The Tzitzit

A list of many tying styles

Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Sheshet in the name of Rav Yirmiyah bar Abba in the name of Rav: The most
ornate tekhelet ought be a third windings, and two thirds hanging threads. - Mehachot 39a

[The word] tsitsit is numerically equivalent to 600, 8 strings and 5 knots add up to 613, the total number of all
commandments. (Tanchuma, Korach 12)

1. Rav Amram Gaon

Rav Amram Gaon (Hebrew: ‫ )רב עמרם גאון‬or Rav Amram bar Sheshna (died 875) was a famous Gaon or
head of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura in the 9th century. He was the author of many Responsa,
but his chief work was liturgical.

Rav Amram Gaon – has seven or thirteen chulyot alternating white then tekhelet. A knot at the
beginning and at the end. (These knots are not double, but rather the winding string tucked under
itself.) The Baal Haitur's shitta is virtually identical but he has a knot after each chulya.

2. The Yemenite Rambam

Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon (Maimonides), also known as Rambam, was the preeminent medieval Jewish
philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. He was born in Córdoba, Spain
on Passover Eve, 1135, and died in Egypt on 20th Tevet, December 12, 1204. He was as a rabbi,
physician and philosopher in Morocco and Egypt.

Although his writings on Jewish law and ethics met with respectful opposition during his life, he was
posthumously acknowledged to be one of the foremost rabbinical arbiters and philosophers in Jewish
history, his copious work a cornerstone of Jewish scholarship. His fourteen-volume Mishneh Torah still
carries canonical authority as a codification of Talmudic law. In the Yeshiva world he is known as
Hanesher Hagadol in recognition of his outstanding status as a bona fide exponent of Torah Shel Baal
Peh, particularly on account of the manner in which his Mishneh Torah is elucidated by Rabbi Chaim
Soloveitchik.

The Rambam – has all twists tekhelet except the first and last. Seven or thirteen chulyot are tied with a
knots keeping them together and separate from each other. The Yemenites have a tradition (even with
white tsitsit) of tying a special knot that is the chulya.

The Yemenite knot is also known as the Teimani knot

According to the Rambam, of the four strings placed on a corner, only one half of one string is to be blue
and the remaining three and a half strings are to be white (resulting in one blue and seven white strings
when the strings are folded through the corner hole). Only the windings around the white core must be
tekhelet. The Rambam seems to be of the opinion that if there are non-white strings in the core of the
tzitzit (as per Raavad or Tosafot) then one has not fulfilled the mitzvah of white. There must be seven to
thirteen chulyot.

3. The Raavad

Rabbeinu Abraham ben David was a Provençal rabbi, a great commentator on the Talmud, Sefer
Halachot of rabbi Yitzhak Alfasi ( ‫ )רי"ף‬and Mishne Torah (‫ )משנה תורה‬of Maimonides (‫)רמב"ם‬, and is
regarded as a father of Kabbalah (‫ )קבלה‬and one of the key and important links in the chain of Jewish
mystics. He was born in Provence, France, about 1125 CE; died at Posquières, 27 November 1198 CE.
The Raavad quoting Rav Natronai Gaon – has five knots. Between each knot, seven or thirteen twists,
with the twists alternating white then tekhelet. Between the second and third knot, the amount of
twists is not definite.

Raavad, Based on the Sifre in Shelach holds that one full string (when folded it becomes two of the
eight) must be tekhelet.

4. Ba’alei Tosafot

The Tosafot or Tosafos (Hebrew: ‫ )תוספות‬are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the
form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and
opposite Rashi's notes.

According to Tosafot (and Rashi), of the four strings placed on a corner, two are to be blue and two are
to be white (resulting in four blue and four white strings when the strings are folded through the corner
hole).

The Ba’alei Tosafot -  consists of 5 knots, in between which there are four groups of winds.  Groups 1, 2, 3
consist of a white chulya (of three winds) and a blue chulya (of three winds).  Group 4 consists of a single
white chulya. 

As to the question of the Tosafot using two full strands of Tekhelet, "and you shall place on the tzitzit of
your corner a PTIL tekhelet," though the standard translation of "ptil" is "strand," there is support for
the word "ptil" carrying the meaning of "tassel" - i.e., multiple strands.

Vilna Gaon called this version into question for its use of two Tekhelet strings. The Raavad also takes
issue with this and holds that of the four strings placed on a corner, one is to be blue and three are to be
white (resulting in two blue and six white strings when the strings are folded through the corner hole). 

5. Baal Ha’Itur

The common Baal Ha'Itur tying method is explained by Rabbi Binyomin Zev. ‫העוטור מוסבר ע"י בנימין זאב‬.
Rabbi Binyomin (son of Matityahu). ( ‫ יוון‬16‫ מאה ה‬,‫)ר' בנימין בן מתתיהו‬
The Baal Ha’Itur – has eight knots. Between each knot, three twists. With each Chulyot alternating white
then tekhelet after each knot, beginning with white and using two full tekhelet and two full white strings
as with the Tosafot tradition.

6. The Vilna Gaon (AKA The Gra)

Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman, (Hebrew: ‫ )ר' אליהו בן שלמה זלמן‬known as the Vilna Gaon and simply
by his Hebrew acronym Gra (‫"( )גר"א‬Gaon Rabbenu Eliyahu"), (born April 23, 1720 in Vilnius, died
October 9, 1797 in Vilaus, Lithuania), was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of
non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries. He is commonly referred to in Hebrew as ha'Gaon ha'Chasid
mi'Vilna, "the saintly genius from Vilnius."

The Vilna Gaon – has thirteen chulyot, alternating white and tekhelet distributed between five double
knots. Between the first and second knot - four chulyot (white, tekhelet, white, tekhelet) and the same
between the second-third, and third-fourth knots. Between the fourth and last knot - one chulya of
white.

The Vilna Gaon claims that the correct number of strings is that of the Sifre Shelach: "With three strings
of white and a fourth of tekhelet."

7. The Ba’al Sefer HaHinuch

Sefer Hachinuch means "The Book of Education," and is a popular medieval work that enumerates the
613 commandments of the Torah (based upon Maimonides' system of counting) and explains them both
from a legal and a moral perspective.
 
Rav Aharon Halevi was born in Gerona in 1235, and studied under his father and brother, as well as
Ramban. He published critical notes on Rashba's Torat HaBayit, which he entitled Bedek HaBayit. He
also wrote a commentary on the Talmud, select parts of which have been published. There are those
who believe that he is the author of the Sefer HaChinuch, although this claim has been rejected by
many.
The Ba’al Sefer HaHinuch, or Chinuch – has thirteen chulyot, alternating white and tekhelet distributed
between five double knots. Between the first and second knot - three chulyot (white, tekhelet, white).
After the second knot another three chulyot, (tekhelet, white, tekhelet). After the third another three
(white, tekhelet, white), and after the fourth - four chulyot (tekhelet, white, tekhelet, white).

8. The Radzyner (AKA Chabad) (Arizal)

Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Leitner was the first Radziner Rebbe.

Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Hebrew: ‫)שניאור זלמן מליאדי‬, also known as the Baal HaTanya, (September 4,
1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S.), was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad,
then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia. He was the author of many works, and is best known for Shulchan
Aruch HaRav, Tanya and his Siddur Torah Or compiled according to the Nusach Ari. He is also known as
Shneur Zalman Baruchovitch, RaZaSh, Baal HaTanya vehaShulchan Aruch, the Alter Rebbe, Admor
HaZaken, Rabbeinu HaZokein, Rabbeinu HaGodol, the GRaZ, and Rav.

The Tanya (‫ )תניא‬is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of
Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim, but is more commonly
known by its opening word, Tanya. It comprises five sections that define Hasidic mystical psychology
and theology as a handbook for daily spiritual life in Jewish observance.

The Radzyner/Chabad (Arizal) - has all the twists tekhelet 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.
Each group of three is separated by winding the tekhelet around and inside them to hold them together.

4 3 2 1
The Arizal (Isaac Luria (1534 – July 25, 1572) provided the method of tying white strings which is the
basis for the popular “7,8,11,13” method. He also mentions that there are "chulyot," upon which the
Baal HaTanya derives the method of grouping the 7,8,11,13 wraps into sets of three winds. They make
13 chulyos of three windings each, but also place double knots after 7, 8, 11 and 13 windings like other
Ashkenazim. This means that the second and fourth knots split chulyos into two. The Radzyner Rebbi,
adopted this method when using tekhelet by requiring that one make the first wind and the last wind
white and all the rest blue (as per one reading of the Gemara in Menachot). The Shulchan Aruch HaRav,
and therefore a number of forms of Chassidus, follows the Ari, in that the knots around the chulyos are
independent of the four double knots.

Differences: The Radzyner uses a half tekhelet string, like Rambam. The Chabad uses two full tekhelet
strings according to the opinion of Tosafot. The Chabad leaves some distance to make the Chulyot more
visible.

9. R. Schachter of Yu

Rav Hershel Schachter (born July 28, 1941) is a rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan
Theological Seminary (RIETS), Yeshiva University, in New York City, and the son of the late Rabbi
Melech Schachter. A noted Talmudic scholar and a prominent Posek, he is also a halakhic advisor for the
kashrut division of the Orthodox Union.

The R. Schachter – has eight knots. Between each knot, seven or three tekhelet twists using two full
tekhelet and two full white strings as with the Tosafot tradition. All twists are tekhelet except the first
and last. A chulya should be three wraps minimum and ideally seven wraps to be yotzei all de'ot.
Schachter writes that one can get by with one chulya of seven wraps by making the first chulya seven
and the rest three.

10. Standard Ashkenazi (7-8-11-13)

Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Hebrew: ‫ ;אַשְׁ ֲּכנָזִים‬also ‫י ְהּודֵ י אַ שְׁ ֲּכנָז‬,
Y'hudey Ashkenaz, "the Jews of Ashkenaz"), are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish
communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north.
Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany. Thus, Ashkenazim or
Ashkenazi Jews are literally "German Jews." The Arizal (Isaac Luria (1534 – July 25, 1572) provided the
method of tying white strings which is the basis for this popular “7,8,11,13” method.

The Ashkenazi - has all the twists tekhelet 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.

The first three groups of windings 7, 8, 11 add up to 26, which is the numerical value of the LORD’s
name, (Yod=10 Hey=5 Waw=6 Hey=5) while the remaining group, 13, is equal to the numerical value of
the word Echad- one. (Alef=1 Cheth=8 Daleth=4) The tzitzis thus symbolize the words "YHWH Echad"-
YHWH is one.

11. Sephardic (AKA the Hida)

A Sephardi Jew is a Jew descended from, or who follows the customs and traditions followed by, Jews
who lived in the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal) before their expulsion in the late 15th
century. This includes both the descendants of Jews expelled from Spain under the Alhambra decree of
1492, or from Portugal by order of King Manuel I in 1497, and the descendants of crypto-Jews who left
the Peninsula in later centuries to North Africa, Asia Minor, the Philippines and elsewhere around the
world, and the descendants of crypto-Jews who remained in Iberia. In modern times, the term has also
been applied to Jews who may not have been born Sephardi (or even Jewish) but attend Sephardic
synagogues and practice Sephardic traditions.

The Sephardic - has all the twists tekhelet except the first and last. There are five knots: between the
first and the second knot there are ten twists, between the second and third - five twists, between the
third and fourth - six twists and between the fourth and last - five twists.

The four groups of windings 10, 5, 6 5, is the numerical value of the LORD’s name, (Yod=10 Hey=5
Waw=6 Hey=5)

12. Lekach Tov (7-7-7-7)

The Lekach Tov - has all the twists tekhelet 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 - seven twists, between
the third and fourth - seven twists and between the fourth and last – seven twists.
13. Tzfunot (2-7-2-2)

The Tzfunot - has

knot
2 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
7 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
2 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
2 (Yemenite) chulyot, for a total of 13 chulyot
Knot
All wraps are tekhelet, except the first and last, which are white.

14. HaMaspik L'Ovdei Hashem

Identical to R. Schachter’s original shitta, the HaMaspik L'Ovdei Hashem – has 7 chulyot of 3 winds, like
Rambam, but with a knot after each chulyot.
All wraps are tekhelet, except the first and last, which are white.

15. Meiri Yevamot

The Meiri Yevamot - has:
knot
7 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
7 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
7 (Yemenite) chulyot
knot
7 or 13 (Yemenite) chulyot
Knot
All wraps are tekhelet, except the first and last, which are white.
16. Beit Yosef (7-9-11-13)
The Beit Yosef - is similar to the Raavad, alternating wrap colors. It has five knots: between the first and
the second knot there are seven twists, between the second and third - nine twists, between the third
and fourth - eleven twists and between the fourth and last - thirteen twists. The chulyot are made by
wrapping two strings at a time. The tekhelet, together with the white symbolize Yosef’s sons, Ephraim
and Manasseh.

17. The Minimalist (The smallest permitted)

Baal Ha’Itur - brings this method (in accordance with Rebbe:)
knot
7 wraps
Knot
All wraps are tekhelet, except the first and last, which are white.

18. The Gedilim (Chainlike)

Baal Ha’Itur - brings this method:
7 knots
70 wraps
double knot
All wraps are tekhelet, except the first and last, which are white. This uses two full tekhelet and two full
white strings as with the Tosafot tradition.

19. Ebionite tzitzit

The modern Ebionite Movement distinguishes between tzitziyot (fringe) and p'tiylot (strings, cords) the
latter being all tekhelet, or sky-blue derived from any source containing dibromoindigo. Any shade or
variation from greenish blue, to turquoise, and darker, or a range naturally occurring in the dyeing is
acceptable. Any style of knots and windings is allowable however, most use the most typical 7-8-11-13
configuration. Garments must have both fringe and cords to satisfy the commandment as interpreted by
Ebionites. In addition to the talit or talit katan, the p'tiylot might be tied into a long black scarf.
The typical Ebionite Tzitzit - has four full strings of tekhelet with no white strings. 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.

Ebionite "tzit-tzit" (p'tiylot tekheilet) are dyed with blue colors reminiscent of the sky entirely instead of
a single string. They are different from those used by any other Jewish sect, according to their view of
the commandment. They are made and issued by the Paqid, Shemayah, as a good deed and spiritual
meditation.

20. Karaite tzitzit

Karaite Judaism or Karaism (Hebrew: ‫ יהדות קראית‬,meaning "Readers of the Hebrew Scriptures") is a
Jewish movement characterized by the recognition of the Tanakh alone as its supreme legal authority in
Halakhah, as well as in theology. It is distinct from Rabbinic Judaism, which considers the Oral law, the
legal decisions of the Sanhedrin as codified in the Talmud, and subsequent works to be authoritative
interpretations of the Torah.

Karaites maintain that all of the divine commandments handed down to Moses by God were recorded
in the written Torah, without additional Oral Law or explanation. As a result, Karaite Jews do not accept
as binding the written collections of the Oral tradition in the Mishnah or Talmud. When interpreting the
Tanakh, Karaites strive to adhere to the plain or most obvious meaning ("peshat") of the text; this is not
necessarily the literal meaning, but rather the meaning that would have been naturally understood by
the ancient Israelites when the books of the Tanakh were first written.

Karaites wear tzitzyot with blue threads in them. In contrast to mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, they
believe that the tekhelet (the "blue"), does not refer to a specific dye. The traditions of Rabbinic Judaism
used in the knotting of the tzitzit are not followed, so the appearance of Karaite tzitzit can be quite
different from that of Rabbanite tzitzit. Contrary to some claims, Karaites do not hang tzitzit on their
walls.

The typical Karaite tzitzit uses twelve small-gauge strings, six blue and six white folded over for a total of
twenty-four, with the white extending a bit longer to make an all-white braided loop. Where the Blue
strings meet the white, braids are made with the blue and white to make braid-counts of 10-5-6-5 or 7-
8-11-13, with the blue and white strings separating after each braid set in a separated braid before
merging for the next count.
All white braided loop, then add the blue below the loop.
Seven braids mixing blue with white
Split into two separate braids of one blue and one white
Eight braids mixing blue with white
Split into two separate braids of one blue and one white
Eleven braids mixing blue with white
Split into two separate braids of one blue and one white
Thirteen braids mixing blue with white
Double-knot the blue and white together, letting the strings hang loose.

For the wrap counts, separate the strings into four groups: three blue, three white, three white, three
blue. Then make a quad-braid keeping the two sets of blue on the outside. The blue sides will connect to
make stripes of blue within the white. The loop and each side of the split-braids utilize a standard 3-
braid technique.

21. Natsari Tzitzit

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

The Modern Natsarim (Christians) have their own unique way of tying tzitzit, seeing as to date no
evidence can be found that speak of how the original Natsarim tied theirs. Until an official, legitimate
and authoritative Natsari Sanhedrin is formed that can rule on an acceptable, universal way of tying the
tzitzit, the Beyt Din of AD (Abraham's Descendants) International has ruled how their tzitzyot should be
tied.

The Natsari tzitzit - has 5 knots representing the five books of Torah. Four coils of 10, 5, 6, and 5 wraps
as many tzitzit do, spelling out the Name of YHWH, but the top and bottom coil are to be adorned with
crowns symbolizing the "Y" is YHWH, and Yeshua emanates from Him and is King and the Living
Manifestation of the Written Torah symbolized by the "H," the written Torah which is to be their life.
The Hebrew letter "Hey" means life, for it was put in Abraham and Sarah's name and only after which
they were able to conceive and give life to Isaac. There are twelve braids, because when the tzitzit is
spoken of in Torah it is described as being "gedilim," or chains, and a braid resembles a chain. The braid
is made up of three parts symbolizing the three cord strand that cannot be broken (Ecc. 4:12) and
symbolizes the unity of believers and that Elohim is the center of all holy unions. The braid consists of
two sets of three white strings and one set of two blue strings. The braid itself is braided twelve times
symbolizing the unity and prophetic reunion of the twelve tribes and the twelve Sheliachim (Apostles).
The braid is split into sets of three, representing the 4 banners and the 4 directions of the 12 tribes when
they set camp and disembarked; and also how the tribes were scattered to the four corners of the earth,
but are still one in YHWH and Torah. This style of tzitzit identifies the believers of the Natsari sect of AD
International and of K'hilat Beyt Avraham Avinu Synagogue.

Separate the strings into three groups; Group one=3 white, group two=3 white, group three=2 blue.
Make a standard braid of three strands. Repeat these steps four times after each chulyot for a total of
twelve braids.