סימן יט - זמן ברכת ציצית ובו ג' סעיפים

Recording: Seifim 1–3

1. One is obligated to attach tzitzis only to a tallis he wishes to wear, as it says: "אשר תכסה בה" ("With which you cover yourself") (Devarim 22:12).

If he does not wish to wear it, he is not obligated to attach tzitzis to it.

Therefore one who makes tzitzis on a tallis he wishes to wear should not recite any blessing at the time of making them, because the mitzvah is completed not when they are made, but when the tallis is worn^[1].

2. If he made a tallis for shrouds^[2], although he sometimes wears it in his lifetime, he need not attach tzitzis to it,

since it is made primarily to cover him at a time when he is exempt from tzitzis, and it is like a garment set aside for night, which is exempt from tzitzis even if worn by day.

According to those who say tzitzis must be attached to a night garment if worn by day, the same applies here: he must attach tzitzis to it if he wears it in his lifetime.

Since it has not been clarified according to whom the law follows, he should attach tzitzis to it but not recite a blessing over it.

3. Clothing sellers may put on a tallis without tzitzis, since they do not intend the benefit of wearing it, but to show buyers the size of the tallis^[3].

But it is forbidden to put on a tallis without tzitzis to get it past the toll, since no toll is taken on clothes being worn^[4],

for he benefits from this wearing, and intends it so that no toll is taken from him.

Notes

1. When the tallis is worn: Making the tzitzis only prepares for the mitzvah, which is fulfilled in wearing, so the blessing is said at the wearing and not before. See also Kuntres Acharon to Siman 22 on a blessing when making tzitzis.

2. For shrouds: "ומודה שמואל בזקן שעשאה לכבודו שפטורה, מ"ט? אשר תכסה בה אמר רחמנא, האי לאו לאיכסויי עבידא" ("Shmuel agrees regarding an old man who made it for his honor that it is exempt. What is the reason? The Torah said 'with which you cover yourself,' and this is not made for covering") (Menachos 41a). Rashi explains: "לכבודו – לתכריכין" ("For his honor: for shrouds"). See also below, Siman 23, note 4.

3. The size of the tallis: In the Gemara, regarding kilayim: "מוכרי כסות, מוכרין כדרכן" ("Clothing sellers may sell in their usual way"), and Rashi explains: "מעוטפין בכסות כלאים. דאין מתכוין להנאת לבישה" ("Wrapped in a garment of kilayim, for he does not intend the benefit of wearing it") (Pesachim 26b).

4. Clothes being worn: In the Mishnah, regarding kilayim: "ולא ילבש כלאים אפילו על גבי עשרה, אפילו לגנוב את המכס" ("One may not wear kilayim even on top of ten garments, even to evade the toll") (Kilayim 9:2), and the commentary there says: "לפי שאין אדם נותן מכס מבגדים שהוא לובש" ("For one does not pay a toll on clothes he is wearing").