| By :
Mark Etinger
The custom of wearing Tzitzis originated from the commandment from Numbers 15:37-41: The Lord said to Moses as follows: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I the Lord am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I, the Lord your God. Utimately, Tzitizis are worn to remember God, his infinite love, and all of his commandments. There is a ritual to tying tzitizis that is very important. If interested in learning how to tie your own tzitizis, be sure to follow this helpful guide. Before you tie your tzitzis to your talit, it is a good idea to practice on twine or heavy string, by tying it on a door knob or chair leg so you can get the proper technique down. Although it is possible to spin and devise your own tzitzis strands, it is recommended to buy a tzitizi pack which is available at most Hebrew bookstores. In a pack there are typically sixteen strands, four long and twelve short. 1) The first thing you should do is separate the strands into four groups with three short and one long in each. Line up strands at one end and push their tip into the corner slots on your talit. Line up seven of the eight strands (the four being doubled over) and leave the extra length of the shammash hanging to one side. 2) With four strands in one hand and the other four in your other hand, make a double knot near the edge of the material. In order to fulfill the mitzvah of tzitzis, you must say "l'shem mitzvat tzitzi" each time you tie a knot. 3) Next you take the shammash and wind it around the seven strands in a spiral for seven turns. 4) You then want to make a double knot and spiral the shammash eight times around. Now you spiral the shammash eleven times around, and double knot. Last, you are going to spiral the shammash around thirteen times and double knot for the last time. The symbolism for the numbers is central to the overarching symbolism of the talit. In gematria, tzitzit means six hundred. In addition, there are right strands plus five knots. The total is six hundred and thirteen which according to tradition, is the exact number of commandments in the Torah. So just to look at your Tzitzis is to remember all the mitzvot.
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