Cotton Tzitzis Strings – Must Tzitzis strings be made of wool?^[1]

Almost all Tzitzis strings available on the market are made of wool. Why is this the case? Is it invalid to make strings of other materials, such as cotton? What if the material of the Tallis is made of cotton, can it have cotton strings? If one finds Tzitzis strings made of cotton or other material being sold, may he use it to tie to his garment?

1. Background of Halachos:

The status of wool or linen strings:^[2] Wool or linen fringes may be used as Tzitzis for a garment of any material.^[3] [Nevertheless, due to the prohibition of Shatnez, it is forbidden to tie wool strings to a linen garment, and linen strings are not to be used for any garment, as explained next.] However, some Poskim^[4] rule that this only applies when two of the four strings [of each corner] are of Ticheiles/wool and the other two strings are of linen.^[5] If however all four strings are only of wool, or only of linen, then they may only be used for a garment made of the same material. Practically, although the custom is not like this opinion^[6], nevertheless it is proper for every G-d fearing Jew to be stringent upon himself like this opinion, and hence to only use wool fringes on a wool garment.^[7] Likewise, even those who are lenient like the first opinion, to tie wool strings to any material garment, it is proper not to recite a blessing upon wearing such Tzitzis. Thus, a blessing should not be recited over a silk [or cotton] garment that has wool fringes. Rather, one is to recite a blessing over a different Tallis and have in mind to exempt also this Tallis.^[8] [Nevertheless, from the letter of the law one may say a blessing over this Tallis, if he so chooses.^[9]]

The status of other material strings:^[10] All other materials, other than wool and linen, are only valid to be used as Tzitzis if the corners of the garment are made of that same material.^[11] For example, silk Tzitzis strings may only be tied to the corners of a silk garment; cannabis Tzitzis strings may only be tied to the corners of a cannabis garment; cotton Tzitzis strings may only be tied to the corners of a cotton garment.^[12] They may not be tied to the corners of a garment of a different material. If they are tied to the corners of a garment of a different material, the Tzitzis are invalid, and it hence remains prohibited to wear the garment.

1. The law:

As explained above, Tzitzis strings which are made of cotton material, are only valid to be tied onto  cotton Tallis, and if it is tied onto the corners of a Tallis made of other materials, such as the common wool Tallis, then it is invalid and the person is considered to be walking with a four cornered garment that does not have Tzitzis. On the other hand, if one ties wool Tzitzis onto a cotton four cornered garment, he fulfills his obligation according to most opinions. Due to this reason, practically all Tzitzis strings available on the market are made of wool, as the custom follows the opinion that wool exempts all garments, even cotton.^[13] In general, Tzitzis manufacturers will not manufacture strings made of other material due it potentially causing a stumbling back for people who will use them for a non-same material Tallis.^[14] In the event that one purchased cotton strings, they may only be used on a cotton garment, as stated above.

[1] 9:1; Michaber 9:3; Menachos 39b

[2] Admur 9:1 and 9:4; Michaber 9:2-3

^[3] Admur 9:1; Michaber 9:2

The reason: One verse states, “Venasnu Al Tzitzis Hakenaf Pesil Techeiles”, while a previous verse states “Veasu Lahem Tzitzis Al Kanfei Bigdeihem”. What was the necessity of repeating the word “Kenaf/corner” in the latter verse? This is coming to teach us that the Tzitzis must be made of the same material as the corners of the garment. Another verse however states that “Lo Silbash Shatnez Tzemer Upishtim Yachdav, Gedilim Taaseh Lecha Al Arba.” This verse seems to imply that the fringes may be made of only wool or linen, and not of any other material. Hence the two verses seem contradictory. The explanation is as follows: Strings of wool or linen are valid to be used for garments of any material, whether of wool, linen or any other material, and on this it says “Tzemer Upishtim Gedilim Taaseh Lecha”. However, strings of other materials are only valid for garments made of that same material. [Admur ibid]

[4] Maharam 444; Hagahos Maimanis 3:6

^[5] Admur 9:4; M”A 9:3 in name of Bach

The reason: This is learned from the verse “Tzemer Upishtim Yachdav; Gedilim Taaseh Lecha”, that only when the wool and linen are together do they exempt the corners of any material Tallis. [Admur ibid] This ruling, that two strings of wool and two of linen is valid for all materials, applies also according to the first opinion above, and is an exception to the ruling in 9:8 that all strings must be made of a single material. This option was not offered by Admur in 9:6 being that practically it is forbidden due to Shatnez.

Three of wool and one of linen or vice versa: Tzaruch Iyun if having 3 strings of wool and one of linen, or vice versa, is also valid according to this opinion or perhaps it is invalid due to the ruling in 9:7, and hence cannot be used on any garment due to a Biblical question.

Two sets of wool and two sets of linen: The above seemingly refers to tying two strings of wool and two strings of linen in each set, as was done in the times of Techeiles. However not to having two whole corners of only wool and the other two corners of only linen. Vetzaruch Iyun according to this opinion as to the status of a Tallis that has two sets of corners of wool and two sets of corners of linen.

[6] As is seen from the fact we allow tying wool strings to a silk garment. [Admur ibid; Terumos Hasdeshen 44]

[7] Admur ibid; M”A 9:3

Thus a silk garment is to have silk Tzitzis tied to its corners [Admur ibid] and a cotton garment is to have cotton Tzitzis tied to its corners. According to this stringency, being that it is Rabbinically forbidden to tie wool fringes to a linen garment, or vice versa, due to Shatnez, it ends up that all fringes must be made of the same material as the Tallis. Vetzaruch Iyun why despite the above ruling, people today place wool strings on a cotton garment, and not cotton strings. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 9 footnote 44]

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is better to attach wool strings to a silk garment. [Beir Heiytiv 9:1 in his understanding of M”A 9:4; Admur in Kuntrus Achron 9:2 negates his understanding of the M”A.] Some Poskim are lenient to even initially allow one to wear a cotton Tallis Katan, even if the fringes are made from wool. [Gra in Maaseh Rav 17 and in M”B 9:6; Chazon Ish brought in Orchos Rabbeinu 1:18]

[8] Admur 9:5; M”A 9:3 in name of Bach and M”A 8:16 as explained in Kuntrus Achron 9:2

Is one to say the blessing if he does not have another Tallis available? Tzaruch Iyun if according to Admur even in such a case one should not say a blessing, or only when he in any event has another Tallis available is he not to say a blessing.

Other opinions: See Beir Heiytiv 9:1 brought in previous footnote who implies a blessing is recited on a silk Tallis with wool Tzitzis!

[9] Pashut, as we do not apply the rule of Safek Brachos Lihakel against a Minhag, and the custom is like the first opinion, as stated above in Rama and Admur ibid; Likewise, Admur only writes that it is proper not to say a blessing, and does not prohibit doing so.

[10] Admur 9:1; Michaber 9:3; Menachos 39b

[11] The reason: This is derived from the extra word “Hakenaf:Corner” written in the verse. One verse states “Venasnu Al Tzitzis Hakenaf Pesil Techeiles”, while a previous verse states “Veasu Lahem Tzitzis Al Kanfei Bigdeihem”. What was the necessity of repeating the word “Kenaf:corner” in the latter verse? This is coming to teach us that the Tzitzis must be made of the same material as the corners of the garment. This however is with exception to fringes of wool or linen, which is explicitly learned from the verse [see previous footnotes] that it exempts any material garment. [Admur ibid]

[12] Michaber ibid mentions examples of cotton and silk; Admur ibid mentions examples of cannabis and silk, Vetzaruch Iyun

[13] See Aruch Hashulchan 15:10 and 16 that today the custom is to use only wool strings for Tzitzis

[14] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 9 footnote 44