Not Wearing Tzitzit
Question
Hi, A man I’m dating does not wear tzitzis. What is the origin of Tzitzis, is it a minhag or from the Torah? I know certain sects have different customs they adhere to and was wondering whether he strictly isn’t keeping a mitzvah or not. (He does wear tzitzis when he prays)
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question!
The mitzva of tzitzit is from the Torah. The Torah tells us that whenever a man wears a four cornered garment he is obligated to put tzitzit on each of the corners. However, there is no true obligation to wear tzitzit. Once again, it is only a mitzva to be performed in the event that one is wearing a four cornered garment. One who does not wear a four cornered garment, and is thereby not performing the mitzva of tzitzit, does not transgress any prohibition at all. In other words, wearing tzitzit is an opportunity to peforrm a mitzva, not an obligation to perform one. Reward if you wear them, no punishment if you don’t.
Nevertheless, wearing tzitzit throughout the day is one of the features of a truly committed Jew. That is not to say that those who don’t wear tzitzit every day aren’t observant Jews. But wearing tzitzit (and kippa) is the stamp and public declaration of someone devoted to Torah and mitzvot.
Furthermore, the Talmud (Menachot 41a) tells the story of an angel that rebuked Rav Ketina for wearing a garment that was specifically exempt from tzitzit, implying that he should have gone out of his way to wear a garment that required them. The Talmud then continues about the importance of wearing tzitzit even though one is not truly obligated to do so. As the Rambam writes (Hilchot Tzitzit 3:11): “Although one is not obligated to purchase a four-cornered garment in order to wear tzitzit, it is not fitting for a pious individual to exempt himself from this great mitzva…one should always try to wear a garment obligated in tzitzit in order to fulfill this mitzva.”
So, to conclude, wearing tzitzit is a special mitzva, to say the least. Being that we do not know your level of religious observance, it is difficult to say whether the fact that your friend does not wear tzitzit should be cause for your concern.