Checking Tallis Strings on Shabbos

Q. Should one check their Talis on Shabbos to make sure it is still kosher?

A. The Mishnah Berurah (13:7) writes that one must check their talis in the morning even on Shabbos before reciting the beracha, however he writes that many have the custom not to do so. Some seforim write that the Ksav Sofer and the Steipler would not check tzizis on Shabbos (though they probably checked them before Shabbos). Sefer Piskei Teshuvos (13:3) provides additional sources for not checking and lists various possible concerns. For example, if the knots are not tight, one might tighten them out of habit, and this is forbidden on Shabbos. The strings might be tightly entangled, and some do not permit straightening them on Shabbos because they consider this “tikun manah” (fixing a broken utensil – since the strings should remain separate). The Mishnah Berurah was clearly not concerned for any of these reasons and ruled that if one did not check their talis before Shabbos, it should be checked on Shabbos. However, in the Beiur Halacha (13: s.v. kodem) he recommends checking them before Shabbos (or on Motzei Shabbos when folding and putting it away), which avoids the issue completely.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.