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Is Wearing a Flag obligated in Tzitzit?

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Rabbi Ari Shvat

Iyyar 25, 5772
Question
If I want to wear a flag on Yom Haโ€™Atzmaโ€™ut, is it true I have to cut a corner of the flag?
Answer
Shalom Aaron, Good question- especially when we see more and more people wearing Israeli flags on the March of the Living, Yom haAtzmaut, Yom Y'rushalayim, etc. There is actually a difference of opinion on the issue. Rav Yaโ€™akov Ariel, chief rabbi of Ramat Gan, writes that in fact, if a man wraps himself and wears an Israeli flag, he is obligated to either put tzitzit (tzitzis, fringes) on the corners, or round out one of the corners to exempt it. On the other hand, Rav Aviner of Beit El thinks that youโ€™re not wearing it as clothing, but as a symbol, and therefore, itโ€™s totally exempt. In addition, I may add, that some hold that the obligation is only if you have two corners in front opposite the two in the back (as the talit or tzitzit are generally worn, Beit Yosef, Or. Ch. 11), and not if you tie one end around your neck, or wear all four corners in front, which are the common ways to โ€œwearโ€ the flag. Regarding the more stringent opinion, it would be preferable to round out a corner (relatively unnoticeable), because putting visible tzitzit in a situation where most others donโ€™t or exempt may be a problem of โ€œyuharaโ€ (halachic arrogance or โ€œshowing offโ€). In short, itโ€™s true what you heard, on the other hand, one can surely rely on the lenient opinions. With Love of Israel! Rav Ari Shvat
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