אלשיך — והיה לכם לציצת וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ה'

Q — The Torah promises that seeing tzitzit will produce remembrance of all mitzvot — but experience shows this isn't automatic. A person can stare at his tzitzit all day and remember nothing. So what is the promise actually saying?

A — The Alshich gives a parable. People tie a string around a finger to remember something. But if you happen to find a string already tied on your finger that you tied for no reason, looking at it will not remind you of anything — the string only works as a memory aid when it was knotted *with the intent* of being a reminder. So with tzitzit: 'והיה לכם לציצית' is the conditional. *When* the tzitzit are worn 'להציץ בו לזכור,' that is, with the kavanah at the time of putting them on that they should serve as a reminder, *then* 'וראיתם אתו וזכרתם.' Performed as 'מצות אנשים מלומדה,' the same garment leaves you blank. The mechanics of the mitzvah are inseparable from the kavanah behind it.