13 Jun TZITZIS IN OR OUT?

Throughout the ages,
there have been
different practices
regarding keeping
tzitzis tucked into pants
or out. In addition,
Chassidim wear their
tzitzis garment over their
shirt, while Ashkenazim
wear it under the shirt.
Sefardim do not keep
their tzitzis out, while
many others do. Is wearing tzitzis out a halachah
or custom that only some observe? In addition,
what should be done with tzitzis when entering
a cemetery?
These and other related questions will be
discussed in this issue.
How to Wear the Tallis Kattan
As mentioned, there are different customs
regarding where to place the tzitzis garment.
On one hand, the Shulchan Aruch says the main
mitzvah of the tallis kattan is to wear it over[MJ1]
[m2] one’s garment (i.e., his shirt) in order that
one should always see it. The Shulchan Aruch
says in a different place that it is proper to wear
it over one’s garment. The Beis Yosef says the
reason for the different wording is that the custom
of many is to wear it under one’s garment, and
the Shulchan Aruch stated what is proper. Some
maintain that the reason the Shulchan Aruch used
the word proper is because many say one should
wear the tallis kattan under one’s garment. The
Tzitz Eliezer maintains that the reason for the
second, more vague language is to demonstrate
that indeed it is only proper to wear the tallis
kattan over one’s garment but this is not the main
part of the mitzvah. Others say the reason different
language is used is because the Shulchan Aruch,
which says to wear the tallis kattan over one’s
garment, was referring to those who don’t wear
a tallis gadol until they are married. They should
therefore wear a tallis kattan over their clothing.
Others also mention that one should wear the tallis
kattan over one’s garment. However, this does not
seem to be the prevailing custom. The opinion
of many is that one should wear the tallis kattan
under one’s garment. This is also the opinion of
the Arizal.Some suggest this is because non-Jews
would laugh at us if they saw the tallis kattan worn
over the garment (see “Leniencies” below), while
others say the reason is based on Kabbalah. Others
say the reason is because many years ago, people
wore their tallis gadol and tefillin all day. It would
be pointless for one to put his tallis kattan over
his garment along with his tallis gadol. Therefore,
the tallis kattan was worn under the garment. The
custom of most people is not to wear the tallis
kattan over one’s garment, but rather over one’s
undershirt. Some maintain that one should not
wear a tallis kattan directly on the skin since it is
a disgrace for the tallis kattan, but others maintain
that doing so is permitted.
The Strings
There are differing practices regarding wearing
the tzitzis out of one’s pants or in his pants. Some
think that wearing tzitzis out of the pants is only
a custom for “yeshivish” people. We will discuss
this halachah below. Many poskim are of the
opinion that one should wear the tzitzis strings
out of his pants in order that he should always
see the strings. Others maintain that the custom

followed by many was to keep them tucked into
one’s pants. According to those who say the tzitzis
should be tucked in, one fulfills the mitzvah of
seeing the tzitzis when he puts them on in the
morning and looks at them or when taking them
out to kiss for Krias Shema (see “Kissing Tzitzis
During Davening” below). Some frown upon
tucking in the strings in a way that they are not
seen. Those poskim who maintain the tallis kattan
should be worn under one’s garment also imply
that the tzitzis may be in one’s pants. For those
who keep the tzitzis tucked in, there is no concern
about them touching the skin.
Mishnah Berurah on This Issue
The Mishnah Berurah uses choice words on this
topic, which we will paraphrase below: “It is
bad enough that those who place their tzitzis in
their pants close their eyes from the fact that one
should see the tzitzis. They disgrace the mitzvah
of Hashem and will give a judgment on this. The
claim that this should be an exception because
we live among the nations of the world is not
valid. If a king of flesh and blood would give you
a present, you would flaunt it wherever you go.
How much more so with one’s tzitzis.” It is out
of character for the Mishnah Berurah to use such
words in relation to a mitzvah. Many maintain
that when saying one will give a judgment, the
Mishnah Berurah was referring to the fact that
people put their tzitzis in their pants because
they are embarrassed to keep them out. However,
many Sefardim keep them in, as well as others,
and the Mishnah Berurah was not talking about
these people. One who wishes to put his tzitzis out
is not considered to be showing off.
Custom Prior to Mishnah Berurah’s Times
It seems that prior to the printing of the Mishnah
Berurah, the custom of most people was to tuck in
their tzitzis. However, when the Mishnah Berurah
wrote what he did on this topic many people
began to wear their tzitzis out.
Custom of the Sefardim
The custom of the Sefardim is to wear the tallis
kattan under one’s shirt and to cover the tzitzis
as well by placing them in one’s pants. Although
the Shulchan Aruch says to wear the garment on
top, the Arizal maintains otherwise and this is the
practice of the Sefardim. A Sefardi who wishes
to put his tzitzis out should be frowned upon, as
this indicates that those who follow the Sefardic
custom are not correct. If a Sefardi is learning in an
Ashkenazi yeshivah he may continue his custom
of keeping his tzitzis in even if the yeshivah
boys wear them out. However, if he feels that by
keeping his tzitzis in he will be looked down upon
since he is in an Ashkenazi yeshivah, then he may
also wear them out. A baal teshuvah should keep
his tzitzis out so they can help him strengthen his
Yiddishkeit.
Leniencies
Some suggest that the fact that we live among
non-Jews may be a leniency for not keeping
tzitzis out of pants. Others say one should not
rely on this unless he knows he will be belittled.
Others say not keeping tzitzis out is not a lack in
the performance of the mitzvah. Some have the
practice to wrap the tzitzis around the belt so the
strings don’t dangle on the sides of the pants.
Custom of Ashkenazim
As mentioned earlier, the custom of many people
from Ashkenazic descent is, in fact, to wear the
tzitzis out. There is no concern of showing off that

one is doing so. This is especially common among
people learning in yeshivah. However, the custom
of many Chassidim is not to wear the tzitzis out.
According to those who maintain one should wear
the tzitzis out, this is halachah and not merely a
“yeshivish” thing to do. This is also the custom
of Lubavitch, even though the Shulchan Aruch
says one should wear the tallis gadol over one’s
garment while the Arizal says it should be worn
under one’s garment. Some question the practice
of the Chassidim who wear their tallis kattan over
their shirt, which is not like the practice of the
Arizal, while Ashkenazim wear it under their shirt
like the Arizal. Some suggest that since Chassidim
usually wear a frak, or overcoat, and tzitzis
underneath that, it is considered as if they are
wearing the tallis kattan under the garment. There
are also Chassidim who, even when wearing a
frak, want to follow the words of the poskim who
say that the tzitzis should be seen. They therefore
make their tzitzis longer so they hang out of the
frak and can be seen.
Seeing the Tzitzis
As mentioned above, there are many poskim
who maintain that one does not wear his tzitzis
out. However, if this is true, how do these poskim
fulfill the passuk of “one should see the tzitzis”?
This can be explained as follows: Is the fact that
one has to see the tzitzis part and parcel of the
mitzvah, or it is just an outcome of the mitzvah
but not connected and intertwined with the
mitzvah? These two different aspects can explain
the varying customs of how tzitzis should be
worn. According to the Arizal, seeing the tzitzis
is not part of the mitzvah itself but is an outcome.
Therefore, one does not have to wear the tzitzis
out. However, the poskim who say the tzitzis
should be worn out hold that this is part of the
mitzvah of tzitzis itself.
Walking into a Cemetery with a Tallis
It is forbidden to enter a cemetery if one’s tzitzis
are revealed. However, if they are covered then
entering is permitted. This iXs based on the
concept of lo’eg l’rosh, since a dead person can’t
perform the mitzvah. Therefore, one may not enter
a cemetery with a tallis if he is not wearing a coat
that covers both the tallis and the tzitzis. One may
not walk into a cemetery while wearing tefillin
unless the tefillin batim are covered. The tefillin
straps must also be covered. Some poskim say
that if one is going to daven at a kever, the custom
is to be lenient and permit one to wear tallis and
tefillin. One would have to cover the tzitzis when
visiting a child’s grave, but not a woman’s grave.
Carrying a Niftar
When one is carrying a niftar he should make sure
to cover his tzitzis.
More Halachos of Tzitzis
Although we have discussed other halachos
related to the tzitzis strings, in order to complete
the topic the following relevant halachos will be
discussed below. (These halachos were discussed
in earlier articles.)
Treating the Tzitzis Strings Properly
Tzitzis strings that are no longer attached to
the garment may not be treated in a disgraceful
manner. They may be placed in a public place
for disposal. Some are particular to put them
in sheimos, and doing so is praiseworthy. It is
permitted to use the tzitzis as a bookmark, but they
should not be simply placed in a sefer. Detached
strings are muktzah and may not be handled on

Shabbos. The strings should not be tied together
in a knot. Some children tie the strings of talleisim
together on Simchas Torah; they should be
discouraged from this practice. It is permitted to
cut the tzitzis if they are too long.
Dragging Tzitzis on the Floor
While wearing a tallis (whether gadol or kattan),
one should be careful not to let the strings drag on
the floor. This is a disgrace to the tzitzis, and there
is a chance that the strings will tear and render the
garment unusable. Some people stick the tzitzis
in their belts in order to avoid this problem. Some
poskim permit one to sit while his tzitzis are on the
floor, while others are stringent in this situation.
If one sees tzitzis lying on the floor there is no
need to pick them up if they are detached from the
garment. If one sees his friend’s tzitzis dragging
on the floor he does not need to inform him either.
One should not sit on the tzitzis because this is a
disgrace to the mitzvah. Sitting on the garment,
however, is permitted.
Using a Tallis Kattan
A tallis kattan may be used for mundane purposes,
but not in a disgraceful manner. Some poskim
prohibit cleaning eyeglasses with a tallis kattan,
while others permit it.
Entering the Bathroom Wearing a Tallis
Kattan
The minhag is that we do not enter the washroom
wearing a tallis gadol, but a tallis kattan is
permitted, even if the strings are visible. One
should remove his tallis kattan before going into
the shower so as not to forget it in the bathroom.
Some maintain that when using the bathroom for
“longer periods of time,” one should tuck in his
tzitzis so they do not become dirty when in the
bathroom.
Kissing Tzitzis During Davening
There is a custom that one should look at his
tzitzis when reaching the words “u’reisem osam”
in Krias Shema (of Shacharis), and place them on
one’s eyes as a sign of love for the mitzvah. In
addition, some mention to kiss them when one
sees them as a sign of love for the mitzvah. It
is said that if one passes his tzitzis over his eyes
when reading the parshah of tzitzis he will not
become blind. The custom of many is to kiss the
tzitzis each time the word tzitzis is mentioned in
Shema as a sign of love for the mitzvah. Some
had the custom to only kiss the tzitzis at the end of
the parshah of V’yomer. The custom during Krias
Shema is to hold all four tzitzis strings. One does
not kiss the tzitzis on Tishah B’Av when reciting
Krias Shema. There is no concern on Tishah B’Av
of keeping the tzitzis strings outside one’s pants if
he normally does so all year round.
Baruch She’amar
Many have the custom to hold the front two
tzitzis when reciting Baruch She’amar. Many
have a custom to kiss the tzitzis at the conclusion
of Baruch She’amar. The source of this
custom is attributed to the following: The word
“baruch” appears ten times in Baruch She’amar,
corresponding to the Aseres Hadibros. Two
strings of tzitzis have ten knots. Therefore, when
taking the two tzitzis it reminds us of “baruch,”
which reminds us of the Aseres Hadibros. Once
we have the tzitzis in our hands we kiss them.
One does not kiss the tzitzis on Tishah B’Av when
reciting Baruch She’amar.