What is Tekhelet?
Tekhelet is one of the colors mentioned in the Torah,
traditionally associated with a shade of blue. It is mentioned
frequently alongside gold, silver and silk as a precious
commodity. There is a Biblical commandment to tie a thread of
Tekhelet around the tzitzit (fringes) of cornered garments. In
addition, Tekhelet is required in the garments of the High Priest,
as well as for the coverings of the holy vessels.
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What does Tekhelet come from?
The Talmud describes Tekhelet as coming from a sea-creature
called a chilazon. In a homiletic passage, the chilazon is
characterized as "similar to the sea, being similar to [but not] a
fish, and coming up from the sea once in seventy years [rarely]."
Chilazon in modern Hebrew means "snail". Rabbinic, historical,
archaeological and chemical evidence point to Murex trunculus
snails as the source of Tekhelet.
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How is Tekhelet produced?
Murex snails possess a gland which contains the source of
Tekhelet. Dibromoindigo, which originates from glandular
secretions of a fresh snail, bonds chemically to wool when put
into solution
in a reduced state (vat dyeing). In the presence of
sunlight, the dibromoindigo debrominates to indigo, leaving
color-fast blue wool.
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Where do the snails live?
Murex trunculus snails live along the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea. In ancient Israel, the tribe of Zebulun,
located on the North-East coast, was attributed with having the
chilazon. Archaeological digs have since uncovered mounds of
broken Murex shells and remains of the dyeing industry on the
North-Eastern coast of Israel. Today, since Murex trunculus snails
are a protected species in Israel, snails for Tekhelet are
obtained and processed outside of Israel (Greece, Spain) where
they are caught and sold for food.
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Who does the dyeing?
The dye extraction process is performed by workers under P'til
Tekhelet's supervision. The actual dyeing of wool with the
Tekhelet is undertaken by P'til Tekhelet, (in Jerusalem and its
environs) under the direction of its founder Rav Eliyahu Tavger,
and in consultation with various Poskim. The wool is dyed
expressly with the intent of the
mitzvah, as dictated by halacha. |
How many snails does it take to complete
a set of tzitzit?
Estimate that it takes approximately 30 snails to produce a set
of Tekhelet strings. However, this number may very well fluctuate
based on season, port of origin, extraction technique, etc.
Scientific investigation of these influences will hopefully
produce more accurate information in the future.
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Tzitzis Wash Bag |
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Silver Atarah |
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