Sunday, 15 October 2023

Tying Tzitzis at Night

Question: Can one tie tzitzis at nighttime?

Answer: The Gemara (Menachos 40b) teaches that if one tied the tzitzis onto a garment before it was completed with four corners, it is not kosher following the rule of ta'aseh velo min ha'asui - it needs to be made, and not just appear. The Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 18:1) writes that if one tied tzitzis onto a garment at nighttime when one is not obligated to wear tzitzis, the tzitzis are kosher and we are not concerned for ta'aseh velo min ha'asui. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 9:8) writes that this implies that it is not ideal to do so.

Nonetheless, R’ Weiss concludes that one may tie tzitzis at night. R’ Shlomo Kluger (Chochmas Shlomo OC 18:1) explains that one does not perform the mitzva of tzitzis by tying them. Rather, doing so is a necessary step in preparing for the mitzva. R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 8:47) compares tying tzitzis to closing a sukka roof, preparing the lulav and esrog, fashioning a shofar, and adjusting tefillin straps, all of which may be performed at night. Likewise, the Ben Ish Chai (Lech Lecha 1:18) explains that ta'aseh velo min ha'asui does not apply to actions performed at a different time. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 8:3) notes that while women are not obligated to wear tzitzis, they are able to tie them (according to the Shulchan Aruch OC 14:1). Clearly, tzitzis do not need to be tied under the same conditions as wearing them.

Likewise, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 14:7), Kaf Hachaim (OC 18:2) and R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 3:23) write that one may tie tzitzis at nighttime.

In conclusion, one may tie tzitzis onto a begged at nighttime.

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