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<p class=MsoNormal>The Gra did not “change the din” of atifas
yishmealim being a requirement. He held that atifa means putting one tzitis in
the front and one in the back on both the right and left sides. He differed
with the Gaonim, the Mordechai and the Tur because the posuk says, Asher T’chase
Bah” in the manner that people cover, sometimes on, sometimes off their
head. The only requirement for atifas yishmealim is for an avel. Hence one
doesn’t even have to cover his face down to his mouth or hold it there for
the time length of daled amos.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal>And since the requirement is front and back he also holds
that one only grasps the front 2 tsitis for krias shema, leaving the back two where
they are. As long as I am bringing that up, there is also no kissing or rubbing
the yes with the tzitis, only looking at them. He considers any of those
activities as a hefsik both during krias shema and after baruch sheamar where
he doesn’t even require holding of any tzitis.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal>For further elucidation see shulchan aruch ha Gra, siman chess
sif katan dalet. Also latest Maase Rav with the Likutei HaGra and Kovaitz
Meforshim ois tes vov<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>___________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Joel Schnur<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Senior VP<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Government Affairs/Public
Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Schnur Associates, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>1350 Avenue of the Americas<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Suite 1200<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>New York, NY 10019<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Tel. 212-489-0600 x204<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Fax. 212-489-0203 <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="mailto:joel@schnurassociates.com">joel@schnurassociates.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.schnurassociates.com/">www.schnurassociates.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>

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