FAQ

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My son and I were looking at the Tosafot tying photos from your detailed tying instructions; and forgive me for saying so, but it looks a little sloppy. Is this the way we should expect it to come out, or could it come out looking neater? I’d really like to get the Tosafot tying method, however, some of the other methods are much prettier to look at.
My son and I were looking at the Tosafot tying photos from your detailed tying instructions; and forgive me for saying so, but it looks a little sloppy. Is this the way we should expect it to come out, or could it come out looking neater? I’d really like to get the Tosafot tying method, however, some of the other methods are much prettier to look at. 235 840 rhecht

As you saw from the web pictures, the Tosafot tying method comes out the way it is shown. I am sorry if you don’t find it particularly attractive. If you read the Tosafot source (see “In his own words” in the tekhelet tying tools page) you will understand that this is the intended outcome. Now,…

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I need some clarification about the Ra’avad method of tying tekhelet. I saw the film put out by Ptil Tekhelet and I also have the diagram that is on the website that you did. They do not seem to agree. In the film, they show double knots between chulyot and the chulyot are not all the same number of winds. In your diagram, there is one single cord knot between chulyot and all the chulyot have seven winds. Also, in your diagram the second chulya is all white (though you mention that some alternate blue and white). The film show them all alternating. Which one represents the Ra’avad method?
I need some clarification about the Ra’avad method of tying tekhelet. I saw the film put out by Ptil Tekhelet and I also have the diagram that is on the website that you did. They do not seem to agree. In the film, they show double knots between chulyot and the chulyot are not all the same number of winds. In your diagram, there is one single cord knot between chulyot and all the chulyot have seven winds. Also, in your diagram the second chulya is all white (though you mention that some alternate blue and white). The film show them all alternating. Which one represents the Ra’avad method? 150 150 rhecht

Raavad Knots: In the film (tying video), we show the Raavad being tied with double knots purely out of convenience and we do mention there (if I’m not mistaken) that the knot described by the Raavad is a two-cord twist (like I show in my diagram). Using a double knot is by all means “kosher”…

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When beginning, as you pull the tzitzit through the hole – do you have to keep the individual tzitzit strings in order so that the tekhelet strand is the first or 4th (blue, white, white, white – as in your diagram) or will any order do? And if, after you finish tying, the order of the tzizit in the hole changes – is that a problem?
When beginning, as you pull the tzitzit through the hole – do you have to keep the individual tzitzit strings in order so that the tekhelet strand is the first or 4th (blue, white, white, white – as in your diagram) or will any order do? And if, after you finish tying, the order of the tzizit in the hole changes – is that a problem? 150 150 rhecht

Order within the hole is unimportant. There is an idea that the white string should enter the hole before blue one (this is a lone interpretation on the Gemara which states that one should start with white and end with white) – but this is certainly not something which would mitigate the fulfillment of the…

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Why does everyone wear Rambam if they are Ashkenazi. What is the reason why many Rabbis pasken like Rambam over Tosafot?
Why does everyone wear Rambam if they are Ashkenazi. What is the reason why many Rabbis pasken like Rambam over Tosafot? 150 150 rhecht

First of all I am not sure why you believe “everyone” wears Rambam; according to our sales figures: 25-30% wear Rambam, 70-73% Raavad, and 1-2% Tosafot. (I think Raavad is the strongest seller partly due to the fact that we ship Raavad as our default). Now though you are correct in your assumption that for…

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1) Is the Rambam with or without a double knot at the top? 2) Is it true that we have archaeological evidence that the halacha for the number of strings follows Tosafos?
1) Is the Rambam with or without a double knot at the top? 2) Is it true that we have archaeological evidence that the halacha for the number of strings follows Tosafos? 150 150 rhecht

1) The Rambam himself does not speak of any double knot – nor does anyone from his time or earlier. The double knot was introduced by the Tosafot. They reasoned that a knot should be a knot that is forbidden on Shabbat. However this is not the opinion of other poskim. When the Gemara talked…

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I would like to re-string my tzitzit using a different method. Can I do this? Also, will the strings be irreparably out of shape?
I would like to re-string my tzitzit using a different method. Can I do this? Also, will the strings be irreparably out of shape? 150 150 rhecht

You can unite your strings and then re-tie them with any method of your choosing. The only requirement for reuse is that when retied they will make up a length of 12 thumb-breadths (that is, when the strings were tied, they should not have broken to be less that 12 thumb-breadths). In order to get…

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My question is with regard to the meaning of, and/or significance of, each of the different styles of tying.
My question is with regard to the meaning of, and/or significance of, each of the different styles of tying. 150 150 rhecht

The symbolic meaning of the tzitzit windings with tekhelet is stated clearly in the Gemara Menachot by Rebbi: to remind us of the heavens. Similarly does Rebbi Meir explain that the symbolic meaning of tekhelet is that of God’s throne. And so ALL the various methods of tying with tekhelet merely try to imbue that…

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I am a Baal T’shuvah, with very little Jewish family history. My question regards which tying custom to follow. The one thing I do know is that I wish to follow the Raavad for ratio. I know my family lived in Vienna for a time, which would lead me to the Vilna Gaon, but I’m not sure. My current custom is to tie 7-8-11-13. I was wondering if there was a timeline of when the different customs were written, and which, if any, are considered older than others. Thank you very much
I am a Baal T’shuvah, with very little Jewish family history. My question regards which tying custom to follow. The one thing I do know is that I wish to follow the Raavad for ratio. I know my family lived in Vienna for a time, which would lead me to the Vilna Gaon, but I’m not sure. My current custom is to tie 7-8-11-13. I was wondering if there was a timeline of when the different customs were written, and which, if any, are considered older than others. Thank you very much 150 150 rhecht

I would say that if you are inclined to follow the Ravad method in terms of ratio (1 full blue string per corner) then I would advise you tie like the Vilna Gaon, as he too holds that one should use 1 full blue string per corner. As for the oldest methods, it appears that…

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How do I make double knots?
How do I make double knots? 150 150 rhecht

Double knots are made by taking the 4 strings on the aligned side and wrapping them over the 4 strings from the non-aligned side – you can see this clearly in my video clip on tying the Gra. – Mois Navon.

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If I have 2 pieces of tekhelet string, can I tie them together and use it as one?
If I have 2 pieces of tekhelet string, can I tie them together and use it as one? 150 150 rhecht

If you are starting out (i.e., not fixing a torn string that became less than “kdei aniva”) you can tie strings together to get the desired initial length. We do not advise this because if your knot comes out, your tzitzit will become invalid. This is particularly true if the point of the knot is…

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