Halachah 1 — Garments Biblically Obligated in Tzitzit
A garment is biblically obligated in tzitzit only if it meets all of the following:
- It has four or more corners.
- It is large enough to cover the head and most of the body of a child old enough to walk unaided in public.
- It is made of wool or linen.
Halachah 2 — Garments Obligated by Rabbinic Law
Garments made of other materials (e.g., silk, cotton, camel’s wool, goat’s wool) are obligated in tzitzit only by Rabbinic decree, and only if:
- they have four (or more) corners, and
- they meet the required size.
The principle is that when the Torah says beged (garment) without qualification, it means wool or linen.
Halachah 3 — Number of Corners
The Torah obligates tzitzit on a garment with four corners, excludes a three‑cornered garment, and includes garments with five or more corners.
For garments with more than four corners, tzitzit are placed only on the four corners that are most distant from one another.
Halachah 4 — Material of the Garment and Ownership
If the garment is fabric and the corners are leather, it requires tzitzit.
If the garment is leather (even if corners are cloth), it does not.
A jointly owned garment requires tzitzit.
A borrowed garment is exempt for 30 days, after which it becomes obligated.
Halachah 5 — Materials for White Strands
Rules for the white strands:
- Wool garment → wool strands only.
- Linen garment → linen strands only.
- Other fabrics → strands of the same material as the garment.
However, wool or linen strands may be used for garments of any material.
Other materials may only be used for garments of their own type.
Halachah 6 — Shaʿatnez and White Threads
Although shaĘżatnez is permitted in tzitzit in principle, wool threads are not used on linen garments (and vice versa) for white strands, because:
- it is possible to fulfill the mitzvah without violating shaĘżatnez.
When both a positive and negative commandment can be fulfilled, both must be upheld.
Halachah 7 — Techelet on Linen Garments
Techelet should not be attached to linen garments by Rabbinic decree, to prevent wearing it at night, when tzitzit do not apply, thus violating shaĘżatnez without a mitzvah.
The mitzvah of tzitzit applies by day, not at night, though a blind person remains obligated.
Halachah 8 — Wearing Tzitzit at Night and the Blessing
It is permitted to wear tzitzit at night (even on Shabbat), without a blessing.
The blessing is recited in the morning when one can distinguish white threads from techelet:
“…Who commanded us to wrap ourselves in tzitzit.”
A blessing is recited before wearing, not when making tzitzit.
Halachah 9 — Bathhouses, Disposal, and Selling to Gentiles
One may enter a bathhouse or lavatory wearing tzitzit.
Torn tzitzit strands may be discarded, as tzitzit do not confer inherent sanctity.
A garment with tzitzit may not be sold to a gentile with tzitzit attached, due to concern for Jewish safety, not sanctity.
Halachah 10 — Women, Servants, Minors, and Doubtful Status
Women, servants, and minors are exempt by Torah law.
Children who can dress themselves should wear tzitzit for education.
Women and servants may wear tzitzit without a blessing.
A tumtum or androgynos fulfills tzitzit (and other positive mitzvot) without a blessing, due to doubt.
Halachah 11 — Nature of the Obligation
The obligation of tzitzit lies on the person, not the garment.
If one wears an obligated garment without tzitzit, he negates the mitzvah.
If the garment is not worn, there is no obligation.
Halachah 12 — Importance of the Mitzvah
Although one is not obligated to acquire a tallit, it is improper to avoid the mitzvah.
It is especially shameful for a Torah scholar to pray without tzitzit.
Tzitzit are equated with all the mitzvot, as they lead a person to remember and observe them.
“Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.”
