Question: [Tuesday, 27^th Nissan 5783]

I have a different pair of Tzitzis that I wear for playing sports and jogging and then re-wear my original pair after finishing my sports activity and taking a shower. Do I say a new blessing upon putting back on my original pair, and does it make a difference if I am married and generally do not recite a blessing upon wearing my Tzitzis in the morning prior to prayers.

Answer:              

It all depends on how long it takes you to play sports and then re-wear the original pair. If there is less than a three hour interval in between, and you hence intended to re-wear the original pair within three hours from its removal, then a new blessing is not to be recited. If, however, there is a more than three hour interval in between, or when you removed the original pair you did not intend to re-wear it within three hours, then a new blessing is to be recited. There is no difference in this regard whether you are married or not, and whether or not you originally recited a blessing over that pair of Tzitzis in the morning.

Explanation: The law is as follows: If one removed his Tallis Katan/Gadol and is re-wearing it several hours [three hours] later, then he is required to recite another blessing prior to re-wearing it. According to Admur and other Poskim, this applies even if he originally intended at the time of removal to re-wear the Tallis after several hours, or if he intended to re-wear the Tallis right away and he simply forgot to do so or changed his mind in the interim. This applies even if he was wearing another Tallis in the interim.

Now, just as a several hour interval between the two wearing’s obligates a new blessing to be recited, so too, the removal of a Tallis Katan with intent to only re-wear it after a few [i.e. three] hours, obligates the blessing to be repeated upon re-wearing it, even if it is re-worn right away. However, in the Siddur Admur concludes that this only applies if one was not wearing another Tallis at the time of its removal.

Practically, based on all this information, it is clear as we stated above, that if at the time that one removed his current pair of Tzitzis in order to put on his sports pair, he did not have in mind to re-wear his current pair for the next three hours, or if in actuality three hours have passed in between, then a new blessing must be recited.

This applies even if one is married and never says a blessing over his Tzitzis upon wearing it in the morning, as this is simply because the blessing is included in the blessing he recites upon wearing his Tallis Gadol prior to prayer. However, later on during the day, even a married man must say blessing upon wearing a new pair of Tzitzis, and the same would apply when rewearing his original pair after several hours, or after removing without intent to re-wear within several hours.

Likewise, this applies even if one is not married and originally said a blessing over his Tzitzis in the morning, as the rule is that a new blessing must be repeated whenever a new wearing takes place, even on the same day, and it is hence possible to say a blessing numerous times on the same pair of Tzitzis on the same day, if it was worn and removed and then reworn several times.

Sources: See regarding repeating a blessing when re-wearing the Tallis several hours after removal: Admur 8:24; Siddur Admur; Michaber 8:14; Kaf Hachaim 8:55 based on Admur; This ruling of “several hours” is not found in previous Poskim. Other opinions: Some write that the repetition of the blessing is never dependent on a time interval but rather on one’s personal removal of his mind from the Tallis. [Piskeiy Teshuvos 8:23 and 27, see there for ten rules regarding the definition of Hesech Hadaas that requires a blessing. His opinion is clearly negated by Admur and other Poskim which clearly mention a time frame regarding the definition of Hesech Hadaas.] See regarding repeating a blessing when re-wearing a Tallis that one just removed without intent to re-wear right away: Admur 8:25; Siddur Admur; Michaber 8:14; Rama 8:14; Ketzos Hashulchan 7:6 based on the Siddur; Taz 8:13 in his understanding of the Rama 8:14 and Rav Chaim Or Zarua, brought in Iggur 23; See Piskei Dinim 8; This applies according to all opinions in Poskim [Rama 8:14 agrees to ruling of Michaber that if one did not have intent to re-wear and was not wearing another Tallis at the time, then the blessing must be repeated]; See regarding that three hours is defined as several hours: Ketzos Hashulchan 7 footnote 17 based on Admur 25:29 regarding Tefillin “2-3 hours”; See also 639:13 “1-2 hours”; Igros Kodesh 3:210, printed in Shulchan Menachem 1:37;  Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that one has the amount of time between Shacharis and Mincha. [Beir Heiytiv 8:16 in name of Olas Tamid] Other Poskim rule that a half an hour is already considered an interval. [See Yabia Omer 8:2; Or Letziyon 2:44-10] Others rule it is the period of an hour. [Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:32] Others rule that even going to Mikveh and returning is considered an interval. [See Poskim in Piskeiy Teshuvos 8 footnote 245];

Removed Tallis Katan to change to another and then changed mind

• Question: [Tuesday, 27^th Nissan 5783]

I have a different pair of Tzitzis that I wear for playing sports and jogging. The other day when I took off the pair that I was currently wearing in order to put on my sports pair I noticed that the sports pair was invalid due to a tear that occurred in one of the lower strings within the braid. So I went to put the original pair of Tzitzis back on. What I would like to know is regarding the blessing. Was I to say a new blessing upon putting on my original pair or not?

Answer:              

If you did not intend to re-wear the original pair of Tzitzis within three hours of taking them off, then a new blessing is to be recited prior to rewearing it, even though you just took it off moments earlier. If, however, when you took off the Tzitzis you had in mind to re-wear them after finishing your sports activity within three hours from the time that it was taken off, then a new blessing is not recited. There is no difference in this regard whether you are married or not, and whether or not you originally recited a blessing over that pair of Tzitzis in the morning.

Explanation: See explanation in previous Q&A! Practically, based on all that information, it is clear as we stated above, that if at the time that one removed his current pair of Tzitzis in order to put on his sports pair, he did not have in mind to re-wear his current pair for the next three hours, then a new blessing must be recited.

This applies even if one is married and never says a blessing over his Tzitzis upon wearing it in the morning, as this is simply because the blessing is included in the blessing he recites upon wearing his Tallis Gadol prior to prayer. However, later on during the day, even a married man must say blessing upon wearing a new pair of Tzitzis, and the same would apply when rewearing his original pair after several hours, or after removing without intent to re-wear within several hours.

Likewise, this applies even if one is not married and originally said a blessing over his Tzitzis in the morning, as the rule is that a new blessing must be repeated whenever a new wearing takes place, even on the same day, and it is hence possible to say a blessing numerous times on the same pair of Tzitzis on the same day, if it was worn and removed and then reworn several times.

Sources: See previous Q&A!