עברית
Halachot and Customs
How Many Wrappings Are Required for Tzitzit?
Question
Shalom and blessings, I follow the Sephardic custom according to Maran, when making tzitzit for a tallit katan, should I wrap according to the number 10-5-6-5 (yud-hey-vav-hey) or the number 7-8-11-13? If both are possible, is there any preference for one over the other? Thank you very much.
Answer
Greetings,
The Sephardic custom is to wrap the first segment of the tzitzit with seven wrappings, the second segment with eight wrappings, the third segment with eleven wrappings, and the fourth segment with thirteen wrappings.
Sources: Although the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (Siman 11, Se'if 14) states that the second segment should have nine wrappings, nonetheless, the opinion of our rabbi, the Ari, in Sha'ar HaKavanot (Drush 6, regarding tzitzit) is that the second segment should have eight wrappings, which is also the practice of the Sephardim; see Yalkut Yosef (Siman 11, Se'if 10) and Halacha Berura (there, Se'if 47).
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
