Q&A: The Obligation of Tekhelet and Tying Tzitzit for Soldiers
The Obligation of Tekhelet and Tying Tzitzit for Soldiers
Question
I tend to agree with the view that says that when tekhelet is reasonably obtainable (it is hard to define exactly where the line is), it is forbidden to wear white tzitzit without tekhelet, because that is an active neglect of a positive commandment. See Rabbi Shmuel Ariel’s article that says this (as I understand it, if my memory serves me correctly): https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tekhelet.com/pdf/0976.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjEqaf4gNCPAxVxTkEAHWrULusQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ER1iJgmiVxIvH9_SiMGIl
They recently started at our yeshiva tying tzitzit for soldiers.
1. What does the Rabbi think (if he has time to look) about Rabbi Shmuel Ariel’s position on this issue?
2. According to this view of mine, is it permitted to tie tzitzit with only white strings for soldiers? I was thinking of saying that since they are in the IDF, this could be defined as a case where it is beyond their means, and so they would be exempt from tekhelet. Another possibility is to say that in any case they would obtain tzitzit anyway, so this is not a full-fledged case of "do not place a stumbling block."
Answer
I have written more than once that tekhelet is an obligatory commandment, not merely an optional one. The fact that it does not prevent fulfillment of the white strings does not mean that it is merely optional.
Indeed, there is room to discuss whether someone who does not use tekhelet should perhaps avoid a four-cornered garment altogether, so as not to neglect the positive commandment of tekhelet. In that regard, one could say that if he has no way to obtain tekhelet, he should at least wear white strings. I do not know whether that is what you meant by saying it is beyond his means.
I do not know where the line is for what counts as beyond one’s means. But clearly, if it is possible to tie them for the soldiers, that is very good.
Discussion on Answer
Indeed.
Tekhelet never prevents fulfillment of the white strings. And still, if you wear a garment with only white tzitzit, you will fulfill the white strings and neglect tekhelet. So it is not advisable to do that. Note well: not because tekhelet prevents fulfillment, because it does not. Rather, simply because of neglecting the positive commandment of tekhelet.
If he cannot obtain tekhelet, as was the case before tekhelet was rediscovered, then yes, it is worthwhile to wear white strings, because regarding tekhelet he is under compulsion, so why shouldn’t he gain the positive commandment of white strings?! Again, not because tekhelet does not prevent fulfillment in such a case. It never prevents fulfillment.
If soldiers are permitted to wear white without tekhelet, then it is also permitted to tie white strings for them. But I do not know why soldiers would be permitted to do this.
Thank you very much for the answer. I did not mean specifically that soldiers are permitted; rather, I suggested reasons why soldiers might be permitted to wear only white strings / why it might be permitted to tie white strings for them (since it is not really possible right now to obtain tekhelet tzitzit for the entire IDF. And there is perhaps also the claim that this is not a full case of "do not place a stumbling block," since someone else would tie them anyway, and they would receive the tzitzit regardless.)
In short, I would be glad to know whether the Rabbi thinks there is any reason to permit tying them for soldiers, and why.
I did not understand why soldiers are different from anyone else. It is not the IDF that has to obtain tekhelet for them, but they themselves.
In any case, I do not see any prohibition in tying white strings for someone who holds that one should wear white strings. There is no prohibition in the tying itself, and the decision to wear them is his. And there are halakhic decisors who argue against tekhelet (in my opinion, mistakenly).
Just to summarize and make sure I understood your view:
You agree that someone who wears tzitzit without tekhelet has always neglected tekhelet, even before tekhelet was rediscovered.
The question is whether, in a case where he can obtain tekhelet, he is forbidden to wear only white strings because that is an active neglect of a positive commandment (and it would be preferable not to wear a four-cornered garment at all, since nowadays we wear them only for the sake of the commandment of tzitzit), or whether even in such a case it could still be preferable for him to fulfill the commandment of white strings despite neglecting tekhelet. From the article mentioned above, I understood that he argues that the whole rule that tekhelet does not prevent the white and the white does not prevent tekhelet applies only when one does not have tekhelet available (see the Talmudic passage and the proofs he brought in the article).
And also, if someone holds that it is completely forbidden to wear white strings without tekhelet—leaving aside for the moment whether that is actually correct, for the sake of this question—is there any permission for him to tie white-only tzitzit for soldiers? Maybe what I suggested above could serve as possible justifications?