I agree. "Tzel HeHarim" on the laws of Tzitzit is one of the best books of Jewish law out there. There are so many great photographs and illustrations throughout the book. We need more books of halacha in English. Does anyone know if the author, Rabbi hertzel Hillel Yitzhak, is planning to write any more books of Halacha?

quote:

Originally posted by rob:
Is there any aveira in NOT wearing a tallis when being called up for an aliyah, or leading davening?

I think, that it varies by custom and one should should follow their shuls custom. [There may be an aveira in not following the customs of the Shul.] From what I have noticed, by Ashkenaz, they have it by all those who lead the davenning and aliyas to the Torah.

But those that daven Sefard, by Shacharis, the one leading the davenning puts on a tallis, and during the week, if one has a tallis already on as part of their davenning and is called up for an aliyah, goes up to the Torah with the tallis, and if one doesn't have one, doesn't wear a tallis.

quote:

Originally posted by Yitsy:
I agree. "Tzel HeHarim" on the laws of Tzitzit is one of the best books of Jewish law out there. There are so many great photographs and illustrations throughout the book. We need more books of halacha in English. Does anyone know if the author, Rabbi hertzel Hillel Yitzhak, is planning to write any more books of Halacha?

Hello Yitsy

I reviewed the book, an important point needed to be made.

In page 177, footnote 66, the book speaks about the validity of ritual strands tied at night in relation to the principle "ta'ase velo min he'asui".

But it does not mention in any place, the fact that a tallit that becomes invalid by any of the events listed, requires by virtue of this same principle, -"ta'ase velo min he'asui"- that all the Tztzit first be untied, then if posible, make the repair or rectification and only after re-afix back all the Tzitzits.

Otherwise the principle will be violeted and the Tallit will remain invalid, bringing as a result a bracha lebatala and posible carrying on Shabbat.

Besides this important point, the book is ilustrtative and clearly understandable.

quote:

Originally posted by Mousa07:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Yitsy:
I agree. "Tzel HeHarim" on the laws of Tzitzit is one of the best books of Jewish law out there. There are so many great photographs and illustrations throughout the book. We need more books of halacha in English. Does anyone know if the author, Rabbi hertzel Hillel Yitzhak, is planning to write any more books of Halacha?

Yes, i believe i heard that he is preparing to write a manuscript regarding the Brachot HaShahar/Morning Blessings.

to the Q and comment:
quote:
Originally posted by rob:
Is there any aveira in NOT wearing a tallis when being called up for an aliyah, or leading davening?

I think, that it varies by custom and one should should follow their shuls custom. [There may be an aveira in not following the customs of the Shul.] From what I have noticed, by Ashkenaz, they have it by all those who lead the davenning and aliyas to the Torah.

But those that daven Sefard, by Shacharis, the one leading the davenning puts on a tallis, and during the week, if one has a tallis already on as part of their davenning and is called up for an aliyah, goes up to the Torah with the tallis, and if one doesn't have one, doesn't wear a tallis.


I believe the only "aveira" in not wearing a tallit would be if a Jewish man (of Bar Mitzvah, since that is the age one is chaiyev for a'aseh mitzvot/doing mitzvot) wore a valid four cornered garment without having the tzitziot attached to it. Since the mitzvot of tzitziot is based upon wearing of a four cornered garment, one who did not wear such a garment would simply not recieve the zechut of that mitzvah. Since minhag IS NOT halacha it is not on the medraygah of being an aviera - as such it is d'rabbonim, and while not holding to it (a minhag) might be an infraction with regards to being part of a certain shul/community, I can not conceive of it being punishable because it says in Chazal that one should hold to his own Nusach in regard to davening, unless he is called to lead the tzibur which would mean a permission to read the nusach of that tzibur.
The Ashkenaz minhag of not wearing a tallit until marriage has to do with marriage being an encompassing or sovev hakolamin and the yechida of the union of man and wife. Therefore the leader of Tefilla and Kiryat Torah wear a tallis to represent that their purpose in doing those things is to encompass the tzibur. The Sephardi wear tallit from Bar Mitzvah. The nusach Sephard seems to be more of a position of acquiesce to both communities yet originating with the Ashkenaz since some shuls do wear tallit from Bar Mitzvah and others do not wear tallit until marriage.
The wearing of a tallit is not the mitzvah (at least in my understanding) yet the tallit came about in order to perserve the functionality of doing the mitzvah of tzitzit (which requires a four cornered garment) (note we make a bracha "l'hith`ahy'tayf b'tzitzit not l'hith`ahy'tayf b'tallit) see also Tzel HeHarim by R'Herzel Yitzhak (if you want to buy a copy contact me).
Also the Ashkenaz and Chassidus reasoning for not wearing a tallit could be traced to ideas of iskafiah, such as "Vas min tormin, tormin-nicht; u vas min meg, darf min nicht." ("that which is prohibited, is forbidden; and that which is permitted, should not be indulged in") quote attributed to the Alter Rebbe... (I hope my kliener-bishel yiddish is correct. oy!).... thanks for your insights and comments... toadah rabbah!