Rambam

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While tying my tzitzit according to the Rambam Teimani method, the techelet string broke (high up on the blue though there is still enough string to tie several chulyot.
While tying my tzitzit according to the Rambam Teimani method, the techelet string broke (high up on the blue though there is still enough string to tie several chulyot. 150 150 rhecht

The answer to this question is just about the same as to the question if the string broke after the whole tzitzit was tied. I will reiterate that answer and relate to the specific issue of having tied even only one hulya. The Mishna Berura (12:1:7) discusses a similar case and says that if one has a kosher…

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I am tying my tekhelet according to the Rambam and was wondering if I have to tie 13 chulyot, or can I tie any number of chulyot between 7 and 13. I would find that 10 chulyot would also be very symbolic.
I am tying my tekhelet according to the Rambam and was wondering if I have to tie 13 chulyot, or can I tie any number of chulyot between 7 and 13. I would find that 10 chulyot would also be very symbolic. 150 150 rhecht

The Gemara (Men 39a) clearly states one should not make less than 7 chulyot and one should not make more than 13 chulyot (so too the Rambam [Hil. Tz. 1:8]), which seems to imply any number in between is acceptable. On the other hand the Gemara clearly states that the reason for 7 is to…

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Are there some tying methods that are more suited for thick strings over thin strings (halachically or aesthetic)?
Are there some tying methods that are more suited for thick strings over thin strings (halachically or aesthetic)? 150 150 rhecht

There is no correlation that I am aware of between thick/thin sheetot and halacha/aesthetics. Some people find thick strings (regardless of sheeta) to be more aesthetically pleasing on a large talit. Some people buy thick for talit katan due to greater durability (they don’t tear as easily). I have found that thin strings tear more easily when tying…

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How do I make a string which is 1/2 blue and 1/2 white for tying using the Rambam method. Are the 1/2 white string, and the 1/2 blue string tied together? Is this process explained somewhere on your website? If not, could you please explain it to me?
How do I make a string which is 1/2 blue and 1/2 white for tying using the Rambam method. Are the 1/2 white string, and the 1/2 blue string tied together? Is this process explained somewhere on your website? If not, could you please explain it to me? 150 150 rhecht

We dye strings half white, half blue. To be specific, we take a very very long strand and die it blue-white-blue-white-etc. then we take 8 strings like that and we twine them together (shezira) such that the white lines up with the white and the blue with the blue. Then we cut them such that we get several “kaful…

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I would naturally purchase Rambam strings to go along with the Rambam method, yet I have hesitations. I know there is technically no problem with getting Ra’avad strings and tying Rambam, yet it seems that it would be ideal to keep a steady method. Yet he number of tekhelet strings (to my understanding) is more severe in halakhic status, and I do not feel comfortable using the Rambam’s method because I do not understand how it fits. I see his point about how the pteel should be placed on the other white strings, yet the verse can be easily interpreted in other ways, and by the use of the word pteel, it seems to imply 1 full string, end to end.
I would naturally purchase Rambam strings to go along with the Rambam method, yet I have hesitations. I know there is technically no problem with getting Ra’avad strings and tying Rambam, yet it seems that it would be ideal to keep a steady method. Yet he number of tekhelet strings (to my understanding) is more severe in halakhic status, and I do not feel comfortable using the Rambam’s method because I do not understand how it fits. I see his point about how the pteel should be placed on the other white strings, yet the verse can be easily interpreted in other ways, and by the use of the word pteel, it seems to imply 1 full string, end to end. 150 150 rhecht

Ptil can mean strand or tassle and so half a string which appears as a full string when folded through the hole of the begged can certainly fulfill the pshat of ptil. – Mois Navon

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My main issue with the Rambam’s approach is how he deals with the sifrei shelach source that seems to say that Beit Shamai holds that there is one string of tekhelet and three of white, and so goes the halacha. There is no source to my knowledge that indicates that there is 1 tekhelet and 7 whites. My Rabbi offered that he may learn Beit Shamai to be using the language one loosely to mean 1 half, for that was not his main topic, yet I find that fairly weak.
My main issue with the Rambam’s approach is how he deals with the sifrei shelach source that seems to say that Beit Shamai holds that there is one string of tekhelet and three of white, and so goes the halacha. There is no source to my knowledge that indicates that there is 1 tekhelet and 7 whites. My Rabbi offered that he may learn Beit Shamai to be using the language one loosely to mean 1 half, for that was not his main topic, yet I find that fairly weak. 150 150 rhecht

The sifrei is one halachic source but not necessarily binding – certainly the Rambam, and all who follow him on this (all Sefardi poskim, the Arizal, Radzyner, R. Hirsch, R. Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, R. Nachum Rabinovitch, R. Dov Lior, R. Herschel Schachter). There is no need to try to “squeeze” the Rambam’s position into, or out of, the Sifrei.…

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Your site has multiple traditions for tying tsitsit. Sephardic tsitsit are not mentioned. Is there a reason for this?
Your site has multiple traditions for tying tsitsit. Sephardic tsitsit are not mentioned. Is there a reason for this? 150 150 rhecht

The Rambam, being the quintessential Spanish Posek, thus defines the tradition for “Sephardic Tzitzit”. Furthermore, it is not that we prefer to mention it, but rather it is not relevant – there is no “Sephardic” or “Ashkenazi” way to tie tekhelet since poskim from those communities didn’t have tekhelet – rather there are traditions from…

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Using your videos off of Youtube and much trial and error, I was able to correctly tie the Tzitzit according the Rambam. However every time I tie them they stay tight for a few days, then begin to become loose again, with many of the chulyot bunching together. I have tried tying them tighter and still no luck. Do you have any advice?
Using your videos off of Youtube and much trial and error, I was able to correctly tie the Tzitzit according the Rambam. However every time I tie them they stay tight for a few days, then begin to become loose again, with many of the chulyot bunching together. I have tried tying them tighter and still no luck. Do you have any advice? 150 150 rhecht

Looking at the step by step description (https://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/RambamDetailInstructionLORES.pdf), when doing steps 32-36, you should try to wrap the blue quite snugly. Then after you pull the blue string through (step 39) you should make sure the string is pulled through (FIRMLY), don’t pull too hard or yank, because the string will snap, but you do need to pull firmly…

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I’ve been looking into tekhelet and glad to see the practice resurrected. While I know that there are many ways to tie tzitzit, as a Sephardic Jew, I’ve heard that the 10-5-6-5 with the ridge is the typical Sephardic method. Is there still a need to have the first and last wrap the same color as the tallit in the 10-5-6-5?
I’ve been looking into tekhelet and glad to see the practice resurrected. While I know that there are many ways to tie tzitzit, as a Sephardic Jew, I’ve heard that the 10-5-6-5 with the ridge is the typical Sephardic method. Is there still a need to have the first and last wrap the same color as the tallit in the 10-5-6-5? 150 150 rhecht

All the customary methods of tying tzitzit with white only were developed to infuse the tzitzit with meaning lost with the loss of tekhelet. When tying with tekhelet, one of the tekhelet methods should be employed. Sephardim should tie the tzitzit with tekhelet according to the Rambam method. – Mois Navon

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