סימן ט סעיף ח

כֹּל הַמִצְוֹת, מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹבֵר לַעֲשִׂיָּתָן, פֵּרוּשׁ, קֹדֶם הָעֲשִׂיָּה. וּלְאַחַר הַבְּרָכָה, תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַמִּצְוָה בְּלִי הֶפְסֵק. לָכֵן אוֹחֵז אֶת הַטַּלִּית בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו וִיכַוֵּן שֶׁצִּוָּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהִתְעַטֵּף בַּצִּיצִית כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּזְכֹּר אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתָיו לַעֲשׂוֹתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וּרְאִיתֶם אֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹת ה'. וִיבָרֵךְ מְעֻמָּד, לְהִתְעַטֵּף בַּצִּיצִית (הַבֵּית בְּפַתַח) וִיעַטֵּף מִיָּד אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ עַד לְמַטָּה מִפִּיו, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יַעֲלֶה הַכְּנָפוֹת עַל צַוָּארוֹ וִיתְעַטֵּף כַּעֲטִיפַת הַיִּשְׁמְעֵלִים, וְיַעֲמֹד כָּךְ כְּדֵי הִלּוּךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְיֹאמַר הַפְּסוּקִים, מַה יָּקָר וְגוֹ', וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָכוֹל לַהֲסִירוֹ מֵעַל רֹאשׁוֹ. וְנָכוֹן שֶׁלֹּא לִגְרֹר אֶת הַצִּיצִית עַל הָאָרֶץ, מִשּׁוּם בִּזּוּי מִצְוָה. לָכֵן יַגְבִּיהֵן. וְיָכוֹל לְתָחְבָן תּוֹךְ הַחֲגוֹרָה (סִימָן ח' כ"א).

All mitzvos require a berachah oveir la'asiyasan; that is, the berachah must be made before the performance [of the mitzvah.] Immediately after the berachah the mitzvah must be performed without any interruption. Therefore, you should hold the tallis with both hands and think consciously that the Holy One, Blessed is He, commanded us to enwrap ourselves with tzitzis so that we remember to do all His mitzvos, as it is said, [in Scripture:] "And you will look upon them (the tzitzis) and you will remember all the commandments of Hashem." While standing recite the berachah lehisa'teif ba'tzitzis²⁴Lit. to enwrap oneself in tzitzis. The berachah is made on “enwrapping” because that is the “active” part of the mitzvah, as opposed to wearing the tallis which is passive. (with the vowel pasach under the beis.)²⁵I.e., pronounced bah tzitzis rather than b’tzitzis. You should then immediately cover your head [with the tallis] so that the tallis extends below the mouth, and then bring the corners [of the tallis] up to your neck and wrap yourself in the manner of the Arabs. You should remain standing like that for [the length of time] it takes to walk four amos²⁶A few seconds. and recite the verses: Mah Yakar etc. After this you may remove the tallis from your head.²⁷It is most proper to pray with the tallis worn over the head (Sha’arei Teshuvah 8,3). In some communities it is acceptable to pray with the tallis not covering the head ( Responsa Devar Shemuel 123). You should take care not to drag the tzitzis along the floor for [this would constitute] disrespect for the mitzvah. Therefore, you should lift them (the tzitzis), and you may tuck them into your belt.²⁸Thereby preventing them from reaching the floor.

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.)