Tekhelet

A set of tzitzit with blue thread produced from Sepia officinalis Tekhelet , ( ), Techelet or Techeiles is a blue dye mentioned 48 times in the Jewish Bible ( Tanakh ) and translated by the Septuagint as hyakinthinos ( , blue). Its uses include the clothing of the High Priest, the tapestries in the Mishkan , and the tassels (known as Tzitzit ) to be affixed to the corners of one's garments. Following the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, the sole use of the blue dyed strings was in the tzitzit. Tzitzit are tassels composed of 4 strings for which Rabbinic Judaism offers three opinions as to how many are to be blue: 2 strings ; 1 string ; 1 half string .

A set of tzitzit, four fringes or "tassels" with blue threads produced from a Hexaplex (Murex) trunculus based dye Tekhelet ( , "turquoise" or "blue"; alternate spellings include tekelet , t'chelet , techelet and techeiles ) is a blue dye mentioned 49 times in the Hebrew Bible / Tanakh . It was used in the clothing of the High Priest , the tapestries in the Tabernacle , and the tassels (Hebrew: ציצית , tzitzit , pl. tzitziot ) affixed to the corners of one's four-cornered garment, such as the tallit (garment worn during prayer). According to the Talmud , the dye of tekhelet was produced from a marine creature known as the ḥillazon (also spelled chilazon ). According to the Tosefta ( Men. 9:6), the hillazon is the exclusive source of the dye. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans, the sole use of the tekhelet (blue) dye was in tzitzit . A tzitzit is made of four strands, a number of which be tekhelet, which Rashi describes as green as “poireau,” the French word for leek , transliterated into Hebrew. There are three opinions as to how many are to be blue: 2 strings; 1 string; 1 half string. These strands are then threaded and hang down, appearing to be eight. The four strands are passed through a hole 25 to 50 mm away from the corners of the four-cornered cloth. Tekhelet is mentioned in the third paragraph of the daily prayers known as the Sh'ma Yisrael (Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ; "Hear, [O] Israel"), citing Bamidbar – Parshas Shelach ( Book of Numbers 15:37–41). Chumash : the five books of Moses : with Rashi's commentary Targum Onkelos and Haftaros with a commentary anthologized from classic Rabbinic texts and the works of the Lubavitcher Rebge (Synagogue ed.).

A blue dye mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and prized by ancient Mediterranean civilizations A set of Tzitzit , four "tassels" or fringes with Skyblue threads produced from a Hexaplex trunculus -based dye – tied according to the opinion of the Sefer ha-Chinuch . The national flag of Israel Tekhelet ( təḵēleṯ ; alternative spellings include tekheleth , t'chelet , techelet , and techeiles ) is a highly valued dye described as either “ Skyblue ” ( , Ta'ḵhol or Ta'chol , Ta'hol ), [1] or " Light blue ” ( כחול בהיר , ḵa'chol bahir , ḵa'ḵhol bahir , ca'hol bahir ), that held great significance in ancient Mediterranean civilizations . In the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition , tekhelet was used to color the clothing of the High Priest , the tapestries in the Tabernacle , and the tzitzit ( fringes ) attached to the corners of four-cornered garments, including the tallit . The mention of tekhelet is particularly notable in the third paragraph of the Shema , referencing Numbers 15:37–41 . The Bible does not specify the source or production method of tekhelet. According to later rabbinic literature , it was exclusively derived from a marine creature known as the Ḥillazon . However, the knowledge of tekhelet production was lost during the Middle Ages , leading to the omission of tekhelet from tzitzit. In recent times, many Jews believe that experts have identified the Ḥillazon and rediscovered the process for manufacturing tekhelet, leading to the revival of its use in tzitzit. The snail Hexaplex trunculus (historically known as Murex trunculus ) is widely considered to be the creature responsible for producing authentic tekhelet. A garment with tzitzit consists of four tassels, each containing four strings. There are three differing opinions in rabbinic literature regarding the number of strings that should be dyed with tekhelet: two strings, one string, or one-half string. Chumash : the five books of Moses : with Rashi's commentary Targum Onkelos and Haftaros with a commentary anthologized from classic rabbinic texts and the works of the Lubavitcher Rebge (Synagogue ed.).

Blue dye mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and prized by ancient Mediterranean civilizations For the journal, see Azure (magazine) . ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) A set of Tzitzit , four "tassels" or fringes with sky blue threads produced from a Hexaplex trunculus -based dye – tied according to the opinion of the Sefer ha-Chinuch The national flag of Israel A contemporary tekhelet thread tied according to Vilna Gaon 's method History Communities Population Denominations Orthodox Modern Haredi Hasidic Reform Conservative Karaite Reconstructionist Renewal Science Haymanot Humanistic Culture Languages Hebrew Biblical Mishnaic Medieval Modern Bukharian Ghardaïa Sign Jewish Koine Greek Judeo-Arabic Judeo-Aramaic Judeo-Berber Judeo-Gascon Judaeo-Georgian Judaeo-Iranian Judeo-Italian Judeo-Malayalam Judaeo-Spanish Judeo-Tat Knaanic Shassi Yeshivish Yevanic Yiddish Zarphatic Politics Category Portal v t e Tekhelet ( Hebrew : תְּכֵלֶת ‎ təḵēleṯ ; also transliterated tekheleth , t'chelet , techelet , and techeiles ) is a highly valued blue dye that held great significance in ancient Mediterranean civilizations . In the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition , tekhelet is used to color the tzitzit ( fringes ) attached to the corners of four-cornered garments, including the tallit , and historically in the clothing of the High Priest of Israel and tapestries in the Tabernacle . The Bible does not specify the source or production method of tekhelet, but rabbinic literature records that it could only be derived from a marine animal known as the ḥillāzon (Hebrew: חלזון ). However, the knowledge of tekhelet production was lost during the Middle Ages , leading to the omission of tekhelet from tzitzit. In recent times, many Jews believe that experts have identified the ḥillāzon as the snail Hexaplex trunculus (historically classified as Murex trunculus ) and rediscovered the process for manufacturing tekhelet, leading to the revival of tekhelet's use in tzitzit. A garment with tzitzit consists of four tassels, each containing four strings. There are three differing opinions in rabbinic literature regarding the number of strings in each tassel that should be dyed with tekhelet: two strings, one string, or one-half string. Rashi , Tosafot , Asher ben Jehiel Rabbi Natan ben Jechiel , Raavad , Rabbi Isaiah di Trani the Younger Rambam There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).