Reply To: No mention of the huge techailes event in Boro Park on Chol Hamoed?!

ubiquitin

it isn’t circular reasoning. Let me explain the intention of the statement that it’s a bitul mitzva. Many people feel that they don’t need to take this discussion seriously and they don’t need to verify the truth, because even if it would turn out that it’s techailes, they could elect not to wear it, if they so prefer. This is a major cause, in my opinion, for people to so quickly and easily dismiss it and make arguments which aren’t well thought through. This is wring, because if true techailes is available, it’s a chiyuv gamur. That’s the intention of the point that’s being made.

I haven’t read the posters to which you refer, but the statement should not be that he has no mitzvas tzitzis at ll, but that it is an issur of being mevatel a mitzva, namely the mitzva of techailes, which is a chiyuv gamur.

As far as the discussion about it not coming from from a good place, I understand that it seems as you say. But let me ask you. If you would know something as clear as the day, and you would see information being distorted, would you have any other choice but to say truth as it is? I know it seems unlikely that all of the arguments against techailes are false and based on sheer ignorance. It seems unlikely to someone who is looking in from the outside. But knowing the subject well changes that. Do you know that many people in the world have compassion for the cause of terrorists, and even say that they could be understood and validated to commit terrorism, in light of the validity of their cause. Do you think that I am required to attribute validity to their position just because it is widely held? What about the modern world’s position on mishkav zachar? There are even some Jews who argue that one could be an observant Jew and still legitimately engage in those toaivos. But I know that The Torah forbids it. I know it because I know this halacha. So you see, sometimes you may come across as not having humility and intellectual honesty, but still you know that you are right. What should I do since I see the arguments presented against techailes, even by talmiday chachamim, and I can easily disprove them to the point that the person making the argument is left without an answer to utter. Did Avraham Avinu lack humility to go against the entire world of idol worshipers? Chas veshalom. One has no choice but to say the truth as he sees it. And it isn’t coming from a bad place.

Therefore I think the only way to discuss this is by discussing the actual topic.

I will tell you that I advocate for the techeiles out of genuine desire to perform ratzon Hashem. It is actually very uncomfortable to me at times to be taking this position. I don’t like being different and standing out. I don’t like being pompous, and I don’t like saying that all who argue against me are wrong. I know how that sounds and I don’t like to sound that way. Taking this position is actually mesiras nefesh in a sense. You seem like a sincere person, and I understand you for taking the position you have taken. But I must, for the sake of the Torah and for sake of the truth, say it as it is.

Since you say that you are arguing for the purpose in order to learn, I respect that.