VAYOMER... With the third passage of the SH'MA coming from this week's sedra, let's take a closer look at it. Five p'sukim from the end of Sh'lach (Bamidbar 15:37-41), it contains the mitzva of TZITZIT (with its partner mitzva - the P'til T'cheilet, the blue thread), the prohibition of following the evil tempations of our eyes (minds) and hearts (thoughts and emotions), and our (twice) daily fulfillment of the command to remember the Exodus all the days of our lives. One should have this mitzva in mind for the final pasuk. Although it is a common practice, one should not kiss his tzitzit (at least the first two of three times) when saying the word TZITZIT, since it breaks up the correct phrasing in the pasuk. (Save the kiss for the end of the passage.) It is a good practice to clearly voice the Z sound in UZ-CHAR-TEM and in TIZ-K'RU, since not doing so results in different words and meanings. [The Parshat Sh'lach Homepage]
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