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Why I wear my tzitzis out

Children_tzitzitJust like anyone who wears their tzitzis out I get comments about it.

“Oh your so frum” or “your not so frum, why do wear them out?”

But my friends, it really has nothing to do with that, the only reason I wear my tzitzis out is because I hate tucking things in, I rarely tuck my shirt in – when I do I tuck my tzitzis in along with it.

The real reason I wear my tzitzis out is because I hate when they dangle and tickle my legs.

Letters to the Editor 29 letters since 2009

  1. Some Sephardic people tend to tuck them in. I was told that’s because Maimonides said one should not wear them out when visiting a cemetery as it would be offensive to the dead (ha-ha, we can do mitzvot and you can’t because you’re de-ad!). So it’s thought to be tzniut to wear them in in order not to out-frum anyone (or perhaps it’s because these days you can’t always tell if people are dead or alive, f.ex. in the subway). Not the most practical thing re. zippers.

  2. I would think a man would wear tzitzit out because it is a visible self-reminder of the mitzvot, and could also be because of pride in being Jewish.
    But perhaps the latter is the opposite of what we are supposed to be, which is more humble than proud.

  3. Lady-Light, the commandment is “and you shall see them” however the latter is also a reason why people don’t. Both make good cases, which is why I go with that whatever happens happens school of thought.

  4. So true! I hate them dangling down my legs and getting them out when saying the shema was such a pain in the @rse. And the zipper thing – you never want to mess with the zipper!

  5. unrelated but i have developed a serious internet porn addiction over the last 10 years. it all started in yeshiva when i had nothing else to do. does anyone have any suggestions. its ruining my life. i’ve lost every single job i ever had. it broke every relationship i ever had. right about now im thinking of suicide as the only way out.

      1. I think many people might pay to avoid having to see those. Maybe start a bidding war? Have people pay to have pictures put up or not? Whichever side ends up bidding the most wins? You could even have the money go to a tzedakah if you were feeling particularly generous.

    1. if this is a serious post check out http://www.calmkallahs.com/bb/ it is a site where frum people can discuss such things openly, i think you should seek an understanding Rov and professional help, don’t contemplate suicide it’s not worth it, and remember Hashem is with us in all matzovim.

    2. hey, go to Guardyoureyes.com
      also get a chat account on askmoses, its free
      i had this problem, im only a teen and 2 years later now becoming shomer habris, kicked the habit- as for now
      its great, if you need help please contact me. If you could experience the feeling of breaking free it is so so great, and you can also be open to rabbis about it, prefrebally Chabad. You will be fine.

  6. heshy,
    i think in the kabbalah from the arizal, it says that one should wear them out. not exactly sure where i learned it, but i know its from the arizal. that is also why most chassidim where the tzitzis over there shirts.

  7. I’ve written about this a few times at my blog. I wear mine out because I can’t imagine how they can do their job otherwise. I can’t see them and be reminded if they’re hidden. I also love making other liberal Jews in the communities I hang out–where my tzitzit always make me the Yid out–do double-takes and I like answering their questions, making them reconsider something they’ve dismissed as “too ortho.”

  8. I prefer when guys where them out. It’s hot. I have spoken to several girlfriends who agree with me.

    So, just keep that in mind in your decision making 🙂

  9. I heard a story about a yeshiva boy who wore it outside in one of those places that discouraged it. The boy insisted it is a very important mitvah. The Rabbi replied, “bris millah is more important!” (rim shot)

  10. 30 years ago, only the real frummies wore their tzitzis out, and many times, put it into their pockets. Nowdays, anyone with a yammy seems to “let it all hang out” or maybe it’s my imagination. Also, it seems that the more modern you look, the more likely your tzitzis and your shirt will be untucked.

  11. i used to let them hang out in totallity when i a little younger, but now i just do a partial out. i tuck half of them in and let them come up and over my belt and down my pants maybe 6-8 inches, that way they are easily seen but don’t go down to my knees and get caught on everything in the world…

  12. Hesh, you can un-sew the corners of the tzitzit to create a pocket. then just stuff the tzitzit into its corners and keep the whole think tucked in.

  13. Gemara in Menachot says that the strings of the “anaf”, the free-hanging portion have a minimum shiur of “long enough to wrap around the other seven three times.”

    But then the Gemara has a special heter for someone who would be able to wrap three times if their strings weren’t thicker than usual.

    Why? Because, says the Gemara, the point is to publicize the mitzva.

    Also, Mishna Berura says to untuck.

    I tuck in my back strings when I bike, because otherwise the wheel messes them up.

  14. That was a good one. I thought this was some clever rouse to try and SELL me one. I am not trying to imply that you are making fun of the Torah, Tanakh, and…The Garmara. We’ve all seen what happens to people who do that. Why? Its like some, “who gives a…” kind of way, thinking that its going to be just perfect. Time is spaced out that way to cultivate free will. Or, Free Will, rather. After some time, it catches up and intensifies, and it becomes obvious that all creation comes from one source, and one source only. That is Hashem.

    I even feel that Hashem is too sacred. We should give that the same respect as we do Adonai. I shouldn’t have said that last one. That makes doing mitzvot of the utmost importance. And if the mitzvot are not treated this way…what happens? Everything is purely from The Torah. Like, not keeping Shabbat has consequences that are akin to Murder. And, the only thing worse? I can’t make myself say it. But, you know. Its THE most important thing.

    That’s right, I was going to ask you: where can I get tzitzit from a source that’s an Orthodox source? I don’t have an insider, unfortunately. I’m just doing everything within my power to do mitzvot…does anyone speak Hebrew here?

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