Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email - 28 Adar II/March 31

To what extent do the sides of a tallis koton have to be open?

A garment that resembles a modern-day tallis koton but is sewn together on both sides is only required to have tzitzis if most of each side is left open. Otherwise, it is exempt. An opening for the arms does not count towards the majority of open space; in fact, it is counted as part of the area that is sewn together. If, for example, the opening for the arms measures fifteen inches and the area that is sewn together measures twenty inches, there must be more than thirty-five inches of open sides for the garment to require tzitzis. If the open and closed areas are equal in length, tzitzis should be added but a brocha is not recited.

[שו"ע י, ז, ומשנ"ב כה; וראה ביה"ל ד"ה רובו פתוח]

Can buttons close the side of a garment?

A garment with two sides that are buttoned or clasped together and can be easily opened is not considered to be closed along the sides and is still obligated in tzitzis. Similarly, if a person wears a tight belt that brings the two sides of a garment together, he still must affix tzitzis to it. If the two sides were clasped together and the clasp was bent into the holder (rendering it difficult to open), however, the sides are considered connected and the garment is exempt from tzitzis. A person who wears a buttoned or clasped tallis koton over his clothing should make sure that most of the sides are clearly open so that people will not mistakenly assume that his garment is exempt from tzitzis.

[שו"ע י, ח, משנ"ב כט, וביה"ל ד"ה רובו, וד"ה משום; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 21]

When is wearing tzitzis considered carrying on Shabbos?

On Shabbos, it is forbidden to walk in a public area (without an eiruv) wearing a garment which has objects connected to it that do not serve any purpose. Therefore, it is forbidden to wear a garment with tzitzis if the garment is exempt from the requirement. (Garments which are obligated to have tzitzis may be worn, since the tzitzis serve the garment.) Shulchon Aruch rules that a garment which is only possibly required to have tzitzis should not be worn outside on Shabbos. Since it may be exempt, it is possible that the tzitzis do not serve any purpose. Other Achronim question this ruling. They say that due to the uncertainty, the only way to wear the garment is by affixing tzitzis to it. Some Achronim limit the Shulchon Aruch’s ruling to cases in which a person plans to alter the garment in a way that will make it clearly obligated to have tzitzis. Since he plans to fix it, the tzitzis on the unaltered garment are purposeless.

[שו"ע י, ז, ומשנ"ב כז (עם הרחבה); ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 20]

If the entire edge of a garment is folded and sewn down, tzitzis should be affixed on the newly formed corners and not in their original spots.

Although Rema maintains that they should be attached on the newly formed corners, he concedes that a brocha should not be made on such a tallis. Some Achronim understand the Rema’s position to be that tzitzis should be affixed on both the former and present corners.

If one adds tzitzis strings to a garment which already has sufficient tzitzis with the intention of adding to the mitzvah, he transgresses the prohibition of bal tosif (adding to a mitzvah). The tallis is not kosher until the extra strings are removed.

Is a four-cornered apron required to have tzitzis?

Does one fulfill the mitzvah by wearing a garment that he does not enjoy?

Should the corners of shirts be rounded off?

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.