There is no halachic difference between thick or regular strings (both are “kaful shemona” eight strands wound together by “shezira”) – the only reason we supply both is that some people like the way the thick look on their talit (especially the talit gadol) and others find that the thick last longer since they tend…
read moreThe shamash is 1.5 meters long before tied. The strings after knotting will not reach your knees. – Mois Navon.
read moreThere are other methods of tying not mentioned on the web site. – Mois Navon.
read moreWhen it comes to tying tekhelet, there is no “traditional Ashkenazi way”. Here is how I would look at the issue: 1 ) If he is using Tosafot strings (i.e., 2 full blue and 2 full white per corner) then he should tie like Tosafot. 2 ) If he is using Raavad strings (i.e., 1…
read moreYes there are many, many ties to tie white. Here are a few that are listed in R. Tavger’s book on tzitzit “Klil Tekhelet”: Tying methods in white: – Common 7-8-11-13 – Hida 10-5-6-5 (Y-K-V-K) – Lekach Tov 7-7-7-7 – HaMaspik L’Ovdei Hashem 7 chulyot of 3 winds (like Rambam) – Meiri Yevamot: knot 7…
read moreYes, it is a well known “problem” that due to where the shamash comes out of the previous double knot, the chulya may be misaligned + or – a half turn. I believe that as long as you wrap three times you have a kosher hulya – as that is the language of Rebbi in…
read moreThe 7-8-11-13 method is a custom to be used when using white strings only. This method is not really dealt with on our website because no one discusses tying like this with tekhelet. Indeed, R. Shachter believes this method was designed to make up for the fact that no tekhelet was available. Furthermore, even if…
read moreConcerning the choices, I have been asked this many times and have detailed the options on our site: http://www.tekhelet.net/diagrams/TyingFAQ.htm If you would like a cut to the chase, I recommend Rambam strings tied according to the Rambam method as handed done by the Teimanim. There is an issue of aesthetics as one is supposed to…
read moreIn answer to your question as to the origins of the various tying methods as different from the Bible, let me be start by saying that the Bible is like a “Cliff Notes” pamphlet of the Divine transmission to Moses and the Jewish People. The Bible is known as the “written Torah” which is of…
read moreOrder 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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