What Is Tekhelet (Techelet)?

In ancient times, the tallit would have two kinds of threads attached to the corners, white wool (or whatever the garment was made of) and blue wool. This blue wool, known as tekhelet, was the hallmark of nobility, and in line with the tallit’s purpose of reminding the Jew that he is a member of G‑d’s “kingdom of priests.”


The verse contains two commandments. One is to affix (white) fringes on the corners of a four-cornered garment, and the other is to add a thread of tekhelet to each corner. These two commandments are independent of each other. When tekhelet is available, we are enjoined to add a tekhelet fringe to the tzitzit; when unavailable, we fulfill the mitzvah with plain white fringes.

The unique blue dye was made from a byproduct of a sea creature known as the chilazon, which lives in the Mediterranean Sea.

So why is it not so common today to have a tekhelet fringe on the tallit or tzitzit?


The Quest for Tekhelet

 Rabbi Y.I. Herzog (Mihael Almagor/Wiki)
Rabbi Y.I. Herzog (Mihael Almagor/Wiki)




A murex snail (Credit: H. Krisp/Wiki)
A murex snail (Credit: H. Krisp/Wiki)

Many, however, view the findings of these groups as uncertain. In addition, the kabbalists write that our current lack of tekhelet is consistent with our diminished spiritual state.3 As such, most continue to wear only white fringes, awaiting the coming of Moshiach, when Elijah himself will guide us in uncovering the identity of the chilazon.

This was the position of Rabbi Sholom DovBer, the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch, who maintained that the chilazon will not reemerge until the coming of the Messiah.4