Shabbat 27: On Tzitzit

The rabbis continue their discussion about ritual impurity related to the size of and material used in fabric.  Today they focus on tzitzit, ritual fringes on the corners of our garments.  In Numbers (15:39) we are told that "And it shall be unto you for a fringe that you may look upon it and remember all the mitzvot of the Lord".  We are told that the phrase "that you may look" is might mean that night garments are not included because their fringes would not be visible.  Or, perhaps, it might mean that a person who is blind is excluded because one who is blind cannot see their tzitzit. 

The rabbis also remind us about Deuteronomy (22:12) "of your covering with which you cover yourself" the blind person is mentioned as well because he would also cover himself with a covering.  This means that "that you may look upon it" refers to excluding a night garment and not the tzitzit of a blind person.  To finalize this argument, the rabbis share more from Deuteronomy (22:12): "You shall make for yourself twisted fringes on the four corners of your covering; with which you cover yourself."  Certainly the verse in Numbers teaches us that seeing the tzitzit refers to remembering G-d's mitzvot and not simply seeing the reminder.  The rabbis do note that pyjamas are not visible to anyone at night.

We learn again that much of what we do is being seen by others.  If we practice a mitzvah improperly  - or properly - and others see us, we set an example for them about what is appropriate. The rabbis want us to be truly observant of the halacha that has been determined.  And of course this is directly counter to today's philosophies that prioritize what works for us as individuals without focusing on the influence that we might have over others.

At the end of our daf, there is a new Mishna.  It teaches that out of all of the substances that come from a tree, Tosafot say that we may only light with flax on Shabbat.  As well, flax is the only substance coming from a tree that can become ritually impure because of transmission under tents over a corpse.  If a dead body is in a house or a tent made of anything  that comes from a tree, everything in the house becomes ritually impure.  If flax is used, then the tent itself becomes impure.