Q&A: On the Commandment of Tzitzit
On the Commandment of Tzitzit
Question
Hello Rabbi. In our “community” / congregation, or whatever you want to call it, the practice is to wear tzitzit without tekhelet. Since I understood that nowadays tekhelet has in fact returned, and although I haven’t studied the topic in depth, it seems that this is at least a Torah-level doubt. So in order not to stand out, what I do is wear two sets of tzitzit: one with tekhelet and one with white strings. (They’re under my clothes in any case, so they can’t be seen.) Am I acting rationally? How would the Rabbi recommend acting in this case? And with regard to a tallit gadol, which is worn externally, would the ruling be different?
Answer
There is no logic in that at all. Wear one with tekhelet, and you will thereby fulfill the obligation of the white strings as well.
As a rule, this is not a matter of customs but of Jewish law, and therefore the “custom” of your community has no significance whatsoever.
Discussion on Answer
Absolutely. What does everyone else have to do with it?! If everyone else behaves by desecrating the Sabbath, will you desecrate it too?
There is an idea not to act differently from the established custom. That’s why I asked. The Rabbi explained that this is Jewish law and not custom, so it’s fine. Thank you.
Should one also put tekhelet on a tallit gadol even though that makes him different from everyone else?