzis, and then one will be reminded of all

other mitzvos. This symbolism can be best

understood with the following parable, told by

the Dubno Maggid. A certain poor person, R’

Yonah, was invited to a meal at a wealthy

man’s house. When all the diners were finished

with their portions, the rich man, who sat at the

head of the table, tinkled the bell. Almost at

once, waiters came in to remove the dishes and

bring the next course. R’ Yonah was amazed.

He had never seen anything like that before.

After the second course was completed, the

host again rang the bell, and again the waiters

removed the plates and brought yet more food.

R’ Yonah was immensely impressed. When the

meal was finally over, he went to get such a

bell for his home as well. He can home

excitedly to his wife. “We’re going to have

unlimited food and waiters. Wait until you see

what I brought home!” He immediately placed

the bell on the table and told his family and

friends to take their regular seats. He then

tinkled the bell with conviction. He waited for

the waiter to walk in—but nothing happened!

“I don’t understand it! When the rich man rang

the bell, all the food was served!” The next day

he returned the bell. “The bell you sold me is

useless. I got no response when I rang it.” The

obvious reason nothing happened, says the

Dubno Maggid, is because there is neither a

waiter nor food prepared in the next room. The

bell summons that which is there to be

summoned. Much preparation is necessary

before the bell can accomplish anything. In

some ways many of us are like this man,

continues the Dubno Maggid. For example, the

Torah says if we look at our tzitzis, we will be

reminded to perform all of Hashem’s mitzvos.

There are many people, though, who can look

at a pair of tzitzis and not be reminded of

anything. Only if one studies and understands

how the tzitzis represent the 613 mitzvos, and

studies what the 613 mitzvos are, can one

appreciate what his viewing of the tzitzis

should accomplish. Merely to look them

without any preparation is like tinkling a bell

without having arranged for anyone to respond.

The Meam Loez asks: How can one remember

all the mitzvos by looking at the tzitzis? There

are many people who wear tzitzis all day and

do not remember all the mitzvos by wearing

tzitzis. If one wishes to remember to do a

specific action during the day, he should tie a

string to his finger, and when he looks at the

string, he will be reminded of the item for

which he put the string on his finger in the first

place. If, however, one tied the string on the

finger because his finger was in pain and then

he forgot something, people might say, “How

did you forget about the specific action for

which you tied a string to your finger? You

should have remembered!” However, he only

tied it to his finger in the latter case because his

finger was in pain—not to remind him about

anything. If one wears his tzitzis in order to

remind himself of the other mitzvos, then it

will help, but if one wears a pair of tzitzis like

he wears any other garment without any

thought, then he will not have the goal the

tzitzis should be portraying.

Segulos

If one wishes to make sure he is saved from a

situation which is dishonorable, he should look

at his front tzitzis. The same is true if one

wishes to avoid getting angry. One who wishes

to refrain from speaking lashon hara and other

forbidden words should look at his tzitzis, and

Hashem will save him. A sick person should

look at his tzitzis as a segulah to get well.

Tzitzis saves from an ayin hara. Tzitzis saves

one from sin. Toothaches can be avoided by

wearing tzitzis. The mitzvah of tzitzis adds

kedushah to Klal Yisrael.

Punishment

The Gemara says when Hashem is angry, the

ones who do not wear tzitzis are in danger.

Why would we get punished if we are not

obligated to wear tzitzis if we don’t have a

four-cornered garment? However, the Gemara

is referring to something else. There is a certain

level of love if one does a mitzvah even if he is

not obligated to do it. The Gemara is saying

one will get punished because Hashem wants

us to wear tzitzis even when we are not

obligated. It’s as if Hashem is saying, “If you

are not going out of your way to put on tzitzis,

then it is lacking in our relationship, and I will

not be able to protect you.” However, if we put

on tzitzis, it shows we love Hashem, like a son

shows love to his father. The Gemara in

Pesachim lists not wearing tzitzis as being

placed in cherem (excommunication) by

Hashem. The Gemara in Maseches Shabbos

says that for not fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzis,

one’s children die.

Looking at One’s Tzitzis

The Beis Yosef mentions that looking at one’s

tzitzis is a mitzvah d’Oraisa. This is also the

opinion of others. The Shulchan Aruch

mentions some look at their tzitzis when they

say “u’re’isem” as well as place them over

their eyes, and it is a nice custom. The Mishnah

Berurah mentions that if one places his tzitzis

over his eyes while saying “u’re’isem,” it is a

segulah not to become blind. The Elyah

Rabbah says that looking at one’s tzitzis leads

one to yiras Shamayim. The Chasam Sofer

says looking at one’s tzitzis is a segulah for

remembering. Looking at one’s tzitzis at a time

when one is having an impure thought can help

prevent one from having these thoughts. It is

especially a good idea to look at one’s tzitzis

throughout the day. This works as well to avoid

getting angry. There is a segula for a sick

person to get better by looking at his tzitzis.

Looking at one’s tzitzis removes ayin hara. The

Kav Hayosher mentions that looking at one’s

tzitzis is a great act.

Kissing Tzitzis

The Rema says that when one “sees” his tzitzis,

he should kiss them. However, no mention is

made by the Rema to kiss them when most

people do, which is during Krias Shema in the

morning. The Darchei Moshe does mention

that some have the custom to kiss tzitzis when

reciting “u’re’isem…” The Kaf Hachaim says

that each time one recites the word “tzitzis,” he

should kiss them. The Aruch Hashulchan

mentions to kiss the tzitzis a few times when

reciting the parshah of tzitzis, but does not

mention when. However, in another place, the

Aruch Hashulchan says to kiss them by

“u’re’isem osa,” but he says that if one does

not, it is not an issue. The Kitzur Shulchan

Aruch mentions that one should kiss the tzitzis

when reciting the

word “tzitzis”

during the recital of

Krias Shema.

When one says

“u’re’isem,” he

should look at the

tzitzis and kiss

them. One holds the

tzitzis until

“u’nechmadim”

and then kisses

them and puts them

away. Some do not

have the custom to kiss tzitzis during Krias

Shema, but most people follow the custom

mentioned in the Darchei Moshe to kiss them.

The custom of Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l was

to only kiss his tzitzis by “Emes” and not

during the rest of Krias Shema. On Tishah

B’Av at Shacharis, many do not kiss the

tzitzis, since no brachah is made on them.

When putting on tzitzis, one should not kiss

them between the brachah and the wrapping

since it would be a hefsek.

Tzitzis Protects—Some Stories

Avoided an Intermarriage

There was a Belzer Chassid whose son r”l was

planning on marrying a non-Jew, and he went

over to the Rebbe to ask him for advice. The

Rebbe said to him, “Tell your son to come to

me before the wedding.” The son said, “I will

not listen to the Rebbe anyway, so I have

nothing to lose.” He went to the Rebbe, who

did not even try to persuade him from not

marrying the non-Jew. The Rebbe said, “I have

two conditions for you to go on with the

wedding. One is to invite your father, and

another is to wear tzitzis underneath your

shirt.” The son agreed. After all, he grew up a

Belzer Chassid, and at least the Rebbe was

allowing him to go ahead with the wedding. In

middle of the wedding, the music changed, and

people started taking off their shirts. The

chassan also started taking off his shirt, and

people saw his tzitzis. They said, “We thought

you had nothing to do with this religion, and

here you are wearing this garment!” The bride

also saw the tzitzis and said the marriage was

over.

Brought Back to Torah

Harav Chaim Pinchus Sheinberg zt”l was

fundraising in Florida, and a woman whose

son was not on the correct Jewish path came to

him. She thought it may be a segulah if her son

wore a pair of Harav Sheinberg’s tzitzis;

perhaps it would reignite the spark of

Yiddishkeit within him. Harav Simchah

Sheinberg, his son, said, “If you give one

thousand dollars to the yeshivah, we will allow

you to have one pair of tzitzis.” Harav Chaim

Pinchus said, “I want to meet the son as well.”

He told the son, “Your mother just gave a

thousand dollars because she cares about you

so much, and I don’t want your tzitzis to be

sitting in a drawer. I want you to promise me

that you will wear these tzitzis for one minute

a day—that’s it.” The son could not say no. He

ending up wearing it for more than a minute a

day. By the time six months came around, he

was learning in Ohr Somayach, and he kept

learning many years in Eretz Yisrael. All from

one minute of wearing tzitzis.

Harav Sheinberg zt”l Wore Tzitzis for Klal

Yisrael

Harav Sheinberg zt”l was known to wear as

many as 175 pairs of tzitzis at one time. This

weighed as much as sixty-six pounds. Harav

Sheinberg donned no specific number of

garments but rather as many as he was able to.

He believed that each tallis kattan represented

another priceless mitzvah. Harav Sheinberg

was once going through security in an airport

before boarding a plane. The security guard,

seeing the bulk under his garments, stopped

him, thinking that he was smuggling

something. When asked what he had under his

coat, Harav Sheinberg responded that he was

wearing religious articles. The security guard

still did not understand, so he called over a

Jewish guard to explain what the rabbi meant.

The Jewish guard looked at Harav Sheinberg

and said, “I don’t understand. When I was in

Hebrew school, they told me that one pair of

tzitzis is enough. Why do you wear so many?”

Harav Sheinberg replied, “I am wearing a pair

for you as well. But if you want to wear one

yourself, I will be happy to remove it and give

it to you.” Harav Sheinberg carried the burden

of all Jews on his shoulders.

Saved a Life

There was a special Yid who became religious

and, while driving a moped in Eretz Yisrael,

wondered why he was wearing tzitzis. As he

was thinking about this, his tzitzis, which were

long, got caught in the tires, and his moped got

locked. He fell over to the side of the road and

got all scratched up. A few seconds later, the

car behind him rammed into the car that was in

front of him. He realized that if he would have

been in the spot he was in moments before, he

would have died. The tzitzis saved his life!

The Gra and His Tzitzis

When the Gra was about to die, he held his

tzitzis in his hand and, while crying, said,

“How hard is it for me to leave this world.

From now on, I’ll be unable to perform the

mitzvah of tzitzis. Through this simple

mitzvah, one merits to see the face of the

Shechinah. Where will I be able to find this in

the world of souls? Even if I want to be able to

fulfill this mitzvah in the next world, I will not

be able to.” This is the Gra, who knew the

entire Torah, both the simple and deep

meanings of everything, and all he was

concerned with at the time of his death was the

great mitzvah of tzitzis. Truly amazing.