Split tzitzis

[e***@cox.net]

B"H

The end on one of the strings of my tzitzis have split apart. Could I
tie the to ends back together or are the tzitzis no longer kosher?

Shavua Tov,
Evan Davis

[Chano]

Post by e***@cox.net
B"H
The end on one of the strings of my tzitzis have split apart. Could I
tie the to ends back together or are the tzitzis no longer kosher?

By split I presume you mean "unravelled". If that is the case and the
unraveling is only about a half an inch you can snip off the unravelled part
at the bottom up until the string becomes one thread. It is perfectly
kosher. If the majority of the string has unravelled so that it looks as
though you have 9 tzitzis instead of 8 on that corner you should replace the
threads. Although technically tzitzis are kosher even if there ore only 7
strings (say one snapped off completely) it is better to fulfil the Mitzvah
as the Almighty wants it done.

Chano

Post by e***@cox.net
Shavua Tov,
Evan Davis

[Fiona]

Post by Chano

Post by e***@cox.net
B"H
The end on one of the strings of my tzitzis have split apart. Could I
tie the to ends back together or are the tzitzis no longer kosher?

By split I presume you mean "unravelled". If that is the case and the
unraveling is only about a half an inch you can snip off the unravelled part
at the bottom up until the string becomes one thread. It is perfectly
kosher.

I've seen a lot of guys tie little knots in the end of their tzitzit to stop
this unravelling, but whether this is just a Sephardi minhag or what I don't
know. Any reason Evan can't do that after snipping off his "split ends"?


Fiona

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 10:19:56 +0000 (UTC), Fiona <***@intxtdoc.nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:
: I've seen a lot of guys tie little knots in the end of their tzitzit to stop
: this unravelling, but whether this is just a Sephardi minhag or what I don't
: know. Any reason Evan can't do that after snipping off his "split ends"?

The Shulchan Arukh recommends it. And there is no reason why Evan can't
do that.

-mi

[e***@cox.net]

Thank you very much for the input, it's only like 1/2 inch split
(unraveled or un-twirled would be a much better description) so I think
I'll try tying it because I'd hate to cut tzitzis. Thanks again.

Evan Davis

[a***@wynn.com]

Post by e***@cox.net
Thank you very much for the input, it's only like 1/2 inch split
(unraveled or un-twirled would be a much better description) so I think
I'll try tying it because I'd hate to cut tzitzis. Thanks again.
Evan Davis

Try dabbing a bit of craft glue (usually waterproof) of fray check to
keep from unraveling again.

Devorah at Ari's Judaica
www.judaicatreasures.com

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 22:15:30 +0000 (UTC), ***@cox.net wrote:
: Thank you very much for the input, it's only like 1/2 inch split
: (unraveled or un-twirled would be a much better description) so I think
: I'll try tying it because I'd hate to cut tzitzis. Thanks again.

Another solution: clear nail polish. I've never tried it myself,
but according to the Tekhelet people, it's not only allowed, it's not
considered playing with the mandatory formula for the dye.

-mi

[Nick]

Post by Micha Berger
: Thank you very much for the input, it's only like 1/2 inch split
: (unraveled or un-twirled would be a much better description) so I think
: I'll try tying it because I'd hate to cut tzitzis. Thanks again.
Another solution: clear nail polish. I've never tried it myself,
but according to the Tekhelet people, it's not only allowed, it's not
considered playing with the mandatory formula for the dye.
-mi

I was in the Scouts and so know a little about knots. These days rope is
made from nylon and to stopped rope from fraying, I think a match is put to
the end of the rope. The nylon melts and fuses.

I am not suggesting this be done to tzitzit, but I imagine that nail polish
would have the same effect.

Having looked at the Scouts of Canada website I recall that winded string
round the end of a rope to stop it from fraying is called whipping.
http://www.scoutscan.com/history/t2qs-b.pdf#xml=http://scoutscan.master.com/texis/master/search/mysite.txt?q=whipping&order=r&id=0809784b6475286c&cmd=xml
(look at p14)

This reference seems to be to Scouting for Boys! I never thought that my
time in the Scouts would have any relevance to fraying of tzitzit.

Also see http://www.42brghtn.mistral.co.uk/42htknot.html 42nd Brighton Scout
Group

See also http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/armytm/tm5-682/chap4.pdf

"(i) The ends of all ropes should be prevented from fraying by first
whipping and serving and then melting."

Nick