Pisqa’ 234156H:243; JN2:149-150 1 “Tassels157Heb: gedilim.shall you make for yourself” (Dt.22:12). Why must this be stated? Because it is also stated: “They shall make for themselves fringes”158Heb: tzitzit.(Nu,15:38). Now, do I understand from this that a person should prepare one thread159Heb: khut. The distinctions between a khut, tzitzit, and gedilim are unclear.on its own? The Teaching states: “Tassels” (Dt.22:12)— [Thus, more than one must be made].
So how many tassels should be made? No fewer than three threads [per tassel]: According to the words of the circle of Hillel. The circle of Shammai, however, say: At least four threads of azure160Heb: techeilet, a dye extracted from a type of snail (khilazon). and four threads of white— also, they should each be four fingers long.
And the customary practice [concerning length] conforms to the words of the circle of Shammai. Now, under what circumstances? When [the tassel] is first made. But its remnants and shreds are suitable at any length.
“On the four corners” (Dt.22:12)— This excludes from the rule garments of three, five, six, seven, or eight corners.161//Sifre Nu.,115. Another word: “Tassels shall you make for yourself” (Dt.22:12)— This refers to those of white. How do I know that it includes as well those of azure? The Teaching states: “And tie, in addition to the fringed corner, a strand of azure” (Nu.15:38).
2. “You shall make” (Dt.22:12)— but not from a ready-made article. So that you won’t [be tempted to] extract loose-threads from a cloak and make them [into tassels]. “On the four corners” (Dt.22:12)— but not on eight of them! “Of your garment” (Dt.22:12)— this excludes from the rule: A toga, a tebenna, a fivlaterion, a nerbixa, a birrus, and a Burdisian cloak, none of which is square.162A similar listing of types of shawls appears in the parallel at M. Kil. 9:6. For details,of these and other garments listed in Pisqa’ 234, see H: 243 and p. 471, Pisqa’ 234, ns. 3-10. 3. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: How do I know that tassels are not placed In the middle of a garment, but on the hem? The Teaching states: “On the four corners” (Dt.22:12).
“Of your garment” (Dt.11:12)— with the exception of a pillow-case. “Of your garment”— with the exception of a linen sheet. “With which you cover yourself” (22:12)— with the exception of a soldier’s blanket.
(דברים כב יב) גְּדִלִים תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טו לח) ״וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִית״, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי: יַעֲשֶׂה חוּט אֶחָד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: גְּדִלִים.
Pisqa’ 234156H:243; JN2:149-150
1
“Tassels157Heb: gedilim. shall you make for yourself” (Dt.22:12).
Why must this be stated?
Because it is also stated:
“They shall make for themselves fringes”158Heb: tzitzit. (Nu,15:38).
Now, do I understand from this that
a person should prepare one thread159Heb: khut. The distinctions between a khut, tzitzit, and gedilim are unclear. on its own?
The Teaching states:
“Tassels” (Dt.22:12)—
[Thus, more than one must be made].
כַּמָּה גְדִלִים נַעֲשִׂים? אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה חוּטִים, כְּדִבְרֵי בֵית הִלֵּל. בֵּית שַׁמַּיי אוֹמְרִים: מֵאַרְבָּעָה חוּטִים שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְבָּעָה חוּטִים שֶׁל לָבָן, שֶׁל אַרְבַּע אַרְבַּע אֶצְבָּעוֹת.
So how many tassels should be made?
No fewer than three threads [per tassel]:
According to the words of the circle of Hillel.
The circle of Shammai, however, say:
At least four threads of azure160Heb: techeilet, a dye extracted from a type of snail (khilazon).
and four threads of white—
also, they should each be four fingers long.
וַהֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּיי. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בַּתְּחִלָּה; אֲבָל בִּשְׁיָרֶיהָ וּבְגַרְדוּמֶּיהָ – כָּל שֶׁהוּא.
And the customary practice [concerning length]
conforms to the words of the circle of Shammai.
Now, under what circumstances?
When [the tassel] is first made.
But its remnants and shreds are
suitable at any length.
עַל אַרְבַּע – יָצְאוּ בַּעֲלֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה וּבַעֲלֵי חָמֵשׁ וּבַעַל שֵׁשׁ וּבַעַל שֶׁבַע וּבַעֲלֵי שְׁמוֹנֶה. דָּבָר אַחֵר: גְּדִלִים תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ – זֶה לָבָן. מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַתְּכֵלֶת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (במדבר טו לח): ״וְנָתְנוּ עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת״.
“On the four corners” (Dt.22:12)—
This excludes from the rule
garments of three, five, six, seven, or eight corners.161//Sifre Nu.,115.
Another word:
“Tassels shall you make for yourself” (Dt.22:12)—
This refers to those of white.
How do I know that
it includes as well those of azure?
The Teaching states:
“And tie, in addition to the fringed corner, a strand of azure” (Nu.15:38).
תַּעֲשֶׂה – וְלֹא מִן הֶעָשׂוּי, שֶׁלֹּא יוֹצִיא נִימִים מִן הַטַּלִּית וְיַעֲשֶׂה. עַל אַרְבַּע – וְלֹא עַל שְׁמוֹנֶה. כְּסוּתְךָ – פְּרָט לְטָגָא, וּלְתוֹבְלָא, וּלְתִיבְלָטִירִים, לְתַקְרָקִים לְבוּרְסִים לְבוּרְדְּסִים, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָם מְרֻבָּעִים. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יִתֵּן עַל אֶמְצַע בֶּגֶד, אֶלָּא עַל שְׂפָתוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: עַל אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת.
2. “You shall make” (Dt.22:12)—
but not from a ready-made article.
So that you won’t [be tempted to] extract
loose-threads from a cloak and
make them [into tassels].
“On the four corners” (Dt.22:12)—
but not on eight of them!
“Of your garment” (Dt.22:12)—
this excludes from the rule:
A toga, a tebenna, a fivlaterion, a nerbixa,
a birrus, and a Burdisian cloak,
none of which is square.162A similar listing of types of shawls appears in the parallel at M. Kil. 9:6. For details,of these and other garments listed in Pisqa’ 234, see H: 243 and p. 471, Pisqa’ 234, ns. 3-10.
3. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:
How do I know that tassels are not placed
In the middle of a garment, but on the hem?
The Teaching states:
“On the four corners” (Dt.22:12).
כְּסוּתְךָ – פְּרָט לְכַר; כְּסוּתְךָ – פְּרָט לְסָדִין. תְּכַסֶּה – פְּרָט לְסָגוֹס.
“Of your garment” (Dt.11:12)—
with the exception of a pillow-case.
“Of your garment”—
with the exception of a linen sheet.
“With which you cover yourself” (22:12)—
with the exception of a soldier’s blanket.
בָּהּ – פְּרָט לְמַעֲפוֹרֶת שֶׁלֹּא תְכַסֶּה רֹאשׁוֹ וְרוּבּוֹ.
“With which you cover yourself” (22:12)—
with the exception of a smock,
which doesn’t cover the head and most of the body.