tekhelet tzitzit tying diagrams

Tekhelet Tying Diagram Series:

by Mois Navon

Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Tzitzit Tying Guide

Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Sheshes in the name

of Rav Yirmiyah bar Abba in the name of Rav: The

most ornate techeiles ought be a third windings, and

two thirds hanging threads. Menachos 39a

Various opinions regarding the krichos for tzitzis with techeiles

Disclaimer! Very few Poskim define their shittah in

complete detail. Often they discuss one issue (for

example, alternating the colors of the chulyos), but leave

another (e.g. the type of knot) unexplained. In the

following list of shittos, some details are the result of

speculation in order to determine a complete practical

method of tying.

The principles discussed above are applied differently by

the Poskim. The numbers correspond to the

accompanying picture. The following is an (incomplete)

list:

1. Rav Amram Gaon � seven or thirteen

chulyos alternating white then techeiles. A knot at the beginning and at the end (according to the Baal Haitur, a knot after

each chulya). (These knots are not double, but rather the winding string tucked under

itself. According to the Shaalos U’tshuvos Binyamin

Zeev, the knots are double knots.)

2. The Raavad according to Rav Natronai

Gaon � five knots. Between each knot, seven to thirteen twists, with the twists

alternating white then techeiles. Between the second and third knot, the amount of twists is not definite, but most probably still alternate between techeiles and white.

3. Tosfos � first a double knot, then one chulya of white

and one of techeiles, then a second double knot, again

white then techeiles and a knot, then again white and techeiles then a knot, and finishing with one white

chulya and a double knot. This has seven chulyos and five knots.

4. The Chinuch � thirteen chulyos, alternating white and

techeiles distributed between five double knots.

Between the first and second knot � three chulyos

(white, techeiles, white). After the second knot another three chulyos, (techeiles, white, techeiles).

After the third another three (white, techeiles, white), and after the fourth � four chulyos (techeiles, white,

techeiles, white).

5. The Vilna Gaon � thirteen chulyos, alternating white

and techeiles distributed between five double knots. Between the first and second knot � four chulyos

(white, techeiles, white, techeiles) and the same between the second�third, and third�fourth knots. Between the fourth and last knot � one chulya of white.

6. The Rambam � all twists are techeiles except the first and last. Seven or thirteen

chulyos are tied with a knot between each that keeps them together and separate from each other. The Yemenites have a tradition (even with white tzitzis) of tying each chulya into a special knot.

7. The Rambam with double knots after each chulyah – In the example shown here, the knots are double knots. Note also that the strings here are according to the opinion of Tosafos.

8. The Rambam according to the Radzyner �

has all the twists techeiles except the first and last. There are five knots: between the first and the second knot there are seven twists, between the second and third � eight twists, between the third and fourth � eleven twists and between the fourth and last � thirteen twists (similar to the way we tie tzitzis without techeiles). Each group of three is separated by

winding the techeiles around and inside them to hold them together.

9. Another understanding of the Rambam – The thirteen chulyos are tied with the Yemenite knot, and are

distributed between five double knots. Four chulyos between each of the first four knots and one chulya between the fourth and last double knot.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9


Rav Amram Gaon

by Mois Navon Ptil Tekhelet Organization

Notes: 1) A “Single Cord Knot” is

made by taking one strand of the total eight, wrapping it once around the remaining seven strands and tucking in the end in the wrap.

2) A white “Chulya” is made by taking one white strand from the total of eight strands and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands three times. This “wrapping” strand is designated “Shamash” and is used for all subsequent white chulyot (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamash be used).

3) A blue “Chulya” is made the same as a white one, but just using a blue strand.

Single White Cord Knot -(some use standard double knot)

Three Winds of White (1 "Chulya")

Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")

13 Chulyot

Single White Cord Knot -(some use standard double knot)


RRRRambamambamambamambam


Notes: 1) The initial “Chulya” is made by

wrapping one white strand and one blue strand and tucking in the ends to form a knot. The white is wrapped once first and then the blue twice.

2) The 11 middle “Chulyot” are made by taking one blue strand from the total of eight strands and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands three times, and tucking the end into the wraps to form a knot. This “wrapping” strand is designated “Shamash” and is used for all subsequent chulyot (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamash be used).

3) The final “Chulya” is made by wrapping one white strand and one blue strand and tucking in the ends to form a knot. The blue is wrapped twice first and then the white once.

Three Twist Blue Knot (1 "Chulya")

13Chulyot

Two Twist Blue Knot together withSingle Twist White Knot - (1 "Chulya")

Two Twist Blue Knot together withSingle Twist White Knot - (1 "Chulya")

Some place adouble knot

Some place adouble knot

http://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/RambamDetailInstruction.htm

http://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/RambamDetailInstructionLORES.pdf

http://www.tekhelet.com/diagrams/RambamDetailInstruction.doc


Raavad


Notes: 1) A “Single White and Blue Cord

Knot” is made by taking one white strand and one blue strand from the eight strands, then while holding them together, wrap them once around the remaining six strands and tucking in the ends in the wrap.

2) A “Chulya” is made by taking one white strand and one blue strand from the eight strands, then while holding them together, wrap them three times around the remaining six strands – start with white on top (closest to the garment). The final (seventh wrap) is made by dropping the blue strand from the “wrapping pair” and wind one more time using only the white strand. The “wrapping pair” strands are designated “Shamashim” and are used for all subsequent chulyot (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamashim be used).

Single White and Blue Cord Knot(some use standard double knot)

Seven winds alternatingwhite & blue

Seven Winds of White(some use seven winds alternatingwhite & blue)

1 Chulya

1 Chulya

1 Chulya


The Ba’alei Tosafot


Notes: 1) A “Single Knot” is made

by taking the four strands from one side of the garment and the opposing four strands from the other side of the garment and tying a simple knot.



Single Knot

Single Knot


Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")2 Chulyot

Double Knot

Double Knot

2 Chulyot

Double Knot

2 Chulyot

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot


The Ba’al HaItur


Notes: 1) A “Single Knot” is made by

taking the four strands from one side of the garment and the opposing four strands from the other side of the garment and tying a simple knot.



Single Knot

Single Knot



1 Chulya

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

Double Knot

1 Chulya

1 Chulya

1 Chulya


The Vilna Gaon (Gra)


Notes: 1) A “Single Knot” is made

by taking the four strands from one side of the garment and the opposing four strands from the other side of the garment and tying a simple knot.



Single Knot

Single Knot


Three Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")4 Chulyot

4 Chulyot

4 Chulyot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot


The Ba’al Sefer HaHinuch






Single Knot

Single Knot



4 Chulyot

3 Chulyot

3 Chulyot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

3 Chulyot

Double Knot


Radzyn - Chabad


Notes: 1) A “Single Knot” is made by taking

the four strands from one side of the garment and the opposing four strands from the other side of the garment and tying a simple knot.

2) A single white twist loop is made by taking one white strand from the eight strands, wrapping it once around the remaining seven strands, and then tucking in the end in the wrap. This “wrapping” strand is designated “Shamash” and is used for the both the first and final white wrap (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamash be used).

3) A single blue twist loop is made the same as a white one, but just using a blue strand.

4) A two or three twist loop is made as follows: hold the seven “core” strands in the left hand (with the thumb extended out to the right), Take the blue shamash in the right hand and wrap it under and around the left thumb, then over the seven “core” strands, and then bring it up through the open “triangle” created by the blue shamash. Wrap the shamash around the seven strand “core” once more to make a two twist loop or two more times to make a three twist loop. Now pull all the strings tightly together (this will require some play). Note: it helps to pull tight from the bottom first.

Three Twist Blue Loop

Two Twist Blue Loop

Single Knot

Single KnotDouble Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

13 twists

11 twists

8 twists

7 twists

Single Twist White Loop

Single Twist Blue Loop

Two Twist Blue Loop




Two Twist Blue Loop

Single Twist White Loop

Single Twist Blue Loop






Two Twist Blue Loop

134 2


R. Schachter of YUR. Schachter of YUR. Schachter of YUR. Schachter of YU




2) The first “Chulya” is made by taking one white strand from the total of eight strands and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands once; and then taking one blue strand from the total of eight strands and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands six times. These “wrapping” strands are designated “Shamashim” and due to the fact that there are so many tekhelet wraps (47 in total), a second long blue string is supplied as another shamash. Thus one should use one blue shamash for the first 4 chulyot and the other blue shamash for the last three chulyot.

3) A blue “Chulya” is made by taking a blue shamash and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands seven times.

4) The Last “Chulya” is made by taking a blue “shamash” and wrapping it around the seven remaining strands six times; and then taking the white “shamash” and wrapping it around the seven remaining strands once.

5) Shown here are a total of 7 chulyot; one can make up to 13. However one should insure that the wound & knotted section is approximately one-third of the total length of the hanging strings (from first knot to strings end).

Single Knot

Single Knot

Seven Winds of Blue (1 "Chulya")

One Wind of White,Six Winds of Blue(First "Chulya")

Two Winds of Blue,One Wind of White(Last "Chulya")

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya

Double Knot

1 Chulya


The 7-8-11-13 Method




2) The initial wrap of 7 winds is made by taking one white strand from the total of eight strands and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands once. This “wrapping” strand is designated the white “Shamash” and is used for the subsequent white wrap at the end (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamash be used). The remaining six winds are made taking one blue strand and wrapping it around the remaining seven strands six times. This “wrapping” strand is designated the tekhelet “Shamash” and is used for all subsequent blue wraps (though it is not halachically imperative that the same Shamash be used).

3) The eight winds are made by wrapping the tekhelet shamash eight times around the core strings; the eleven winds are made by wrapping the tekhelet shamash eleven times around the core strings.

4) The thirteen winds are made by wrapping the tekhelet shamash twelve times and then wrapping the white shamash once.

Single Knot

Single Knot

One Wind of White

Six Winds of Blue

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Double Knot

Eight Winds of Blue

Eleven Winds of Blue

Twelve Winds of Blue

One Wind of White

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