Techeles today

What does The Rabbi think about wearing techeles (a special turquoise thread) today?

The answer by Our Mentor, Rabbi Amram Fried:

1. The conclusion that follows from what the Talmud has to say about this is that not every kind of shellfish is suitable for making the turquoise color of techeles. (See tractate Menachos, folio 44; Tosefta, tractate Menachos, ch. 9.)
2. Characteristics that the Sages specified for mollusk of which techeles is made don’t exactly match those of the Parpura. Its body doesn’t resemble the sea, and when it’s born, it’s not similar to a fish. Also, its blood can not be used for coloring turquoise. (However, there are counterarguments to these objections.)
3. There is also the well-known question whether Parpura’s color is turquoise or violet.
4. Parpura is a very common mollusk. It doesn’t inhabit only the sea that’s adjacent to the territory that was given to the tribe of Zebulun.
5. There are many other pro and con arguments besides these.

At the end of the day, there is no undisputable proof that this is indeed the techeles that’s mentioned in the Torah. It is true that there is a rebuttal to each claim and counterclaim. However, since this is such a thorny halachic issue, we should just keep doing what has been practiced until now, that is, we should not wear techeles in our tzitzis.