The laws of tzitzit in a cemetery — and it contains 4 seifim: (1) One may enter the cemetery wearing tzitzit, provided they do not drag (נגרר) over the graves; but if they drag over the graves — it is forbidden, משום לועג לרש, mocking the destitute (Mishlei 17:5). במה דברים אמורים — in their days (בימיהם), when the tzitzit was placed on the garment worn for one's own use; but we, who intend it only for the sake of the mitzvah — it is forbidden even if they do not drag. And this when the tzitzit are uncovered (מגולים); but if they are covered (מכוסים) — it is permitted. (2) Some are accustomed to tie two tzitzit of two corners together upon entering the cemetery — ולא הועילו כלום בתקנתן, their precaution accomplishes nothing. (3) One who comes within ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave, his din is as one who enters the cemetery. (4) Where the custom is to remove the tzitzit from the talit of the deceased at home: if the bearers (הכתפים) wear tzitzit — איכא למיחש בהו משום לועג לרש. (On the talit in which one is buried, see siman 15; on conduct le-maaseh at a levaya or an azkara — a referral to the Rav.)
The 4 levels of study — Siman כ״ג, 4 seifim
01
Available
רמת המתחיל
Level 1 — Beginner & Intermediate
Vocalized Hebrew text of the 4 seifim with a fluent English translation. Pedagogical, sober and respectful explanation: entering the cemetery wearing tzitzit — formerly permitted provided they did not drag over the graves, otherwise לועג לרש; nowadays, when the garment is dedicated to the mitzvah, forbidden once the tzitzit are uncovered, and permitted if they are covered; tying two tzitzit together accomplishes nothing; the ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave, and the talit of the deceased. Practical cases: attending a funeral with the talit katan (tucking in the tzitzit), praying at an azkara in the cemetery, approaching a grave.
In-depth pilpul: the principle of לועג לרש (Berachot 18a, Mishlei 17:5) — why the deceased is exempt from the mitzvot, and how a mitzvah performed openly before him would amount to mockery; the shift בימיהם / האידנא (a garment of ordinary use become a garment of mitzvah) and the definition of מגולים / מכוסים — the talit katan under the clothes; the measure of ד׳ אמות של מת, cemetery or a single grave; tying the tzitzit — why ולא הועילו כלום בתקנתן; and the talit of the deceased (seif 4) with the bearers (כתפים). Beit Yossef, Tur, Mg״A, Taz, Pri Megadim, Mishna Berura and Beour Halakha.
Structured summary for review and memorization: the four seifim in tables — dragging over the graves, the shift between formerly and nowadays, uncovered / covered tzitzit, the ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave, and the talit of the deceased with the bearers. Conduct le-maaseh, sober and respectful, in the cemetery and at a levaya, with a referral to the Rav and cf. siman 8, 15, 18 and 21.
The Choulhan Aroukh HaRav of the Admour HaZaken on Orach Chaim siman 23 (where the Rav develops ה׳ seifim): full text and the force of the psak relative to the Mechaber — the לועג לרש upon entering the cemetery, the shift between formerly and nowadays and the tzitzit uncovered or covered, the ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave, tying the tzitzit (of no avail), and the talit of the deceased. For in-depth study, a referral to a Chabad Rav.
Rebuild this siman according to the Rabbanim YOU follow. Choose your Poskim (Rav Ovadia, the Admour HaZaken, the Rebbe, Ben Ish Chai, Mishna Berura, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu…) — Daat AI rebuilds the siman with their opinions, their reasoning, and their disagreements. If your Poskim do not address a point, the AI asks you before expanding.
«לועג לרש חרף עושהו» (Mishlei 17:5, Berachot 18a): the deceased are exempt from the mitzvot; performing a mitzvah openly before them would amount to underscoring what they are now deprived of.
בִּימֵיהֶם / הָאִידְּנָא
Formerly and nowadays
Formerly, the tzitzit was placed on the garment worn for one's own use: permitted in the cemetery provided it did not drag over the graves. We, whose garment is dedicated to the mitzvah — forbidden even without dragging, if they are uncovered.
מְגֻלִּים / מְכֻסִּים
Uncovered or covered
The whole conduct nowadays hinges on this point: uncovered tzitzit (מגולים) are forbidden in the cemetery; covered (מכוסים) — tucked in under the clothes — it is permitted.
קְשִׁירַת הַצִּיצִיּוֹת
Tying two tzitzit
Some tie two tzitzit of two corners together upon entering the cemetery: the Choulhan Aroukh writes that ולא הועילו כלום בתקנתן — this precaution accomplishes nothing.
ד׳ אַמּוֹת שֶׁל מֵת
The ד׳ אמות of the deceased
One who comes within four cubits (ד׳ אמות) of a deceased person or of a grave has the same din as one who enters the cemetery — the same restraint applies there.
טַלִּית שֶׁל מֵת
The talit of the deceased
Where the custom is to remove the tzitzit from the talit of the deceased at home: if the bearers (כתפים) wear tzitzit, איכא למיחש משום לועג לרש — there is reason for concern. See also siman 15.
Structure of the Siman — landmarks in the 4 seifim
Seif
Subject
Theme
Detail
סעיף א
ציצית בבית הקברות
לועג לרש
Permitted to enter wearing tzitzit provided they do not drag over the graves — otherwise forbidden משום לועג לרש. בימיהם (garment of ordinary use) — permitted; we (garment of mitzvah) — forbidden even without dragging, if the tzitzit are מגולים; מכוסים — permitted.
סעיף ב
קשירת הציציות
לא הועילו
Some tie two tzitzit of two corners together upon entering the cemetery: ולא הועילו כלום בתקנתן — this precaution accomplishes nothing.
סעיף ג
ד׳ אמות של מת
Same din
One who comes within ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave — his din is as one who enters the cemetery.
סעיף ד
טלית של מת
✦ Le-maaseh
Where the tzitzit are removed from the talit of the deceased at home: if the bearers (כתפים) wear tzitzit — איכא למיחש בהו משום לועג לרש.
לועג לרש — formerly, nowadays, uncovered and covered
Case
Register
Status of the tzitzit
Central idea
בימיהם
Gemara · Berachot 18a
Permitted — if not dragging
The tzitzit was placed on the garment worn for one's own use: entering the cemetery is permitted, provided the tzitzit do not drag over the graves — otherwise לועג לרש.
האידנא — מגולים
Choulhan Aroukh · seif 1
Forbidden — even without dragging
We, who intend this garment only for the sake of the mitzvah: uncovered tzitzit proclaim the mitzvah before those who are exempt from it — forbidden even if they do not drag.
מכוסים
Le-maaseh
✦ Permitted
Covered tzitzit, tucked in under the clothes — permitted. This is the simple conduct at a levaya or a visit to the cemetery; within ד׳ אמות of a grave, the same rule. See Level 4 and the referral to the Rav.
Frequently asked questions — Siman כ״ג
May one enter a cemetery wearing tzitzit, according to Siman 23?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh, Orach Chaim 23:1, one may enter the cemetery wearing tzitzit, provided they do not drag over the graves; if they drag, it is forbidden משום לועג לרש — mocking the destitute (Mishlei 17:5), for the deceased are exempt from the mitzvot. This applied in their days (בימיהם), when the tzitzit was placed on the garment worn for one's own use; but we, who intend it only for the sake of the mitzvah, it is forbidden even if they do not drag — when the tzitzit are uncovered; if they are covered, it is permitted.
What should one do nowadays with the talit katan in a cemetery, according to Siman 23?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 23:1), nowadays, when the tzitzit garment is dedicated to the mitzvah, one does not enter the cemetery with the tzitzit uncovered (מגולים), even if they do not drag over the graves; but if they are covered (מכוסים) — tucked in under the clothes — it is permitted. Tying two tzitzit of two corners together upon entering, as some are accustomed, accomplishes nothing (ולא הועילו כלום בתקנתן, Orach Chaim 23:2).
What is the din within ד׳ אמות of a deceased person or of a grave, according to Siman 23?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 23:3), one who comes within ד׳ אמות (four cubits) of a deceased person or of a grave has the same din as one who enters the cemetery: uncovered tzitzit are subject there to לועג לרש, and covered, it is permitted. Seif 4 adds that where the custom is to remove the tzitzit from the talit of the deceased at home, if the bearers (כתפים) wear tzitzit, there is reason for concern of לועג לרש.
What does לועג לרש mean, and why does it concern tzitzit in a cemetery?
לועג לרש חרף עושהו — one who mocks the destitute insults his Maker (Mishlei 17:5). The Gemara (Berachot 18a) applies it to the respect due to the deceased: the dead are exempt from the mitzvot, and performing a mitzvah openly in their proximity would amount to underscoring what they are now deprived of. This is why Siman 23 asks, with delicacy, that the tzitzit not drag over the graves — and, nowadays, that they be kept covered in the cemetery and within ד׳ אמות of a grave.