hould Christians wear "TASSELS" (Deut.22:11-12) and attach "a VIOLET thread" (Num. 15:38-40; NEB) to them? Christ said he came not "to destroy the law" (Matt.5:17). Jesus wore an outer garment with a "BLUE or VIOLET" (p.101, Young's Concordance; Wilson's O.T. Word Studies, p.43) thread attached to each TASSEL (tsitzith) on the four corners of his poncho-like robe (tallith). Use both colors just to be safe, but Esther 8:15 seems to imply VIOLET and I.S.B.E. 2:363 says, "Originally they contained a VIOLET thread."

When a woman touched a TASSEL, her continuous menstrual flow finally was healed (Luke 8:44). When others touched his TASSELS, they were also healed (Mark 6:56). "Border" or "hem" is not the meaning in these passages. The Greek word "kraspedon" means "TASSEL, fringe, extremity" (p.105. Young's Concordance). Jesus set us "an example" (1 Pet.2:21). The first act of a devout Jew in his morning prayer is to put the TASSELS to his LIPS and kiss them to acknowledge that he will obey all 613 laws in the Old Testament. As Christ said, "This people ... honoureth me with their LIPS; but their heart is far from me" (Matt.15:7-8). Christ didn't condemn this honourable custom, so maybe we should kiss our TASSELS too. Christ merely condemned the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. They wanted "to be seen of men; they ... enlarge the borders (#2899 -- TASSELS) of their garments" (Matt.23:5). They "appear beautiful outward, but are within full of ... uncleanness... (They) outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within (are) ... full of ... iniquity" (23:27-28). Christ didn't condemn their righteous or beautiful appearance, so we should appear this way too and wear TASSELS attached to BLUE and VIOLET cords. Jesus arose "with healing in his wings (#3671 -- CORNERS)" (Mal. 4:2) so that the sick could "touch the hem (#2899 -- TASSEL) of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly well" (Matt. 14:36). Zephaniah 1:8 says, "I will punish the officials and the king's sons, and all who DON a FOREIGN VESTMENT" (without fringes?). Numbers 15:38-40 says, "Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves FRINGES on the corners of their garments throughout the generations; let them attach a cord of BLUE to the FRINGE at each corner. That shall be your FRINGE; look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus shall you be reminded to observe all my commandments and to be holy to your God."

Jesus condemned the Pharisees in Matthew 23:5 by saying, "But all their works they do to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and ENLARGE the borders (TASSELS) of their garments." T.B. Menahot 41b says, "How many threads must one insert? Beth Shammai say, FOUR; but Beth Hillel say, THREE. And how far must they hang down? Beth Shammai say FOUR (fingerbreadths); but Beth Hillel say THREE (fingerbreadths)." Jesus sided with Hillel's view that it is sufficient to insert THREE threads into the hole at each corner of the garment, and then double them in the middle so that six hang down, with THREE fingerbreadths of loose thread after the windings and knots. Furthermore, Hillel agreed with Jesus by saying, "He who makes a WORLDLY use of the crown of the Torah shall waste away" (Aboth 1:13). According to Maimonides, it was the color of the clear noon sky (PALE INDIGO) (Yad Tzitzith 2:1; Kley HaMikdash 8:13). Rashi, on the other hand, writes that it was the color of the evening sky (GREENISH BLUE) (Rashi on Num. 14:41). Later authorities asserted that it was a DARK GREY-BLUE (Rabbi Gershon Henoch of Radzin, Shefuney Temuney Choi. 3 (p. 36). The Hebrew word "Tzitzith" in gematria equals 600. In addition there are seven knots and six strands. The total is 613, which is the exact number of commandments in the Torah!

God said to look at the tsitzith and "remember my commandments" (Num. 15:37-41). "A long cord is wrapped around five shorter cords first ten times, then five, then six and finally five times, each series being separated from the others by a double square knot. Three double square knots precede the the whole series. The number ten suggests Y (), five suggests H (), six W (), and five H () together making up the name YAHWEH. Snip two vertical scissor-cuts into your T-shirt or boxer shorts, attach the TASSELS using the alligator clips included, and hang them inside or outside your pants. If you prefer to not use the alligator clips, untie each of the four slip knots and tie them around four of your belt loops or in specially created holes. The TASSELS, BLUE or VIOLET thread, and T-shirt or shorts should all be 100% cotton (Deut.22:11).

For a set of four TASSELS with BLUE and VIOLET cord attached to each, use this link to pay with a credit card: