What in the world are tzitzits? There is a command in Torah explained in two places;
1. Numbers 15:38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.”
2. Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.”
This is a “Mitzvah” or commandment in the Torah. In history, Jewish men would often wear these blue tassels on the corners of their “Tallit” or prayer shawl. And today men will often where a special type of clothing called a “tallit katan” or little tallit. It is like an undershirt with four corners made especially to hang the tzitzits.
Why wear them? The Law clearly tells us to wear them so we will remember to obey the commandments! “And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of Yahweh and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your Elohim.” Numbers 15:39-40
Not only does HaShem give His talmidim commandments but He supplies a way for us to remember to keep them and do them! Isn’t that beautiful? Now comes the question, can women wear them? Some say they are considered man’s clothing – so women are not to wear them. Some say that “children of Israel” includes of course, females. Which the verse in Numbers is speaking to the “children of Israel” – that does that include the women? Traditionally, only Jewish men and converts to Judaism would wear them.
But, I wear tzitzits and I am a female! I don’t wear them on the four corners of my everyday clothing, because I don’t have four corners. All my clothing is “round”. So, I have decided to wear one tzitzit on my belt loop (on my pants). According to Scripture you are to wear the blue thread on four corners, so I have at least four blue threads hanging in this one “tzitzit”. I am wearing, every day, four blue threads, and every time I look at them I am to be reminded to follow Torah.
Yeshua wore them!
Did Yeshua wear them? Absolutely! He followed Torah (He is Torah). During His day the tallit or prayer shawl was a common piece of attire. It is even thought that when the woman with the “issue of blood” touches Yeshua, she is actually touching the fringe or tzitzits of His garment. She is instantly healed! Interesting that He would say, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Luke 8:46 The testimony is the woman had so much faith that she didn’t even have to speak to HaMashiach, she only had to touch the hem of His garments – the tzitzits.
The Word also has a prophecy about the tzitzits, it is found in Zechariah 8:23 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘When that time comes, ten men will take hold – speaking all the languages of the nations – will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, “We want to go with you, because we have heard Elohim is with you.”’” Many believe that when these ten Gentile men grab hold of the Jew’s cloak, they are really grabbing hold of the fringes – the tzitzits! And that would make so perfect sense! They would know this person (most likely the HaMashiach Yeshua) is a Jew because they will recognize He is wearing blue tzitzits!
Did the talmidim wear the tzitzits? Yes, because they were following the Torah. Should we wear them? If you want to follow Torah like He asks us to, then yes. You may think everyone is going to wonder what you are doing. You will be shocked that not very many people, if any, will ask you what you are wearing. I have only been asked once and that is by a stranger who said, “Looks like you have a thread hanging from you?” All I said was “Thank you.” Looking back I wish I would have explained what it was that I was wearing.
Making tzitzits
Here is a blessing you can pray before putting on your tzitzits:
Barukh attah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bemitzvotav, al mitzvat tzitzits.
Blessed art Thou, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the tzitzit.
Once you have put on the tzitzits, you would pray this blessing:
Barukh attah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bemitzvotav, vetzivanu lehitatef batzitzits.
“Blessed art Thou, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to wrap ourselves in the tzitzit.”