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The following pages describe, in detail, the
necessary steps to tie tzitzit according to Rav Amram Gaon. This method consists of making 13
chulyot, interleaving white chulyot (each of three winds) and blue chulyot
(each of three winds).
The photographs below show how to make the first
white chulya and the following blue chulya. This is to be repeated interleaving white, blue, white,
blue, etc.. until the 13th chulya which is white.
The method requires a knot at the beginning and the
end of the windings. Though the
knot used by the Gaon was probably a single strand looped through itself,
shown below is a full double knot, which is a “knot” accepted by all opinions.
The description begins assuming that the tier has
placed the four strings into the corner hole, folded them over evenly, and
tied them with a double knot.
Click on any picture to view it enlarged.
(The enlarged picture will open in a separate window,
and all subsequent enlargements will open in this existing window).
General Glossary
Finger names: thumb, index, middle, ring, little.
Shamash: primary winding strand
Chulya: triplet winding
Special thanks to my wife Deena for the photography
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THE WHITE CHULYA
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1
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Take hold of the
white shamash with the right thumb and index finger. Hold the remaining seven strings
(“core”) in the left hand.
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2
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Wrap the shamash
around the core strings – going over the top of the core and away from
oneself, then pulling down and under the core towards oneself.
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3
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Wrap the shamash
around the core again – going over the top of the core and away from oneself.
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4
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Complete the wrap
of the shamash around the core strings – pulling down and under the core
towards oneself.
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5
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Repeat step 3.
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6
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Repeat step 4.
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7
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Complete the third
wind of the white shamash, wrapping it up and over the core and then hanging
it down behind the core. Use the
left index finger to keep the wrappings in place.
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THE BLUE CHULYA
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8
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Take hold of the
white shamash with the right thumb and index finger. Hold the remaining seven strings –
including the white shamash – in the left hand.
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9
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Wrap the shamash
around the core strings – going over the top of the core and away from
oneself, then pulling down and under the core towards oneself.
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10
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Wrap the shamash
around the core again – going over the top of the core and away from oneself.
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11
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Complete the wrap of
the shamash around the core strings – pulling down and under the core towards
oneself.
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12
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Repeat step 10.
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13
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Repeat step 11.
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14
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Complete the third
wind of the blue shamash, wrapping it up and over the core and then hanging
it down behind the core. Use the
left index finger to keep the wrappings in place.
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THE DOUBLE KNOT
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15
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While never
letting go of the white shamash, gather the remaining 3 strings of the
shamash’s group of 4 strings (recall that when the 4 strings were folded
through the garment hole – two groups of 4 strings are made).
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16
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Prepare to make
the first knot of the double knot using the two groups of 4 strings. Holding the shamash’s 4 string group
between the right thumb and index fingers, place the right middle and ring
fingers between the 2 string groups.
Take the 4 strings in the left hand and place them on top of the other
4 strings, taking hold of them with the right thumb and index fingers.
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17
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Now, insert the
left thumb between the right middle and ring fingers and strings going over
them in order to open the “hole”.
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18
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Using the left
index finger, push the strings being held by the right thumb and index finger
through the hole.
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19
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Use the right
thumb and index finger to take hold of the strings being pushed through by
the left index finger.
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20
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Use the left hand
to pull the left string group to the left and the right hand to pull the
right string group to the right.
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21
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Pull the two
string groups tight – thus creating the first single knot of the desired
double knot.
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22
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Prepare to make
the second knot of the double knot.
Holding the one group of 4 strings between the right thumb and index
fingers, and the other group of 4 strings in the left hand, place the left
index and middle fingers between the 2 string groups. Take the 4 strings in
the right hand and place them on top of the left-hand 4 strings, thus
creating a “hole”.
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23
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Using the right
index finger, push the strings being held by the right thumb and index finger
through the hole.
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24
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Use the right
thumb and index finger to take hold of the strings pushed through the hole
and pull them through the hole.
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25
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Use the left hand
to pull the left string group to the left and the right hand to pull the
right string group to the right.
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26
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Pull the two
string groups tight – thus creating the second single knot of the desired
double knot.
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THE COMPLETE TIE
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