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Bottom Line
This 1998 Avodah exchange gives a useful snapshot of how Murex Techeiles was actually being adopted in its early years. Saul Guberman describes the mitzvah as being “in the process of being reintroduced” and explains that people were still working out how to incorporate it into practice. Cost was a real factor, since Techeiles strings were expensive, and not everyone wore a wool *tallis kattan*. Some therefore wore Techeiles only on the *kattan*, where it remained private, while others chose the *tallis gadol* and wore it publicly.
Abraham Pechman’s response shows that this was not merely a question of convenience. He asks whether someone who can afford Techeiles has any basis for deliberately limiting it to either the *tallis kattan* or *tallis gadol*, and whether avoiding Techeiles on one garment is comparable to avoiding a four-cornered garment in order not to become obligated in Tzitzis at all. He also asks whether any *posek* had ruled whether Techeiles should preferably be worn privately, publicly, or on both garments.
The exchange therefore captures an important transitional moment: by late 1998, the discussion was no longer only whether Murex was the *chilazon*, but how those who accepted it should actually fulfill the mitzvah in day-to-day life.
Main Text
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 17:18:04 -0400
From: Saul Guberman <sguberman@leshkowitz.com>
Subject: tekhelet on gadol vs. kattan
Being that the mitzvah is in the process of being reintroduced, what you are seeing is a grappling with the issue of how to be m’kayem. It is and always was economically difficult to have tekhelet stings. Many people are afraid to take on this mitzvah for this reason. Then to definitively be m’kayem D’oriata you would have to have a woolen garment. Not everyone wears (or wants to wear) a wool kattan. At this point in time some people are more comfortable wearing tekhelet privately (kattan) and others want to be public (gadol) about it.
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 17:36:13 -0400
From: “Pechman, Abraham” <APechman@mwellp.com>
Subject: RE: tekhelet on gadol vs. kattan
Being that the mitzvah is in the process of being reintroduced, what you are seeing is a grappling with the issue of how to be m’kayem. It is and always was economically difficult to have tekhelet stings. Many people are afraid to take on this mitzvah for this reason. Then to definitively be m’kayem D’oriata you would have to have a woolen garment.
Is there any leg to stand upon for someone who can bear the cost of tcheyles on all the tzitzis he wears and yet chooses either koton or gadol?
You would have to have a woolen garment. Not everyone wears (or wants to wear) a wool kattan. At this point in time some people are more
Would this be categorically the same as electing not to wear a garment which has at least four corners in order not to be chayav in the mitzva altogether?
Comfortable wearing tekhelet privately (kattan) and others want to be public (gadol) about it.
Has any posek come out with which way (public/private/both) is the best way to go?
avi pechman
