How to Properly Tie Tzitzis

The custom of wearing Tzitzis originated from1) The first thing you should do is separate the
the commandment from Numbers 15:37-41: Thestrands into four groups with three short and one
Lord said to Moses as follows: Speak to thelong in each. Line up strands at one end and push
Israelite people and instruct them to make fortheir tip into the corner slots on your talit. Line up
themselves fringes on the corners of theirseven of the eight strands (the four being
garments throughout the ages; let them attach adoubled over) and leave the extra length of the
cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. Thatshammash hanging to one side.
shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the2) With four strands in one hand and the other
commandments of the Lord and observe them,four in your other hand, make a double knot near
so that you do not follow your heart and eyes inthe edge of the material. In order to fulfill the
your lustful urge. Thus you shall be reminded tomitzvah of tzitzis, you must say "l'shem mitzvat
observe all My commandments and to be holy totzitzi" each time you tie a knot.
your God. I the Lord am your God, who brought3) Next you take the shammash and wind it
you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I,around the seven strands in a spiral for seven
the Lord your God.turns.
Utimately, Tzitizis are worn to remember God, his4) You then want to make a double knot and
infinite love, and all of his commandments. Therespiral the shammash eight times around. Now you
is a ritual to tying tzitizis that is very important. Ifspiral the shammash eleven times around, and
interested in learning how to tie your own tzitizis,double knot. Last, you are going to spiral the
be sure to follow this helpful guide. Before you tieshammash around thirteen times and double knot
your tzitzis to your talit, it is a good idea tofor the last time.
practice on twine or heavy string, by tying it on aThe symbolism for the numbers is central to the
door knob or chair leg so you can get the properoverarching symbolism of the talit. In gematria,
technique down.tzitzit means six hundred. In addition, there are
Although it is possible to spin and devise your ownright strands plus five knots. The total is six
tzitzis strands, it is recommended to buy a tzitizihundred and thirteen which according to tradition,
pack which is available at most Hebrewis the exact number of commandments in the
bookstores. In a pack there are typically sixteenTorah. So just to look at your Tzitzis is to
strands, four long and twelve short.remember all the mitzvot.