What are Tchelet Tzitzit strings?
The Torah commands us to make the Tzitzit with a thread of Techelet (usually translated as “blue”). The Torah is referring to a dye made from a specific type of sea creature that was common in ancient times. After the Temple was destroyed, the Jewish people lost the tradition of how to make this dye. The Rabbis ruled that the Mitzvah of Tzitzit could still be performed without the blue thread. Since then, Jewish people all over the world have made their Tzitzit all white. In the last hundred years, there have been various scholars who have tried to recreate the original Techelet dye used in Temple times. They have done research based on ancient text and archeology. One particular group in Israel called, The Association for the Promotion and Distribution of Tekhelet claims to have rediscovered the original Techelet. There is an ongoing debate in the Jewish world whether it is worthwhile to use this dye. Some say that if there is even a chance that it is the correct dye, it is worthwhile
