Top 32 Rabbis and Founders Wearing Tekhelet/Techeiles

Courtesy: Wikipedia

***UPDATE 2018-10-15*** I composed an additional list of More Gedolim, Rabbis, and awesome people that wear techeiles here.

This list is in no particular order though only should show the quality of Rabbis that are proudly wearing Tekhelet from the murex trunculus. The intent here is so that one can see these Rabbis and know that there’s justification in wearing these blue strings despite what detractors might say. The following list is mostly courtesy of “Mi Yodeya: by Hacham Gabriel.” The comments and research are mine.

Disclaimer: all names and pictures shared have already been shared publicly, be it online, video or social media. There is a much larger list which chooses to remain quiet about wearing Techeiles for the time being.

The Generic/Black Hat Crowd (12)

R’ Yisroel Belsky ZT”L

R’ Belsky ZT”L had a complicated relationship with Tekhelet. Ironically, while both he and R’ Schachter wore Techeiles, while working together for the OU, neither one influenced the other (R’ Hershel Schachter told me that if anything, if he told R’ Belsky one thing he would davka do the opposite). R’ Eliyahu Tavger and his father-in-law R’ Eliyahu Kaufman brought it up initially. R’ Belsky had various questions but he still still supported the idea and encouraged others to wear. Then a kuntreiss call Beis Aharon V’Yisroel came out with a series of anti-Techeiles polemics which caused him to temporarily retract his stance. Yehoshua Yankelewitz then discussed the topic with him at length and clarified all the different points. R’ Belsky even asked Yankelewitz to tie his first Tallis Kottons with Techeiles.

He wore it on his regular Tzitzis when wearing a long frock coat to cover it, as well on his Shabbos Tallis. He didn’t like talking about it much and didn’t wear it on his weekday Tallis. My guess is he didn’t want to face negative backlash from the Haredi community and his affiliation with Torah Vodaas which has gone in “that direction.” This is nothing new: my father told me personally that in his time at Torah Vodaas in the mid-late 1970’s when people were starting to research it, the general attitude was that “this is nonsense.” R’ Yisroel Reisman, who is presently one of the Roshei Yeshiva at Torah Vodaas, has been vocal against it, saying there’s a “zero percent chance” that the murex is the techeiles source (which has been addressed by R’ Aryeh Leibowitz since that lecture). R’ Belsky also told his kids that they don’t need to wear it, and they don’t.

From OUKosher by Rabbi Eliyahu W. Ferrell:

”

It used to be that wearing Techeiles (the kind that became available around 1990) was unique to the religious Zionist camp. In recent years, it has made inroads into parts of the Chareidi world; although (I am reliably informed that) Maran HaGaon Rav David Feinstein, Shlita, opposes wearing them, (I am reliably informed that) Maran HaGaon Rav Elyah Ber Vachtfogel, Shlita, does wear them. It is no secret that Rav Belsky wore them.

At the request of a friend’s son, I asked Rav Belsky about his approach to Techeiles. Rav Belsky told me, “It’s the real thing…there are Kama V’Kama Rayos…” When I asked him if he recommends wearing them, he said that, in general, he doesn’t tell people what do, and did not want to become the “public advocate” of Techeiles.

In the sefer Nefesh HaRav, Rav Schachter writes that Rav Soloveitchik opposed attempts to restore lost elements of the Mesorah via scientific or other means. The Chilazon, like any other Cheftza in the Mesorah, must be identified exclusivelyby the Mesorah itself. This, reportedly, was the Beis HaLevi’s objection to the Radziner Techeilis. I asked Rav Belsky about scientifically restoring lost elements of the Mesorah. He said that with solid Rayos, it’s “K’Ilu there is a Mesorah.”

”

R’ Belsky held like Tosafos. I personally asked R’ Yisroel Barkin, one of R’ Belsky’s closest nephews, how he tied it. He explained that his uncle advised him on two things: two blue/white strings and 5 knots, nothing else. In terms of tying pattern, he explained that Ptil Tekhelet tied the strings for him in their default manner, the Chinuch method.

R’ Belsky ZT”L with Rabbi Sholem Fishbane

R’ Meir Mazuz

Rav, Kisei Rachamim in B’nei Brak.

(On Shabbat) – source source 2

“ראיתי בירחון אור תורה (תשע”א אדר ב’) בענין התכלת מה שכתב הרב מרן ראש הישיבה שליט”א שנוהג לשים רק בשבת תכלת.
1. למה אם שם זאת רק פעם בשבוע זה לא נחשב כמוציא לעז על הראשונים?
2. ועוד כתב הרב בשם הרב אלישיב שאין לחייב את העם בתכלת, מה כוונת הדברים?
3. והאם ידוע לרב אם הרב אלישיב היה בעצמו שם תכלת בציצית?
4. ומתי יהיה נכון לחייב/להורות לרבים לשים תכלת?

הרב המשיב: הרב יהונתן מאזוז שליט”א
1. כשהרב שם רק בשבת הדבר מוכיח שזו הנהגה חדשה שלא נהגו בה אבותינו, ולכן בשאר השבוע אינו שם, ובשבת שם כעין חומרא.
2. הכוונה היא, שאין לנו מסורות ברורות שזה זה ודאי התכלת של מצוה, אלא ראיות שבזה היו משתמשים בעבר לצביעה והסימנים בש”ס מתאימים לזה. וזה לא מספיק כדי להורות לרבים לחייב לשים תכלת, בפרט שאינה מעכבת בציצית.
3. שמעתי שהביאו לו טלית קטן מצוייצת בתכלת והרב זצ”ל לבש כמה רגעים והוריד.
4. כשיבוא המשיח.”

”

”

R’ Simcha Kook

R’ Simcha Kook is the chief Rabbi of Rehovot.  Likely in private or on his Shabbos Tallis as pics online don’t feature a Techeiles Tallis.

***UPDATE 2019-03-28 *** He’s strongly ANTI. He wears occasionally in the חורבה only.

R’ Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

(source)

Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb was the executive director of the Orthodox Union for a few years following the Rabbi Lanner scandal. A trained psychologist, Rabbi Weinreb served as a calming influence in light of the tumult going on at the time.

A more humorous picture when Campbells was announced Kosher in 2003.

Note: R’ Weinreb and I had a very nice email conversation about this earlier. He wears it on all his Talleisim and is 100% convinced that the murex is the real source.

R’ Weinreb wears one full string (Raavad) and ties like the Chinuch.

R’ Dov Lior

Rabbi Dov Lior, Chief Rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba, at a meeting of Jewish settlers from the West Bank together with spiritual and political leaders attend a meeting in the Israeli parliament, in preparation for events which might follow the vote on the Palestinians state in the United Nations later this month. September 07, 2011. Photo by Uri Lenz/FLASH90 *** Local Caption ***

(source)

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dov_Lior: 

Dov Lior (Hebrew: דב ליאור‎‎, born 1933) is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi, who serves as the Chief Rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba in the southern West Bank. He is also the rosh yeshiva of the Kiryat Arba Hesder Yeshiva, and also heads the “Council of Rabbis of Judea and Samaria“.

R’ Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern

(adding from a comment)

Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern is the Rosh Yeshiva of Toras Chochom in Israel. A Mekubal as well, he is a Chasid of Ger from birth. He learned in the Yeshivas of Lucerne and Gateshead. He is married to the daughter of R’ Yosef Lubinsky from Antwerp (known as the Chantshin Rabbi). He moved to Yerushalayim after his marriage and learned with R’ Eliezer Shlomo Schick and R’ Nissan Dovid Kivak. He is also close to R’ Tzvi Hirsh Rosenbaum (Kretchnifer Rabbi-Siget).

Video courtesy: Ptil Tekhelet

R’ Menashe Yisroel Reisman

Source: https://twitter.com/yiddishnews/status/694009371106361344

R’ Menashe Reisman delivers a daily Shiur in “Bnei Yehoshua” in Jerusalem. Only on his tallis katan and only at home.

R’ Bentzion Halberstam

Image courtesy: hefkervelt.blogspot.com

He is not to be confused with the Bobover Rebbe, Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam. The differences in lineage can be seen here: Link. This Rabbi Benzion Halberstam, though serves Kehal Chassidim in Westgate, Lakewood, NJ, and is a Posek in his own right. 

I was advised that R’ Halberstam’s configuration is as follows: Tosafos strings, tied the Radzyner style of 7-8-11-13, but alternating 3 white 3 blue.

R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg

Photo courtesy: Yeshiva World

R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, son-in-law of R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, is a rabbi, posek, and Rosh Yeshiva in Israel. He is also Chief Justice of the Rabbinical High Court in Jerusalem and wears Tekhelet. In addition, R’ Goldberg wrote a beautiful Haskama on R’ Mois Navon’s book “Threads of Reason.”

From Techeiles.org:

“Harav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg Shlita is a son-in-law of the late Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Zatzal, and is a leading Posek in Eretz Yisrael. He heads the Beis Din Hayashar Vehatov in Yerushalayim as well as the Yeshiva Sadigura. He is consulted by many prominent Rabbonim worldwide on matters of Gittin and Choshen Mishpat.”

R’ Goldberg feels that all strings and tying methods are good at this stage. That said, only his youngest son wears it and he told his kids that they don’t need to wear it (but he does – courtesy – R’ Nissan Kaplan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcy4xEam1-Q).

R’ Shlomo Dichovsky

(source)

Courtesy: Wikipedia

A Dayan.

From his Wikipedia page:

“הרב שלמה דיכובסקי (נולד ב-15 בדצמבר 1938) הוא רב ודיין ישראלי חרדי, חבר בית הדין הרבני הגדול עד לפרישתו, שלאחריה שימש כמנהל בתי הדין. נחשב לליברלי באופן יחסי, ובקיא בתחומים כלליים – בעיקר במשפטים.”

R’ Elyah Ber Wachtfogel

“Hacham Gabriel” heard this from a Talmid. His talis in Yeshiva is regular.

Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, is rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of South Fallsburg.

R’ Kalman Epstein

R’ Kalman Epstein is the son of R’ Zelig Epstein and serves as Rosh Yeshiva of Shaar HaTorah. (“Hacham Gabriel” of “Mi Yodeya” claims to have heard this from a talmid)

No image available.

The Twerskis (3)

R’ Abraham Twerski

(source)

R’ Twerski has worn Tekhelet for years. Here are some of his endorsements:

Why Having the Blues Is a Good Thing

R’ Twerski years ago tied like the Chinuch. My guess is he now wears it the same way today as well.

R’ Twerski at a Ptil Tekhelet conférence in 1999. Photo courtesy: Ptil Tekhelet

R’ Bentzion Twerski

A big public advocate for Techeiles, R’ Bentzion wears it the following method: Yemenite Rambam Chulyos, one whole blue string, and Rashi knots separating in between. For more on this see here.

R’ Chaim Twerski

R’ Chaim Twerski uses Raavad strings. His preference is GR”A, and also uses a unique tying method on his Talleisim with Chassidic Chulyos.

The Generic/Non-Black Hat Crowd (8)

R’ David bar Hayim (Rabbi David Mandel)

R’ Mordechai Machlis

(“Hacham Gabriel” of “Mi Yodeya” claims you can see him at his minyan on shabbat morning wearing a tallit).

I personally saw him in Shul on Shabbos. He wears Rambam strings 7-8-11-13. Doesn’t feel there’s anything wrong with Radzyn or Murex Tzitzis since the color reminder is what’s important.

Courtesy: Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

From Yeshivat Lev HaTorah:

“Rav Machlis received Semicha from Yeshivat Torah v’Daat and has been teaching for 25 years. He powerfully personifies chesed, dedicating his life to promoting love for all Jews and modeling a profound respect for every human being. He and his family host around 100 guests in their home each Shabbat, exposing his guests to the beauty of Torah and a vision of true Jewish unity.”

R’ Alan Kimche

R’ Kimche is an Australian Rabbi who studied in the Mir under R’ Chaim Shmulewitz. He received his first rabbinic Semicha from R. Yaakov Fink zt”l, the Av Beit Din of Haifa, and later continued his halakhic studies with Rav Yehoshua Neuwirth shlita, (author of “Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata”) from whom he received an advanced Semicha. R’ Kimchi is now the Rav of the Ner Israel community in Hendon, London, UK.

R’ Moshe Tzuriel

“Hacham Gabriel” heard directly from the Rav Shachter himself.

Courtesy: yeshiva.org.il

Rav Moshe Tzuriel is the mashgiach at Yeshivat Shala’avim.

R’ Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute

Courtesy: Times of Israel (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

“Hacham Gabriel” claims to have seen this from personal experience.

Rabbis Chaim Richman and YU’s Meir Soloveichik

R’ Shlomo Riskin

Rabbi of the Jewish settlement of Efrat, Shlomo Riskin, seen during a prayer held in celebration of his extendedstay as the settement’s rabbi, after a long battle with the Chief Rabbinate, on July 6, 2015. Photo by Gershon Elinson/Flash90

From StackExchange user Marc: “I saw it with my own eyes, and when someone asked about them, his exact comment was:

You have an opportunity for a mitzvah d’orayta – how can you not wear them ?
Later he mentioned that they were from P’til Techelet.”

He wears Raavad strings.

R’ Berel Wein

R’ Wein wears it Rambam 13 style.

R’ Tovia Singer

At the Bris of one of his grandsons.

From the above photo, he appears to wear the Raavad strings with the GR”A’s tying method.

The Strictly YU Crowd (3)

R’ Herschel Schachter

Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh Hayeshiva of YU, one of the poskim of the Orthodox Union regarding Kashrus, and a former talmid of R’ Joseph Ber Soloveitchik (The Rav). He pre-ordered a set for as soon Ptil Tekhelet was in production.

R’ Schachter has tweaked his tzitzis numerous times. At the time of this post, his shitta is 7 winds of 7 separated by 8 double knots, with the first three winds and last three being white. The 7 winds is because the Gemara says “no less than 7 and no more than 13,” but didn’t say 7 or 13 of what, so he’s covered there. Besides, the Raavad held that way so that’s covered. Separating the chulyos is what the Rambam prescribed, and he does so with Rashi/Tosafos knots. The first and last three (as opposed to one) is most recently due to his learning Perek HaTecheiles with a 14 year old high school student at an NCSY event.

Rabbis Hershel Schachter and Yonasan Sacks chatting.

Courtesy: jewishlinkbwc.com

Courtesy: jewishlinkbwc.com

R’ Moshe David Tendler 

(source)

R’ Moshe David Tendler is the son-in-law of R’ Moshe Feinstein ZT”L, professor of biology/rosh yeshiva at YU, and medical expert. He is someone who goes “against the grain” in medical opinion (such as using a tube for Metzitzah b’Peh), and is one Rabbi who has visited the Temple Mount multiple times in the past. He has written pieces on Tekhelet himself, such as this one on Masorah.

R’ Tendler wears it Rambam style. R’ Schachter apparently called him out on this once as to why not wear two strings. He responded but I don’t know what the response was.

R’ Reuven Taragin

From : https://www.hakotel.org.il/english/staff/

Rav Reuven Taragin, a Wexner Fellow and Musmach of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate completed a B.A. in Science and Philosophy at Yeshiva University and an M.A. in Jewish History and Education at Touro College (Israel).  Rav Taragin has also been deeply involved in informal education programming including NCSY shabbatonim and the creation of the YUSSR summer program.

The Strictly YU/Har Etzion Crowd (5)

Practically all of them wear it Rambam style.

R’ Moshe Taragin

From http://www.haretzion.org/faculty/ramim

Rav Moshe Taragin [YHE ’83] has been a Ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion since 1994. He has Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a BA in Computer Science from Yeshiva College, and an MA in English Literature from City University. Rabbi Taragin previously taught Talmud at Columbia University, lectured in Talmud and Bible at the IBC and JSS divisions of Yeshiva University, and served as Assistant Rabbi at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. In addition, Rabbi Taragin currently teaches at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion. He is the author of an Internet shiur entitled “Talmudic Methodology” with over 5,000 subscribers, and authors an audio shiur for KMTT– Ki Mitzion Teitze Torah – The Torah Podcast, entitled “Redemptive Sketches.” Short divrei Torah related to the parsha of the week can be accessed here. You can also follow Rav Taragin on Twitter.

Courtesy: Facebook

R’ Doniel Schreiber

Only on his tallit.

From http://www.haretzion.org/faculty/ramim:

Rav Doniel Schreiber [YHE ’86] has been a Ram at Yeshivat Har Etzion since 1994, and he is the founding Dean of the Yeshivat Har Etzion Center for Torah Leadership. He has Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and an MA in Medieval Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Rabbi Schreiber also lectures regularly in halacha in the community of Alon Shevut, and has been delivering a weekly evening halacha shiur to men and women in Jerusalem since 1997, first at Kehillat Moriah until 2003, and then at the Hildesheimer Shul until the present. He is the author of an Internet shiur entitled “The Laws of Shabbat” for the Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash, has published articles in various books and Torah journals, and has served as scholar-in-residence in various communities in Israel, the United States, and South Africa. His shiurim emphasize reaching a clear halachic conclusion while showcasing the dynamic and conceptual system of halacha as it emerges from the gemara, rishonim, and poskim. Rabbi Schreiber and his wife, together with their eight children, live in Alon Shevut.

R’ Mosheh Lichtenstein

From Wikipedia.

“Hacham Gabriel” claims to have seen this himself.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosheh_Lichtenstein:

Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein (Hebrew: משה ליכטנשטיין‎; born July 7, 1961) is a co-Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion located in Alon Shvut.^[1] He is the son of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein.

R’ Yaakov Medan

(“Hacham Gabriel” of “Mi Yodeya” claims to know this from personal experience)

Rabbi Yaaqov Medan (sometimes Ya’acov Medan) (Hebrew: יעקב מדן ) (born 1950/5710/3263) is a co-Rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion.

R’ Yoel Bin-Nun

(only on his suit-jacket)

Based on StackExchange user Double AA:

“Rav Yoel Bin Nun famously slit the slides of his suit jacket rov open and attached tzitzit (with techelet) because he wants to be yotzei the mitzvah on his regular beged as is likely the intention of the pasuk. Source: I’ve seen him!”

R’ Yoel Bin Nun founded Gush Emunim shortly after the 1967 war which encouraged Jews to settle lands just conquered. It formally became an organization in 1974 but has since disbanded. He also co-founded Har Etzion. R’ Bin Nun now lives in Haifa.

Early Adopters (4)

R’ Mois Navon

From tekhelet.net:

”

Mois Navon is a member of the Ptil Tekhelet Association where he lectures extensively on the topic of tekhelet, manages the association’s question and answer forum both halachically and technically, and writes numerous articles on the subject. In addition he has published articles on Jewish topics in The Torah u-Madda Journal, Jewish Thought, Jewish Bible Quarterly, B’Ohr HaTorah, Alei Etzion, and Chidushei Torah. He also maintains an outreach class on Jewish Thought, and gives talks in parshanut.  His writings can be accessed at: www.divreinavon.com.

As a Computer Design Engineer whose professional experience in research and development of digital hardware spans over 20 years, Mois has worked for notable companies such as IBM, NASA’s JPL, and News Corporation’s NDS. He is currently developing image-processing ASICs for Mobileye Vision Technologies to improve automotive safety.  Mois has several patents pending in the field of image processing and computing hardware.

”

R’ Navon ties like Rambam.

Baruch Sterman, Ph.D

from tekhelet.net:

”

Baruch Sterman is co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association. Baruch received his doctorate in Physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he developed a CO2 laser used for both medical and industrial purposes.   He received his Masters in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University. For the past fifteen years, Baruch has been a leading executive in the High-Tech sector in Israel, specializing in the fields of telecommunications and computer security. He holds several patents in optics and voice technology.

Baruch was instrumental in developing the modern techniques for dyeing tekhelet used by the Ptil Tekhelet Association today. These techniques take into account the halakhic, as well as the physical and chemical requirements needed for mass production. He has published numerous articles on the scientific and halakhic aspects of Tekhelet, and writes extensively on the topic of Science and Torah in general. His articles can be found at www.baruchsterman.com.

Baruch lives in Efrat, Israel with his wife Judy and their seven children.

”

Baruch ties like R’ Amram Gaon but includes an AR”I spine in the pattern.

Rav Eliyahu Tavger

R’ Tavger was the first person to wear Tekhelet with a Bracha.

 From Tekhelet.net:

“Rav Tavger is the Rabbinical advisor of the Ptil Tekhelet Association.  His involvement with tekhelet began in his kollel studies during which time he published his first work on tekhelet in the Journal Moria, with the blessing of HaRav Hagaon Shmuel Auerbach S”hlita.   Further in depth research of the subject led to the publication of his seminal work “Klil Tekhelet”.  In 1988, his research culminated in the first ever dyeing of tekhelet for the mitzvah of tzitzit from the Murex trunculus since its disappearance 1300 years prior.  Rav Tavger then joined the founders of Ptil Tekhelet to become the organization’s guiding light. 

In addition to his efforts with the Ptil Tekhelet Organization, Rav Tavger has been teaching in Moscow in Yeshivat Torat Chaim founded by HaRav Hagaon Moshe Soloveitchik ZT”L and currently under the auspices of HaRav Hagaon Aharon Leib Steinman S”hlita.  Rav Tavger resides in Kiryat Sefer with his wife Miriam and their eleven children.

Languages:  Hebrew, Russian”

Since R’ Tavger recommends Ashkenazim to wear like the Chinuch method, I’m guessing he wears like the Chinuch.

Rabbi Ari Greenspan, DMD

From tekhelet.com:

“

Dr. Greenspan is a co-founder of the Ptil Tekhelet Association. He is a US trained dentist, with a practice in Jerusalem. He is a mohel, shochet and sofer, and has worked for more than 20 years on collecting Jewish traditions and mesorot from far flung Jewish communities. He has lectured around the world for Dental groups and for many Synagogues and Jewish Schools.

Multimedia Presentations include:

Tekhelet, Halachic Archeology, Halachic Adventuring, Mesorah of Exotic Kosher Animals, Search for the Perfect Etrog, History of Matzah. His writings can be accessed at:

http://halachicadventures.com/

”

More

R’ Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg

Evidently R’ Scheinberg ZT”L wanted to hedge his bets. With 100 pairs of Tzitzis being white at least one could have Tekhelet.

As an aside, he founded Yeshivas Torah Ore.

R’ Aryeh Leibowitz

There was an earlier video of him on “Why Gedolim Don’t Wear Tekhelet” where he admitted to not wearing it. Now times have changed. Not only does he now wear Tekhelet, he wears it the R’ Schachter method, which is the most complicated and expensive method due to the sheer amount of Techeiles required to satisfy all Rabbinic opinions.

R’ Lebowitz serves as Rav of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere and has also taught at both YU and Landers.

Rabbis Yisroel Reisman Shlit”a and Aryeh Lebowitz chatting on March 11, 2019 (Twitter).

Here’s an additional list of More Gedolim, Rabbis, and awesome people that wear techeiles.