As a baal teshuva, I have some questions regarding who is eligible to don talit gadol. In the Chabad shul where I daven, single men (like myself) are not allowed (or expected, rather) to wear tallit gadol. However, I do know that some western Ashkenazi traditions allow single bar mitzvahs to wear tallit, as do Sephardic traditions. What is the exact halacha regarding tallit gadol? Who can wear them, and when can they be worn?

B"H

Chaim,

I think, here, it is a matter of custom (minhag). The Yemenite Jews wear the talis gedol from the moment that they are able to walk to the shul. The Ashkenazi custom is to wear the talis gedol after one's marriage. The Sephardim will wear them once they have reached the age of bar mitzvah.

From a strict halachic point of view, there is nothing wrong with wearing a talis gedol before one has married. Yet, on the other hand, we have been admonished by the Rabbis to adhere closely to our family's traditions.

Sincerely,
David

Thank you, David. That's very helpful. In other words, follow the custom of the shul at which you daven?

I think that the words of family tradition means that family tradition trumps local shul custom - and in fact there are single men who wear a large tallis for either sephardi or other family tradition reasons I have seen where the shul custom seems to be only for married men.

Perhaps for one without a strong family tradition one should take on their rabbi's family tradition?

In my shul before I was married, I was discouraged from wearing the small size tallis I was given at my Bar Mitzvah, and encouraged to wait to wear the large tallis my wife would buy for me when we got married.

That seems like a reasonable comprimise. My main concern is whether to wear a tallis at Yom Kippur services, which I attend at another shul. I don't wear a tallis at my week day minyans. But I prefer to don tallit during Yom Kippur, as it just adds to the experience and serves to heighten my awareness of my relationship with HaShem.

Since it is Ashkenazi tradition that a wife give a man a Tallit, is it wrong if you are Sefardic for a mother to give her son a Tallit?

Also, since the Rambam, who was Sefardic, wore a Tallit with a blue stripe; and Rashi, who was Ashkenazi, wore a Tallit with a black stripe-is it traditional for Sefardic to wear blue stripes and Ashkenazi to wear black stripes, or does it matter?

B"H
Raybin,

The traditions and customs of Ashkenaz are not binding upon Sephardic Jews, or vice-versa. We can bring many examples of this, if you'd like.

What was worn by Rashi, or by Rambam, are not necessarily considered "ma'asei Rav" which must be emulated. For the colour schemes in a talis do not take away or add to the Mitzvah itself.

Sincerely,
David Ben-Abraham

quote:

For the colour schemes in a talis do not take away or add to the Mitzvah itself.

Then any color scheme besides black or blue is acceptable?

quote:

Then any color scheme besides black or blue is acceptable?

Whatever you like, including black and blue. Peronally I don't go for the multi-coloured ones you find in Israel; I like the traditional black stripes only.

So Tallitot with black stripes is more traditional than tallitot with blue stripes? I have seen that in Ashkenazi Shuls, but I have also seen a Sephardic rabbi with a blue striped Tallit.


What is usually written in Hebrew on the crown of the Tallit? Please translate.

B"H

Raybin,

In Yemen, in former times, it was customary to make one's talis of a solid black colour, without any stripes whatsoever. These were usually woven from black sheep's wool, while some were made from a coarser material taken from the hairs of goats. During our last century, when European-made Talitos were widespread in Europe and in Israel, they found their way to Yemen as well. These were chiefly made in Poland, and were woven with white wool, and with the traditional stripes as we see today. In Yemen, these newer Talitos were more popular, and were worn on festive occasions and during the Shabbos prayers. The black talis was worn on regular days, and especially during the Ninth of Av fast day.

(For sample of the black Talis worn by the Jews of Yemen, click into the following URL)

http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=talistb9.jpg

Sincerely,
David

B'H

David Ben-Abraham,

This is very interesting. So both types of Talis are halachically correct, regardless of color? Then a red Talis would be OK? Or is that considered to be reform or conservative? Do the Yemenites still wear the black Tallitos, or is that a thing of the past? Do you know how they acquired their tradition? It must have been that they were only using the resources available to them. Is there anything written by their rabbis about this?

I guess the reference to tallitos in the Torah does not refer to color, as you mentioned color doesn't matter. I guess what really matters are the fringes. Are the fringes different on the talis of the Yemenite Jew?

But white, in the modern world, has come to mean purity. Blue is a heavenly color. And the black stripe on the traditional Talis represents the lost dye, which some believe is more purplish-black than blue. Do you know of any other Jews besides Yemenite who have a different tradition regarding Talis?

Are there any traditions of women wearing them? Does Torah forbid it?

My feeling about the Talis is that it is important to honor the traditions. I don't think it is good to be untraditional. But in the case of the Yemenite Jews, it may have been important for them to switch in order to be unified with other Jews. But then again, the white Tallis with the black stripe may only be another European bias to them.


I wonder what Moshe Rabbeinu would think of all this. And what was his Talis like?


Good Shabbos!


Raybin

I'd like to mention that there are fringe benefits to wearing Tzitzit and/or a Tallis.

Sam - would you also agree that those who wear them are not just members of a fringe group?

B"H

Lol. Really funny, guys!

As to Raybin's questions, yes, a red talis could be worn, if one really wanted to attract attention to himself. The Mishna Berura (Orach Chayim) brings down a halacha that if one wore a dyed talis, he is permitted to make his fringes of the same colour. I personally knew an old Jewish man in Yemen who wore a maroon-coloured talis, but the fringes that hung loosely from its four corners were of a white wool. In Yemen, such a maroon-coloured talis would not have been thought of as being unusual. But here, in Israel, it may be just a little too unconventional.

I do not know of Yemenites who will wear the traditional black talis today. That is, except one person who lives in Rosh Ha-Ayin. This is largely due to the fact that the old-timers have nearly all passed away, and the younger generation seeks conformity with their contemporaries.

I have heard about exceptional women of long ago who used to wear Talitos (Not in Yemen), but this was always viewed as "improper." Women have their shawls, and men have theirs. The difference between them being that men are required to wear their shawls when they are equipped with fringes (tassels).

Yes, the way the Yemenites make their fringes differs from most communities. They follow basically the method prescribed by Rambam.

I am not familiar with the traditions of other communities in this matter.

Sincerely,
David

Hello

As a side point: one of the issues that Korach took up with Moshe, was that: since there is a Mitzva to have a blue string on the tztitzis, would it not be logical that if you dye the garment blue, you wouldn't need to wear tzitzis?!

Of course he was wrong.

Dovi

I am always surprised that people who seem to make an issue of wearing a Tallis, but then do not also assume the obligation to wear tzttzs every day..... any other thoughts on this matter?

It would seem that since the mitzvah of tzitzis is IF one wears a four-cornered garment, THEN it must have tzitzis, many simply don't wear a four-cornered garment and are happy to have no aveira.

And just like there are many who only put on a kippah when praying (vs many others who only put on a kippah when Hashem is watching) "always" is ambiguous.

Is there any aveira to NOT wearing a tallis when being called up for an aliyah, or leading davening?

quote:

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

Rob,

I do not know if it is an "aveira" (transgression) if one doesn't wear the talis in such situations, but the Yemenites will ALWAYS wear a talis when called up for an aliyah, or leading the congregation in prayer. Perhaps it is done out of respect for the Mitzvah.

David

An excellent source on all matters of halacha and minhag according to both Sephardic and Ashkenazic tradition is "Tzel HeHarim" a new book *in English* by Rabbi Hertzel Hillel Yitzhak on the laws of tzitzit (with approbations/haskamot from a number of gedolim). It is available from www.Feldheim.com or at Jewish bookstores.