Parshat Shemot
December 27, 2002

Vayomer – Tzitzit II

Although the Torah was given for all generations, not every generation merits to fulfill all six hundred and thirteen mitzvoth of the Torah. Unfortunately the Temple – Beit Hamikdash has not yet been rebuilt (may it be rebuilt soon); consequently sacrifice offerings are not a part of our national daily ritual. We do not have a Red Heifer – Parah Adumah to help purify our impurities, nor do we bring our First Fruits – Bikurim each year to Jerusalem. There is a lot for us to look forward to in the Messianic era.

Another Mitzvah that the majority of the Jewish people do not fulfill the way our ancestors did is the Mitzvah of Tzitzit “….al kanfei bigdeyhem ledorotom venatnu al tzitzit hakanaf petil techaylet” – Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to place Tzitzit on the corners of their garments for all generations. “And they shall place within the Tzitzit two strands of Techaylet” – blue dye which is derived from the blood of a fishlike creature called the Chilazon. Most of the Tzitzit that are sold today in the bookstores are without Techaylet. Although in recent years excellent research has been done and there are many fine Jews who do wear Techaylet, it has not been embraced by the masses (an explanation of Techaylet, its history, its proponents and opponents is beyond the scope of this column).

The Talmud Sotah 17a explains that “the blue Techaylet is the color of the sea which is similar to the blue sky which reminds us of G-d’s heavenly throne”. Rav Schwab zt”l explains that the white strands of Tzitzit represent the negative commandments of the Torah which keep us pure; and the blue strands represent the positive commandments of the Torah. It is interesting to note that the colors blue and white have been Jewish colors thousands of years before the Israeli flag was in existence. The word ledorotom – for all generations, teaches that even when the Techaylet is unavailable, the Mitzvah of Tzitzit with just white strands is maintained. The Mitzvah of Tzitzit provides Jewish men the opportunity to wrap themselves in G-dliness both during prayer donning a large Tallit as well as the rest of the day with a Tallit kattan – small Tallit.

Rav Hirsch zt”l points out from the first verse in Parshat Tzitzit the intense devotion the Jewish people to fulfill the mitzvah of Tzitzit. “Daber el benai Yisrael veamarta aleyham veasu lahem Tzitzit” – Speak to the children of Israel and tell them about it and they will make for themselves Tzitzit. Rav Hirsch explains that the Torah does not instruct Jews to make Tzitzit, it just informs of the Mitzvah. And because of the love, devotion, and dedication to G-d and his Torah veasu lahem - Jews go ahead on their own and fulfill the Mitzvah. It is very easy to avoid this mitzvah completely by simply not wearing a four cornered garment. That is not the Torah/Jewish way.

May we all merit to perform all the Mitzvoth available to us today as well as soon be able to fulfill the entire Torah in all of its grandeur.

Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Ephraim Epstein

*Helpful Hint* Jot down some of the interpretations you learn into the margins of your personal siddur. This will enable you to access and utilize these and other Tefilla tips more easily.