Q&A: Dyeing for Its Own Sake
Dyeing for Its Own Sake
Question
Festive holidays and a good year.
The Talmud in tractate Sukkah 9a derives that making tzitzit—spinning, hanging, etc., according to the various opinions—must be done for its own sake, as it says: “You shall make tassels for yourself”—for yourself, for the sake of your obligation.
In the passage in Menachot 42b we learned that dyeing the thread of tekhelet must be done for its own sake. From where do we learn this? After all, in the verse “You shall make tassels for yourself,” tekhelet is not mentioned at all.
Answer
Festive holidays.
Why shouldn’t that be included in the tassels? Everything connected to the tassels must be done for its own sake. And the Mabit wrote likewise in Kiryat Sefer, ch. 2, halakhah 3.
Discussion on Answer
Hackling is too early a stage. And threading is not connected to making the tassels; it is also a preliminary stage before the tying.
Hackling does not have to be done for its own sake, and neither does threading, according to the Mishnah Berurah.