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      Hilchos Tzitzis 17 (page 57)

May a Woman Recite a Beracha on a Mitzvas Aseh Shehazman Gromo? 

Why Women Don't Observe the Mitzva of Tzitzis 

Introducing a Child to the Mitzva

May a woman recite a beracha on a mitzvas aseh shehazman gromo?

As a rule, women are exempt from time-bound  mitzvos - mitzvos aseh shezman gromo . Nevertheless, women have voluntarily accepted upon themselves many of these mitzvos . There is a machlokes as to whether women can recite a beracha when performing these mitzvos . According to the Mechaber, they may not recite the beracha because they cannot say v'tzivanu (He commanded us). The Rama, however, permits them to recite the beracha , holding that since there is such a mitzva (even though only men are obligated in it), women who participate earn reward. (A goy is not permitted to recite v'tzivanu even though he earns reward for performing a mitzva not required of him.)

(???? ? ??"? ?-?; ??????? ??????? ????, 2)

Why women don't observe the mitzva of tzitzis

The mitzva of tzitzis, applicable only during the day and not at night, is a mitzvas aseh shehazman gromo. Women have not 'adopted' this mitzva because even for men the mitzva is not compulsory (chiuvis) but voluntary (kiyumis). There is no Biblical obligation to acquire a garment for tzitzis; rather, someone who wishes to wear a four-cornered garment must insert tzitzis before he is permitted to do so. Accordingly, it is considered presumptuous for a woman to wear tzitzis. Additionally, the common types of talisos (gadol or koton) are considered men's clothing and forbidden for women to wear.

(???? ? ??"? ?; ??????? ??????? ????, 1)

 

Introducing a child to the mitzva 

A father is obligated to introduce his son to the mitzva of tzitzis once the child is able to dress himself. The Rama adds that this means that he knows how to keep two corners in front and two in back, and he is able to hold the tzitzis in his hand as is customary when reciting Shema. There is an opinion that requires one to teach children about tzitzis at the age when they learns to speak. The popular custom is to train boys to wear tzitzis from the time they are three years old. A child's talis should be able to cover his head and the majority of his body.

(???? ? ??"? ?; ??????? ??????? ????, 5-6)


 

 


 

 

 


  • To be required to have tzitzis, a garment must be long enough and wide enough to cover the head and most of the body of a minor. According to the Rama, it must also be large enough that a thirteen-year-old adult would not be ashamed to occasionally wear it in the street or at least in a doorway facing the street.
 
  • The length of 'to cover the head and most of the body' is at least one and a half amos (three quarters of an amah in front and the same amount in back) and ideally should be two amos (one amah in both the front and back). The width should ideally be one amah. The cloth of the shoulder area should ideally be greater than the opening for the neck.
 
  • The phrase 'that an adult sometimes wears' refers to the size of a garment which an adult would not be ashamed to occasionally wear in public- i.e. the assumption in this calculation is that the style of the garment is acceptable and the only variable is the size.
 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The obligation of tzitzis by day and night


  • The obligation of tzitzis on bed linen


  • When to recite the beracha of al mitzvas tzitzis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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