Tying Tzitzis at Night

Question: Can one tie tzitzis at night?

Answer: The Gemara (Menachos 40b) teaches that if tzitzis are tied onto a garment before it is fully made with four corners, the garment is not kosher. This follows the rule of ta'aseh velo min ha'asui, meaning the garment must be made specifically for this purpose, rather than just appearing so. The Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 18:1) writes that if tzitzis are tied onto a garment at night, when one is not obligated to wear tzitzis, they are still kosher, and the concern of ta'aseh velo min ha'asui does not apply. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 9:8) adds that this implies it is not ideal to do so.

Nevertheless, R’ Weiss concludes that one may tie tzitzis at night. R’ Shlomo Kluger (Chochmas Shlomo OC 18:1) explains that tying tzitzis is not the act of fulfilling the mitzva itself; rather, it is a necessary preparation for the mitzva. R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 8:47) compares tying tzitzis to actions such as closing a sukka roof, preparing the lulav and esrog, fashioning a shofar, and adjusting tefillin straps - all of which can be done at night. Similarly, the Ben Ish Chai (Lech Lecha 1:18) explains that ta'aseh velo min ha'asui does not apply to actions performed at different times. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 8:3) notes that while women are not obligated to wear tzitzis, they are permitted to tie them (according to the Shulchan Aruch OC 14:1). This demonstrates that tzitzis do not need to be tied under the same conditions as when they are worn.

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

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