Mysteries of Tallit. Tzitzith and the Teklet

M. M. NINAN
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Evidently what is portrayed here is the Majesty of the King of Kings and the Lord of
the Universe through the Divine Blue- the Techlet.
Techlet lost
When the Romans conquered Israel in 63 BC they seized control of the industry of
this royal blue product. Romans (Constantius 337-362) went to the extent of strictly
prohibiting its use except for ritual use. Only the Royal descendants were allowed
to wear the Blue. As a result Jewish dyers went underground. (Even During the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I, purple-hued clothing was a luxury permitted only to
"Dukes, Marquesses, Erles, their children or Barons and knights of the order" )
As children of the King, throughout the times of the Mishnah and the Talmud the
Israelites used Techelet string in the Tzitziot. Even after the dispersion of Israel the
oral tradition was carried over by Jewish scholars known as Amora’im (which simply
means “those who tell over”). From 200 -500 AD these scholars in Babylon in their
land of disperson codified the oral tradition as Gemara. The Amoraim followed the
Tannaim of earlier scholars. The Tannaim were direct transmitters of uncodified
oral tradition; the Amoraim expounded upon and clarified the oral law after its initial
codification. In these distant lands where Techlet was difficult to get they were still
worn by the Amoraim. (Menachot 43a Sanhedrin 12a). “Gemara (c. 550-570)
contains numerous references to the ritual use of tekhelet; the latest of which tells of
tekhelet being brought from Israel to Babylon in the days of R. Ahai (506).” This is
the last historical evidence of its existence.
By 639 CE at the time of the Arab conquest, the secret of Techelet was lost all
together. Midrashim (Bemidbar Rabba 17:5; Tanchuma, end of Sh'lach) says that
the “Techelet has been "hidden away" ("Nignaz")”.
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