What to do with long uneven zitzit?












2














I see many zitzit nicely ending at the same length.



But when I tie my own zitzit, the strings often end up at very uneven lengths.



Am I allowed to cut them to make them even? If not how can I get them even in the first place?










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  • possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
    – Double AA
    1 hour ago


















2














I see many zitzit nicely ending at the same length.



But when I tie my own zitzit, the strings often end up at very uneven lengths.



Am I allowed to cut them to make them even? If not how can I get them even in the first place?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




















  • possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
    – Double AA
    1 hour ago
















2












2








2


2





I see many zitzit nicely ending at the same length.



But when I tie my own zitzit, the strings often end up at very uneven lengths.



Am I allowed to cut them to make them even? If not how can I get them even in the first place?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I see many zitzit nicely ending at the same length.



But when I tie my own zitzit, the strings often end up at very uneven lengths.



Am I allowed to cut them to make them even? If not how can I get them even in the first place?







halacha tzitzis






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Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 1 hour ago









mbloch

22.1k441103




22.1k441103






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asked 1 hour ago









Issy Forst

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234




New contributor




Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Issy Forst is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
    – Double AA
    1 hour ago




















  • possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
    – Double AA
    1 hour ago


















possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
– Double AA
1 hour ago






possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/q/9556/759
– Double AA
1 hour ago












1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














aish.com answers it is permitted although ideally not with a metal tool




There is actually a custom not to cut tzitzit strings with metal.
There is a very interesting basis for this. The Torah states regarding
an altar that it must be made out of whole stones – ones which iron
was never “waved on” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6). The reason, as the Talmud
explains, is because iron is used to shorten the life of man (through
war), while an altar lengthens the life of man – by granting him
atonement before God (Mishna Middot 3:4).



Based on this, we do not use metal to cut tzitzit strings, since
fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit may also potentially lengthen a
person’s life.



On top of this, there are Kabbalistic reasons that the tzitzit should
only be cut with one’s teeth. Thus, ideally, you should shorten them
by biting off the ends. If this is difficult, however, it’s fine to
cut them via other methods – such as burning the ends or cutting them
with any non-metallic instrument, such as a ceramic knife.



(Note that however they’re cut, they should not be shortened down
beneath the required length – preferably about 11.5 inches).



(Sources: Rema to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 11:4, Magen Avraham 18 with
Machatzis HaShekel, Ta’amei HaMinhagim 19, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24,
Kaf HaChaim 11:17, Mishna Berurah 11:61.)




See also further sources on this related MY question: Cutting tzitzis strings as well as here






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
    – Issy Forst
    59 mins ago



















1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4














aish.com answers it is permitted although ideally not with a metal tool




There is actually a custom not to cut tzitzit strings with metal.
There is a very interesting basis for this. The Torah states regarding
an altar that it must be made out of whole stones – ones which iron
was never “waved on” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6). The reason, as the Talmud
explains, is because iron is used to shorten the life of man (through
war), while an altar lengthens the life of man – by granting him
atonement before God (Mishna Middot 3:4).



Based on this, we do not use metal to cut tzitzit strings, since
fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit may also potentially lengthen a
person’s life.



On top of this, there are Kabbalistic reasons that the tzitzit should
only be cut with one’s teeth. Thus, ideally, you should shorten them
by biting off the ends. If this is difficult, however, it’s fine to
cut them via other methods – such as burning the ends or cutting them
with any non-metallic instrument, such as a ceramic knife.



(Note that however they’re cut, they should not be shortened down
beneath the required length – preferably about 11.5 inches).



(Sources: Rema to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 11:4, Magen Avraham 18 with
Machatzis HaShekel, Ta’amei HaMinhagim 19, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24,
Kaf HaChaim 11:17, Mishna Berurah 11:61.)




See also further sources on this related MY question: Cutting tzitzis strings as well as here






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
    – Issy Forst
    59 mins ago
















4














aish.com answers it is permitted although ideally not with a metal tool




There is actually a custom not to cut tzitzit strings with metal.
There is a very interesting basis for this. The Torah states regarding
an altar that it must be made out of whole stones – ones which iron
was never “waved on” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6). The reason, as the Talmud
explains, is because iron is used to shorten the life of man (through
war), while an altar lengthens the life of man – by granting him
atonement before God (Mishna Middot 3:4).



Based on this, we do not use metal to cut tzitzit strings, since
fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit may also potentially lengthen a
person’s life.



On top of this, there are Kabbalistic reasons that the tzitzit should
only be cut with one’s teeth. Thus, ideally, you should shorten them
by biting off the ends. If this is difficult, however, it’s fine to
cut them via other methods – such as burning the ends or cutting them
with any non-metallic instrument, such as a ceramic knife.



(Note that however they’re cut, they should not be shortened down
beneath the required length – preferably about 11.5 inches).



(Sources: Rema to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 11:4, Magen Avraham 18 with
Machatzis HaShekel, Ta’amei HaMinhagim 19, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24,
Kaf HaChaim 11:17, Mishna Berurah 11:61.)




See also further sources on this related MY question: Cutting tzitzis strings as well as here






share|improve this answer

















  • 2




    Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
    – Issy Forst
    59 mins ago














4












4








4






aish.com answers it is permitted although ideally not with a metal tool




There is actually a custom not to cut tzitzit strings with metal.
There is a very interesting basis for this. The Torah states regarding
an altar that it must be made out of whole stones – ones which iron
was never “waved on” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6). The reason, as the Talmud
explains, is because iron is used to shorten the life of man (through
war), while an altar lengthens the life of man – by granting him
atonement before God (Mishna Middot 3:4).



Based on this, we do not use metal to cut tzitzit strings, since
fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit may also potentially lengthen a
person’s life.



On top of this, there are Kabbalistic reasons that the tzitzit should
only be cut with one’s teeth. Thus, ideally, you should shorten them
by biting off the ends. If this is difficult, however, it’s fine to
cut them via other methods – such as burning the ends or cutting them
with any non-metallic instrument, such as a ceramic knife.



(Note that however they’re cut, they should not be shortened down
beneath the required length – preferably about 11.5 inches).



(Sources: Rema to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 11:4, Magen Avraham 18 with
Machatzis HaShekel, Ta’amei HaMinhagim 19, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24,
Kaf HaChaim 11:17, Mishna Berurah 11:61.)




See also further sources on this related MY question: Cutting tzitzis strings as well as here






share|improve this answer












aish.com answers it is permitted although ideally not with a metal tool




There is actually a custom not to cut tzitzit strings with metal.
There is a very interesting basis for this. The Torah states regarding
an altar that it must be made out of whole stones – ones which iron
was never “waved on” (Deuteronomy 27:5-6). The reason, as the Talmud
explains, is because iron is used to shorten the life of man (through
war), while an altar lengthens the life of man – by granting him
atonement before God (Mishna Middot 3:4).



Based on this, we do not use metal to cut tzitzit strings, since
fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit may also potentially lengthen a
person’s life.



On top of this, there are Kabbalistic reasons that the tzitzit should
only be cut with one’s teeth. Thus, ideally, you should shorten them
by biting off the ends. If this is difficult, however, it’s fine to
cut them via other methods – such as burning the ends or cutting them
with any non-metallic instrument, such as a ceramic knife.



(Note that however they’re cut, they should not be shortened down
beneath the required length – preferably about 11.5 inches).



(Sources: Rema to Shulchan Aruch O.C. 11:4, Magen Avraham 18 with
Machatzis HaShekel, Ta’amei HaMinhagim 19, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 11:24,
Kaf HaChaim 11:17, Mishna Berurah 11:61.)




See also further sources on this related MY question: Cutting tzitzis strings as well as here







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









mbloch

22.1k441103




22.1k441103








  • 2




    Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
    – Issy Forst
    59 mins ago














  • 2




    Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
    – Issy Forst
    59 mins ago








2




2




Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
– Issy Forst
59 mins ago




Thanks you Mr Bloch for nice clear response
– Issy Forst
59 mins ago



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