Question:
What is Ha-Rav's opinion about wearing Techelet?
Answer:
We only wear white. This is based on three considerations, each of which
is sufficient on its own:
1. One
of the authorities of last generation, the "Beit Ha-Levi," Ha-Rav
Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Brisk, held that in the absence of a continuous
tradition it is impossible to reinstitute the identification of the Techelet,
even with proofs. This identification has disappeared and can only be
resumed when the Sanhedrin is reestablished. But even if we say that it
is possible to reinstitute it with the aid of proofs, these proofs must be
strong, clear and beyond doubt. The proofs relating to the Murex
Trunculus are not one hundred percent. And the current identification of
Techelet is the third such identification that has been offered. The
first was by the Chasidic Rebbe of Radzyner, and was adopted by the Breslav
Chasidim as well. The second identification was by Ha-Rav Yitzchak
Herzog, who later became the Chief Rabbi of Israel. So this is now the
third time Techelet has been “re-discovered”. The great Rabbis of our
generation have not accepted any of these suggestions, and are thus waiting for
a fourth possibility.
2. We
are not strict to wear any Techelet since our Sages said that wearing a blue
color which is not Techelet (called "kala ilan") invalidates an
entire Talit (see Bava Metzia 61b and Menachot 40a, 43a). It is thus
possible that wearing this Techelet could invalidate the entire Talit.
Furthermore, when we are strict about something it is when we are certain that this
stricture causes us to be better off regarding the mitzvah. But if we are
uncertain about it, it is not considered a "stricture."
3.
Wearing this Techelet amounts to casting aspersion on earlier Jews and the
great Rabbis of our generation who did not and do not wear the Techelet.
A Torah scholar once asked Maran Ha-Rav Kook about Techelet. He did not
ask if he should wear Techelet. He said: "I wear Techelet on my
Tziztit which I tuck in. Should I also wear them on my Talit?"
Maran Ha-Rav Kook answered: "No, by doing so you would be casting aspersion
on the earlier ones who did not do so. It is fine if you are
wearing them and they are tucked in, 'I walk with wholeness of heart within the
confines of my house' (Tehillim 101:2), but do not wear them out."
It
is also forbidden to act with "yuhara" – religious arrogance – before
the great Rabbis of our generation. The Gemara in Baba Kamma (81)
discusses that Yehoshua bin Nun made the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael
conditional on ten laws. One of them is that people
may walk on the side of the road (on the border of others' property) to avoid
hardened clumps of dirt on the road. Rav and Rabbi Chiya were once
walking on the road, and they veered off to the side to avoid the clumps of
dirt. Rav Yehudah bar Kenosa was ahead of them and walked in the middle,
taking big steps to avoid the obstacles. Rav said: "Who is
that? It is 'yehura' not to rely on Yehoshua's enactment!"
Rabbi Chiya said: "Perhaps it is my student, Rav Yehudah bar Kenosa.
All his actions are for the sake of Heaven." It is haughty to act
strictly in front of one's Rabbi. Rav Yehudah bar Kenosa was different,
however, as he always acted strictly. If someone wears Techelet, we do
not disparage him, for he has on whom to rely. But if someone comes and
asks, we say to him: "do not display 'yuhara.'" The Torah
scholars of our generation wore and wear white Tzitzit and we are going to act
strictly in front of them? Do we know more about Techelet than Ha-Rav
Avraham Shapira ztz"l?! Do we know more about Techelet than Ha-Rav
Mordechai Eliyahu Shilt"a?!
In
sum: We need to continue to research the matter, and it is a long journey.
Although the heart aches, we wait. In the meanwhile, we wear white,
"it has completely turned white, it is pure" (a play on Vayikra
13:13).
[MT
– note: It is worth noting that Rav Aviner was once asked: What was Maran
Ha-Rav Kook's attitude regarding Techelet?
Answer:
When a Torah scholar who wore Techelet on his Tzitzit asked Maran Ha-Rav if he
should also put Techelet on his Talit, he responded: "It is sufficient for
you to have the Tzitzit with Techelet. Techelet on your Talit will be seen as
casting aspersion on the earlier ones who did not put Techelet on their
Tzitzit" (brought in "Sefer Ha-Techelet of Rav M. Bornstein, p. 192).
"When Maran Ha-Rav saw that Ha-Rav David Cohain, Ha-Nazir, put
Techelet on his Tzitzit, he asked him: Do you feel the lack of the Techelet on
your Tzitzit and that you have a need for it? Ha-Nazir took this as a
criticism and ceased putting on the Techelet. After a short time, Maran
Ha-Rav came in a second time and said to him: Nu, nu, continue putting the
Techelet on your Talit. Ha-Nazir however held fast to the first comment
and refrained from doing so, and only put on the Techelet in private after the
death of Maran Ha-Rav" (ibid., p. 188). I – the lowly one – heard
the story in the following version: "When Maran Ha-Rav saw Ha-Nazir
wearing Techelet on his Tzitzit, he rebuked him that he should not follow a
path about which almost all the great Rabbis of Israel had reservations.
Ha-Rav then entered his room and after a few minutes came out again and told
Ha-Nazir that there is nonetheless a place for this. Despite the fact
that this is not the path to be followed by the community, unique individuals
may follow it, and since Ha-Nazir is unique and special, he could follow this
special path."]
