The halachic issues involved in tying Tzitzit with Tekhelet are complex, and the guidance given by the Talmud is sparse and somewhat confusing. This situation leads to the many opinions and arguments relating to virtually every aspect of the strings, twists, and knots that make up the Tzitzit with Tekhelet.
The first question is, what is the ratio of Tekhelet to white in the 8 strings hanging on each corner. The Rambam says 1 of 8 should be Tekhelet, the Raavad says 2, while Rashi and Tosafot say 4.
Then there is the question of groups - what the Talmud calls chulyot or links. Are they composed of 3 twists or perhaps 7 or even 13. How many chulyot are required and what color should they be, white or Tekhelet? How does one separate between the chulyot, with knots or spaces?
Since wearing Tekhelet was not in practice for more than 1,300 years, the halacha did not coalesce around one or two opinions. With the return of Tekhelet, these questions have moved from the realm of the arcane into the heated discussions of the Beit Midrash, debated in articles and classes around the world. How wonderful to experience the seventy faces of the Torah with each opinion reflecting the words of The Living G-d.
The most popular methods are those available in the Tallit Katan and Tallit Gadol product pages. All options are available by clicking "Custom Orders" on the Product menu and using the Wizard to create your order.
To explore these issues more deeply, see the Tying Overview page on our site.
