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There has been much talk recently about bringing back Tcheiles to Am Yisrael. I looked into the matter and I could not come up with one good reason not to wear it. I am not saying that it is definitely Tcheiles, but why not try to fulfill this great Mitzva?
Which one? Because people say that about different ones. Also, we did this like a week ago.
chassidishY.U.type
Rav Herschel Schachter, Rav Berel Wein, Rav Avraham J. Twerski, Rav Yisroel Belsky, Rav Simcha Kook, Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, and the Roshei Yeshiva of Yeshivat Aderet Eliyahu wear it. (I assume your are talking about the Murex Trunculus that was discovered by Rav Yitzchak Herzog, the second Chief Rabbi of Israel.)
Many Rabbis today debate whether it is real or not. Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Yosef Shlomo Elyashiv, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, and many others do not wear it.
This is an issue you should discuss with your Rav
IMHO, I have heard arguments both ways and the arguments to wear techeiles seem much much stronger than the arguments not to wear it. Nevertheless, and I’m saying this as a YU boy (though not a talmid of R’ Schachter), since most Gedolei Yisro’el don’t paskin to wear it, they must know something that I don’t, and out of deference to them, I don’t wear it. Though, every time I say Shema I do feel guilty and hope that I have the opportunity to wear techeiles one day.
You’re on the right track. However there is some debate as to how many strings should be tcheiles. Some say 1(of eight) some say 2 some say 4. If this cannot be clarified, this may affect the wearing of tcheiles altogether.
2sense
Is Techeles considered Livush Yehudi?
I heard Rav Schachter himself speak on the topic. Here’s how it breaks down:
PRO-TECHEILES: Because of the enormous amount of archaeological evidence pointing to the fact that this trunculus murinex (I definitely spelled that wrong) is the chilazon, we should use it as techeiles.
ANTI-TECHEILES: Despite the enormous amount of archaeological evidence pointing to the fact that this trunculus murinex is the chilazon, we should NOT wear techeiles because we don’t have the mesorah for it.
>NOTE: Those who are anti-techeiles don’t think (necessarily) that the tunculus murinex is not techeiles, they think it just doesn’t matter, because if you lose the mesorah for something, you can’t reinstate (obviously, referring to before mashiach comes). It would be ridiculous to suggest that those who are anti-techeiles say the reason that you shouldn’t wear techeiles is because were not sure if its the chilazon. If theres EVEN A LITTLE BIT of evidence pointing to that fact, we say SAFEK DI’ORAISAH LACHUMRAH and we would wear it anyway. The debate is whether you can “revive” a mitzvah or not.Optimus: Tcheiles is certainly levush yehudi. Actually the ideal levush yehudi is a Talis with Tcheiles, and Tefillin (during the day).
That said, I’m still not sure why one would say you can’t revive the mitzvah. If the gemara gave us qualifications, that it self indicates you should be testing to see if its the real techeiles. Additionally, if you know 100% what the real techeiles is, what does the mesorah add?
Abelleh: Rav Schachter knows 100%. The rest of us (including other Gedolim) don’t.
Sam2: Even if you know 51%, we say Safek Di’Oraisuh li’Chumrah.
Sam2: Not all your thoughts should be publicized. People might start to question your integrity.
2sense: If you let what people think of you stand in your way, you won’t become very much. If the Rambam never stood up to the Geonim, he wouldn’t have become the Rambam. If Moshe hadn’t stood up to Korach, who knows where the Jews would be?
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