
Ptil Tekhelet’s library is an extensive resource with hundreds of articles, audio shiurim and lectures, and videos on all topics related to Tekhelet – from Halacha to Science, from Medrash and Kabbalah to History, Linguistics, Chemistry and more. And all this in many languages! It may be hard to get a handle on all that information, so we offer this spot which features articles and shiurim that standout and deserve special attention.
Tekhelet in Our Times
Rabbi Avrohom Gross
A comprehensive overview detailing the arguments in favor of the Murex trunculus sea-snail as the Chillazon and the dye obtained from it as kosher Tekhelet. Rabbi Gross backs up his claims with extensive sources from Chazal, Rishonim, and Achronim.
Shiur 1- Techeiles and its rediscovery
- Introduction
- What is Techeiles?
- Is it possible to rediscover תכלת or was it גנז לעתיד לבוא?
- The search for Techeiles
Shiur 2 Part 1- Simanim and Common Sense
- Introduction to using simanim as a source of identification
- Abstract Logic vs. Common Sense
- Approaching the simanim with mathematical logic
Shiur 2 Part 2- Simanim of Techeiles dye
- 7 Simanim of Chazal on the Techeiles dye
Shiur 3 Part 1- Simanim of the Chilazon
- 15 Simanim of Chazal on the Chilazon
Shiur 3 Part 2- The Murex and Simanei Chazal
- Crosschecking the Murex with the 22 simanim of Chazal
Shiur 4 Part 1- History of the Techeiles and the Murex
- The History of Techeiles and how it fits with the Murex
Shiur 4 Part 2- “Purpura” and the “Chilazon”
- Identification of the Murex as “Purpura”
- Translation of the word “Chilazon” and its implication on Techeiles
Shiur 5 Part 1- FAQ’s on the Murex as the source of Techeiles
- Understanding the proper approach to questions
- 5 categories of questions
Shiur 5 Part 2- Understanding the Misunderstandings
- The place of Rishonim in the identification of the Chilazon
- Requiring a mesorah to bring back Techeiles
- Chodosh Asur Min HaTorah
- Practical questions: Number of Strings, Color, and Shade
Shiur 5 Part 3- Understanding the silence of the Gedolim
- The stance of the Gedolim and Rabbanim
- The stance of R’ Shlomo Z. Aurbach zt”l and R’ Yosef S. Elyashiv zt”l
- Understanding the Gedolim and Poskim of our time
- Eitza regarding asking a Rav or Rebbe