The concluding passage of the Parshah of Shelach deals with the commandment to wear Tzitzit. As the phrase above from the Midrash informs us, Tzitzit is one of the Mitzvot that is considered equivalent to all the Mitzvot in the Torah. This statement is puzzling. After all, the Mitzvot are the tools through which we relate to specific elements in this world. Therefore, by definition what characterizes them is the difference between them. If so, what is meant by a commandment that, by nature, is all-inclusive?
The answer is that this is actually the nature of all the commandments. Every single Mitzvah conveys G-d's Oneness. However, the Mitzvah of Tzitzit is special in that it openly conveys this message. How so? Tzitzit are made up of eight threads and five sets of knots, which when added up together make thirteen. The word Tzitzit in its Mishnaic spelling has a numerical value of six-hundred. Added together these numbers equal 613- the number of commandments in the Torah.
The oneness portrayed through the commandment of Tzitzit affects other commandments that are performed when wearing them. This way, even commandments that in their essence represent division in the world are characterized through this spirit of oneness. An allusion to this can be found in the passage that speaks of Tzitzit, "so that you remember and fulfill all of my Mitzvot"- meaning, that this commandment of Tzitzit makes one more conscious to the fact that all of the commandments are G-d's.
A further interesting insight is that the numerical value of "Moshe Rabbeinu", meaning "Moses our teacher" is also 613. The Gemara teaches that at Har Sinai, when the Jewish people received the Torah, G-d gave every single Jew crowns. R Tzaddok asks what did these crowns represent? After all, a crown symbolizes royalty but if everyone has a crown then what value is there to these crowns? He explains that the crowns represent the unique, personal connection of each Jew with G-d. After the sin of the Golden Calf, this personal attachment was taken away. G-d then chose Moshe to be the only host of the Torah. The fact that the numerical value of his name equals the number of commandments in the Torah emphasizes that he contained the entire Torah. Moshe was now the one who was to teach the Torah to the Jewish people. Kissing the Tzitzit each time is mentioned in the morning Shema allows one to become one with Moshe who represents absolute oneness with G-d.
The answer is that this is actually the nature of all the commandments. Every single Mitzvah conveys G-d's Oneness. However, the Mitzvah of Tzitzit is special in that it openly conveys this message. How so? Tzitzit are made up of eight threads and five sets of knots, which when added up together make thirteen. The word Tzitzit in its Mishnaic spelling has a numerical value of six-hundred. Added together these numbers equal 613- the number of commandments in the Torah.
The oneness portrayed through the commandment of Tzitzit affects other commandments that are performed when wearing them. This way, even commandments that in their essence represent division in the world are characterized through this spirit of oneness. An allusion to this can be found in the passage that speaks of Tzitzit, "so that you remember and fulfill all of my Mitzvot"- meaning, that this commandment of Tzitzit makes one more conscious to the fact that all of the commandments are G-d's.
A further interesting insight is that the numerical value of "Moshe Rabbeinu", meaning "Moses our teacher" is also 613. The Gemara teaches that at Har Sinai, when the Jewish people received the Torah, G-d gave every single Jew crowns. R Tzaddok asks what did these crowns represent? After all, a crown symbolizes royalty but if everyone has a crown then what value is there to these crowns? He explains that the crowns represent the unique, personal connection of each Jew with G-d. After the sin of the Golden Calf, this personal attachment was taken away. G-d then chose Moshe to be the only host of the Torah. The fact that the numerical value of his name equals the number of commandments in the Torah emphasizes that he contained the entire Torah. Moshe was now the one who was to teach the Torah to the Jewish people. Kissing the Tzitzit each time is mentioned in the morning Shema allows one to become one with Moshe who represents absolute oneness with G-d.
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