The Hidden Meaning of Tzitzit Fringes in Kabbalah

In the world of Jewish mysticism, particularly within the Tikkunei (spiritual repair) Zohar, things aren’t always as they seem. Get ready, because

The Tikkunei Zohar, a collection of mystical commentaries on the Torah, reveals that the fringes, or tzitzit, on a garment are far more than just decorative. They represent a connection to something far greater. It tells us of "18, between ties and knots, on each side, which add up to 72." And what does 72 represent? It's connected to the concept of ḥesed, loving-kindness. Remember the verse from (Isaiah 16:5): "And the throne is established with kindness"? Well, ḥesed numerically equals 72 in gematria, a Jewish system of assigning numerical values to letters.

The mystery deepens. The text continues that "For each one, four faces and four wings – adding up to 64, and with the eight letters of Y-A-Q-D-V-N-Q-Y, they add up to 72." It's not just about the numbers themselves, but the connections they reveal.

The Tikkunei Zohar isn’t done yet. It then teaches us a mystery: "for there are 8 strings on each side, corresponding to the four faces and four wings of each ḥayah" – that's each angelic-beast. Now, pay attention to this next part: "and in the ‘small counting’ of the name of Enoch, az then equals SHaDaY Almighty." Az, spelled Aleph-Zayin, means "then," and has the numerical value of 8. SHaDaY, Shin-Dalet-Yud, is one of the names of God, meaning Almighty, and has the numerical value of 314. What’s the connection? Well, it's all about hidden meanings, and the power of names. As it says in (Exodus 15:1), "'Then' shall he sing – in every place."

Even the Rabbis weighed in on this. "The Masters of the Mishnah (the earliest code of rabbinic law) have said" in the Babylonian Talmud, Menaḥot 39a, "one who lessens the ‘windings’ of the tzitzit, should not make less than seven, and one who adds, should not add beyond 13." So, there are even guidelines about the number of windings!

So, what does it all mean? Why all these numbers and connections? This section of the Tikkunei Zohar is trying to reveal the profound interconnectedness of all things. The tzitzit, seemingly simple fringes, become a conduit to the Divine, a reminder of our connection to something infinitely larger than ourselves. It is a call to wrap ourselves in precepts, to create a throne for the Holy One, and to sing out in every place.

And this is 18, between ties and knots, on each side, which add up to 72. And this is: (Is. 16:5) And the throne is established with kindness∞ḥesed. Ḥesed is 72 in gematria. Anyone who wraps himself in the ‘wrapping’ of precept, is as if he has prepared a throne for the blessed Holy One – and they are Y-A-Q-D-V-N-Q-Y.

For each one, four faces and four wings – adding up to 64, and with the eight letters of Y-A-Q-D-V-N-Q-Y, they add up to 72.

teach a mystery – for there are 8 strings on each side, corresponding to the four faces and four wings of each ḥayah (angelic-beast), and in the ‘small counting’ of the name of Enoch, az (then, =8) is equals SHaDaY (Almighty, =314). (Ex. 15:1) ‘Then’ (az) shall he sing – in every place. And the Masters of the Mishnah have said:xlviiBT Menaḥot 39a ‘one who lessens the ‘windings’ of the tzitzit, should not make less than seven, and one who adds, should not add beyond 13.’