Tzitzis (ציצית) — Strings

Core definition

Tzitzis — the knotted strings attached to the four corners of a four-cornered garment (the tallis) — is the mitzvah of seeing: "V'hayah lachem l'tzitzis, u're'isem oso, u'zechartem es kol mitzvos Hashem, va'asisem osam, v'lo sasuru acharei levavchem v'acharei eineichem" (Bamidbar 15:39). Through seeing the tzitzis, one does not stray after his heart and after his eyes — the eye and the heart being the two brokers of sin, so that "the beginning of sur me'ra is conquering the power of sight" [31682/maamar_027 :: Intro]. In essence, tzitzis carries both levels — memale and sovev: in essence the supernal will, the level of sovev; and tzitzis, whose purpose is a garment, is the level of ohr makif (encompassing light) [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 49–59].

How the Rebbeim develop it

A garment of makif light. Tzitzis's purpose is a garment — the mitzvos are garments (the Zohar: mitzvos become garments for the neshamah in Gan Eden), the supernal will as ohr makif [31682/maamar_027 :: Summary]. "Va'yikacheini b'tzitzis roshi" (Yechezkel 8:3) — the grasping is by the tzitzis of the head [31682/maamar_027 :: Summary].

The 32 threads. The tzitzis' 32 threads (ל״ב חוטין) are "the 32 netivos chochmah — the 32 paths of wisdom" [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 212, 50]. On each corner are eight threads — against the four letters of Havayah and the four letters of Ad-nai: to be in the inner level through the four letters of Ad-nai — "va'Havayah b'heichal kodsho" (and Havayah is in His holy palace) [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 215–216].

Looking as makif. Tzitzis is also looking — from the language of "meitzitz min ha'charakim" (peering through the cracks): and looking is ohr makif. Hence the dictum "ein tzitzis ela l'chavein" (tzitzis is only for directing the heart — yotze, "going out"): that it goes out from sovev kol almin to shine in memale kol almin — "which is the main intention: that the ohr makif shine revealed in the level of ohr pnimi" [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 222–226]. The order of the drawing-down: first the makif is drawn, from it the ohr makif, and afterwards the makif is drawn in the pnimi [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 228].

Threads separate from the tallis. The mitzvah requires that "the threads be separate from the tallis, and they tie them to the tallis — and if the threads were drawn from the tallis itself, they would be invalid, for this is not tzitzis" [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 241]. The tallis is the garment itself (ohr makif rooted above); the tzitzis are the drawn-down threads — the makif's shining into the pnimi — tied on afterward.

Key distinctions

• Tallis vs. tzitzis: the tallis is the garment — ohr makif in essence; the tzitzis are the threads — the makif's shining in the pnimi, "going out from sovev to shine in memale" [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 49–59, 226].
• Seeing vs. straying: seeing the tzitzis is the positive guard; the eye and heart are "the two brokers of sin" — the avodah begins with conquering sight [31682/maamar_027 :: Intro].
• 32 threads: the 32 netivos chochmah — the general drawing of wisdom as makif [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 212].
• Separate yet tied: the threads must be separate from the tallis (else invalid) yet tied to it — the makif remains above yet is bound to the pnimi [31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 241].

Related concepts

• Tallis — the garment; ohr makif.
• Sovev kol almin / memale kol almin — the encompassing vs. the filling light; tzitzis draws the former into the latter.
• Netivos chochmah — the 32 paths of wisdom, drawn in the 32 threads.
• Re'iyah (seeing) — sight as the soul's first guard.

Sources

• 31682/maamar_027 :: Intro — Bamidbar 15:39; seeing the tzitzis holds back straying after heart and eyes; the two brokers of sin
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 49–59 — tzitzis contains memale and sovev; in essence the supernal will (sovev); the 32 netivos chochmah; tzitzis as garment = ohr makif
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 212 — the 32 threads = the 32 netivos chochmah
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 215–216 — eight threads per corner: against the four letters of Havayah and the four letters of Ad-nai; "va'Havayah b'heichal kodsho"
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 222–226 — tzitzis = looking ("meitzitz min ha'charakim"); looking = ohr makif; "ein tzitzis ela l'chavein": from sovev to memale; the main intention: the ohr makif shining revealed in the ohr pnimi
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 228 — the order: first the makif drawn, from it the ohr makif, afterward the makif in the pnimi
• 31682/maamar_027 :: עב׳ 241 — threads must be separate from the tallis and tied to it; drawn from the tallis itself is invalid