01 Sep BLACK IS THE NEW WHITE: ISHAY RIBO AND THE BLACK TZITZIT TREND

In this generation- the
generation of the Geula,
we are witnessing a
remarkable and blessed
phenomenon, one that
would have been
difficult to imagine only
a few years ago. Increasing numbers of Jews
from all walks of life have begun to wear tzitzit
beneath their clothing and thereby embrace this
precious mitzvah in a way that has become both
widespread and increasingly visible.
This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in
the streets of Israel. It is not uncommon to see
Jews who do not consider themselves
religious, and who may even walk without a
kippah, nevertheless wearing tzitzit, with the
strings visible beneath their shirts. A mitzvah
that was once associated primarily with those
who were observant has, in recent years,
found its way into the lives of many Jews who
previously had little connection with it.
This trend grew significantly following the
outbreak of the war. In the midst of a period of
tremendous uncertainty and danger, many
Jews sought to strengthen their connection to
Hashem and to the mitzvot. Tzitzit became
one of the most visible expressions of this
awakening. Individuals and organizations
began distributing tzitzit to soldiers, and many
Jews who had never worn tzitzit before began
putting them on. What began in many places
as an individual act of spiritual inspiration
gradually became a widespread phenomenon.
An additional indication of the growing
popularity of this mitzvah can be seen in the
remarkable development of the tzitzit and
tallit market. In recent years, stores have
begun offering beautifully designed tzitzit and
tallit in a wide variety of styles, fabrics,
colors, and materials. This is more than
simply a commercial development; it reflects
the fact that many Jews have come to see the
tzitzit not merely as an obligation, but as
something they genuinely desire to wear and
identify with.
There is a special blessing in this. It is one
thing for a person to fulfill a mitzvah because
he feels obligated to do so. It is something
even greater when a person takes pride in the
mitzvah, chooses a garment that he finds
beautiful and appealing, and wears it with joy.
The very purpose of the tzitzit is to serve as a
constant reminder of the mitzvot, and when a
person is happy and proud to wear them, that
reminder becomes an integral part of his daily
life.
That may be the reason why this mitzvah is
not obligatory in the usual sense: a person is
not required to wear tzitzit unless he wears a
garment with four corners, which is relatively
uncommon. Nevertheless, we gladly and
voluntarily wear tzitzit as an expression of our
pride in wearing Hashem’s sign upon our
clothing.

The renewed interest in techelet has added
another dimension to this phenomenon. In
recent years, many Jews have begun wearing
tzitzit with a blue thread- the Tchelet,
following the various traditions and research
concerning the identification of the chilazon
(snail). There is no denying that the renewed
discussion and practice of wearing techelet
has brought even greater attention to the
mitzvah of tzitzit.
And now, a new trend has begun to emerge.
The popular Jewish singer Ishay Ribo has
been seen wearing a black shirt with black
tzitzit strings hanging visibly beneath it. His
distinctive appearance has attracted
considerable attention, and others have begun
adopting a similar style.
At first glance, this may seem like nothing
more than a matter of fashion. But perhaps
there is something deeper taking place.
Throughout Jewish history, the way Jews
dress has often reflected their identity and
their connection to Torah and mitzvot. The
fact that Jews today are looking for new and
attractive ways to wear tzitzit may itself be an
expression of a growing desire to make the
mitzvah part of their everyday identity.
In this article, I would like to examine the
halachic advantages and concerns surrounding
this new style of wearing tzitzit: a black shirt
with black tzitzit strings hanging visibly
beneath the garment. Is there a halachic
preference for the traditional white tzitzit? Is
there anything problematic about wearing
black tzitzit? Does the color of the garment
affect the color of the strings?
The Torah says: “Speak to the children of
Israel and say to them that they shall make for
themselves fringes on the corners of their
garments throughout their generations, and
they shall place upon the fringe of each corner
a thread of blue.”
— Bamidbar 15:38
Chazal derive from the words “place upon the
fringe of each corner a thread of blue” that the
color of the tzitzit should correspond to the
color of the garment. Thus, according to this
understanding, if the garment is red, the
strings should be red. Accordingly, if one
chooses to wear a black garment, the tzitzit
strings should likewise be black.
At first, this may seem surprising to us. We
are accustomed to seeing the traditional white
tallit katan, whether made of wool or cotton,
with white tzitzit hanging from its corners.
But what about someone who chooses to wear
a colored garment? If the halachah indeed
requires the tzitzit to correspond to the color
of the garment, then the black tzitzit worn
with a black shirt are not merely a modern
fashion statement. They have a basis in the
words of Chazal and in the discussion of the
Rishonim.
Indeed, this very question was debated by the

Rishonim. The Tur (O. C. siman 9) brings a
dispute regarding the proper color of the
tzitzit. The Rambam and Rashi understand the
Gemara as teaching that the strings should be
the same color as the garment. According to
this approach, colored garments should have
tzitzit corresponding to their color.
However, the matter is not so simple. The Beit
Yosef, in his discussion of this halachah,
brings the opinion of the Mahari Chaviv, who
explains that this understanding of the
Rambam is a misunderstanding. According to
him, the Rambam did not mean that one is
obligated to make the tzitzit the same color as
the garment. Rather, he understood that the
Torah permits one to make the strings the
same color as the garment, but one may also
use white strings. Thus, according to this
approach, even when the garment is colored,
there is no obligation to use strings of the
same color.
This dispute is highly relevant to the
contemporary practice of wearing a black
shirt with black tzitzit. According to the
understanding of Rashi and the Rambam cited
by the Tur, there is a clear precedent for
matching the color of the tzitzit to the color of
the garment. According to the Mahari
Chaviv’s understanding of the Rambam,
however, black strings are not required, since
white strings may be used even with a colored
garment.
The question therefore becomes: Which
understanding is accepted as hehalacha? And
beyond the technical question of whether
black tzitzit are permitted, is there a halachic
advantage to wearing them in this manner?
Here we find a machloket between the
Shulchan Aruch and the Rema (O.C. 9:5). The
Shulchan Aruch writes that there are those
who hold that the tzitzit should be the same
color as the garment, and that those who are
medakdek in the mitzvah follow this opinion.
The Rema, however, writes that the Ashkenazi
custom is to attach only white tzitzit, even to
colored garments, and that one should not
deviate from this practice.
Accordingly, there appears to be a distinction
between the Sephardic and Ashkenazic
approaches: according to the Shulchan Aruch,
there is a basis for making the tzitzit the same
color as the garment, while according to the
Rema, the accepted Ashkenazic custom is to
use white tzitzit regardless of the color of the
garment.
Nevertheless, the Kaf HaChaim (O.C. 15, 36)
brings that according to the teachings of the
Arizal, the tzitzit should be white. He
therefore writes that it is preferable to wear a
white tallit, so that one fulfills the mitzvah
according to all opinions when using white
tzitzit. He also cites the custom of many who
are careful to have both the tallit gadol and
tallit katan white.

Thus, even for those who follow the Shulchan
Aruch and can rely on the opinion that the
tzitzit should match the color of the garment,
there is an additional consideration according
to Kabbalah to use white tzitzit and,
preferably, a white garment. Therefore, in
order to fulfill the mitzvah according to all
customs, it is best to wear a white garment
with white tzitzit.
Nevertheless, those who wear the newer style
of colored garments with colored strings
surely fulfill the mitsva and may continue
doing so when the tzitzit are properly attached
and meet the halachic requirements.