סימן ט סעיף א
גְּדוֹלָה מִצְוַת צִיצִית, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַכָּתוּב שְׁקָלָהּ וְתָלָה בָהּ כָּל הַמִצְוֹת כֻּלָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וּרְאִיתֶם אוֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְוַת ה'. צִיצִית בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא ת"ר (עַיֵּן טוּר). שְׁמוֹנָה חוּטִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה קְשָׁרִים, הֲרֵי תַּרְיַ"ג. לָכֵן צָרִיךְ כָּל אִישׁ לִהְיוֹת נִזְהָר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ טַלִּית קָטָן שֶׁיְּהֵא מְלֻבָּשׁ בּוֹ כָּל הַיּוֹם. וְיִהְיֶה שֶׁל צֶמֶר רְחֵלִים לָבָן וְגָדוֹל כַּשִּׁעוּר, דְּהַיְנוּ שְׁלשָׁה רִבְעֵי אַמָּה בָּאֹרֶךְ וַחֲצִי אַמָּה בָּרֹחַב. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַמָּה עַל אַמָּה. וְאוֹתָם שֶׁעוֹשִׂים אֶת הַטַּלִּית קָטָן תָּפוּר מִן הַצְּדָדִים, צְרִיכִים לִזָּהֵר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִכָּל צַד פָתוּחַ רֹב הַנִּרְאֶה לָעֵינַיִם, וַאֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי קְרָסִים לֹא יְחֻבָּר. גַּם יְהֵא כָל אָדָם נִזְהָר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ טַלִּית גָּדוֹל בְּצִיצִית שֶיִּתְעַטֵּף בּוֹ בִּשְׁעַת תְּפִלָּה. וִיהַדֵּר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ טַלִּית נָאֶה. וְכֵן כָּל הַמִצְוֹת צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּהִדּוּר בְּכֹל מַה דְּאֶפְשָׁר, דִּכְתִיב, זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ, וְדָרְשֵׁינָן, הִתְנָאֶה לְפָנָיו בַּמִצְוֹת וִידַקְדֵק לִקְנוֹת צִיצִית מֵאִישׁ נֶאֱמָן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָטוּחַ שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ בִטְוִיָּה וּבִשְׁזִירָה בְּפֵרוּשׁ לִשְׁמָן וּכְמִצְוָתָן. וְתִהְיֶינָה אֲרֻכּוֹת כַּשִּׁעוּר (סִימָן טו כ"ד).
The mitzvah of tzitzis is very great for according to the Scriptures all the mitzvos depend on it, as it is said: "And you will look upon it and you will remember all the mitzvos of Hashem."1Numbers 15:39. The numerical value of the word, tzitzis equals 600, and the eight fringes and five knots make a total of 613.2This is the number of commandments contained in the Torah. Therefore every Jew should endeavor to have a tallis katan3This is a four-cornered garment with fringes on all four corners, that is usually worn under the shirt or the jacket. which he should wear the entire day. It should be [made] of white sheep's wool measuring three quarters of an amah in length and a half amah in width.4The minimum measure of a amah is 18 inches. There are various other opinions that a amah is as much as 24 inches. Others maintain that it should be an amah by an amah. Those who make the tallis katan, sewing its sides together [making it like a shirt], should take care that both sides of the garment are left open, i. e. the greater part of the visible sides are left open. Even hooks may not be used to join the open parts. Also, every Jew should endeavor to have a large garment with tzitzis [attached] to wear during prayer.5The Eastern European custom is to don a tallis gadol only after one is married. He should endeavor to have a beautiful garment. Similarly, all mitzvos should be performed with as much splendor as possible, as it is said: "This is my God and I shall glorify Him," and we learn from this be adorned before Him with mitzvos. You should take care to purchase tzitzis from a trustworthy person to be sure that they were spun and twisted6Regarding the validity of tzitzis manufactured by machine. See Achiezer vol. III, chap. 69; Chesed LeAvraham vol. II; Orach Chaim chap. 3; Divrei Chaim vol. II, chaps. 1–3, etc. specifically for the purpose [of tzitzis,]7It must be verbally enunciated that the tzitzis are being made for mitzvah purposes. and according to the prescribed laws. (The tzitzis) should also be adequately long.
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)