Talis Buying Guide

Table of Contents

1. Instroduction
2. Historical Origin
3. Blessings For putting on a Tallit Gadol
4. Who wears a Tallit
5. Sizing a Tallis
6. Frequently Asked Question about the Talis

Introduction

The Talis Gadol Buying Guide, a guide for buying your Talit, will help you determine how to buy your Talis / Prayer Shawl.

Tallit טלית (or Tallet) in Hebrew, or Tallis in Yiddish, is a prayer shawl "cloak" that is worn during the morning Jewish services (the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism. It has special twined and knotted "fringes" known as Tzitzit of about six inches attached to its four corners. The Tallit is sometimes also referred to as the Arba Kanfot, meaning the "four corners".

According to classical Rabbinic Judaism only boys and men are required to wear it at various points of their lives as Jews, and many regard it as compulsory. This is still practiced by Orthodox Judaism. Historically, women have been either permitted (mainly Sephardi and western Ashkenazi rishonim), seen as obligated (mainly Karaim), or forbidden (mainly eastern Ashkenazim) to wear it. Many modern, mainly non-Orthodox, groups have allowed women to wear them if they so desire.

Historical origin

The original Tallit probably resembled the "'abayah," or blanket, worn by the Bedouins for protection from sun and rain, and which has black stripes at the ends. The finer Tallit, very likely, was similar in quality to the Roman pallium, and was worn only by distinguished men, rabbis, and scholars (B. B. 98a; Midrash Genesis Rabbah xxxvi.; Midrash Exodus Rabbah xxvii.). The tallit was sometimes worn partly doubled, and sometimes with the ends thrown over the shoulders (Talmud references Shab. 147a; Men. 41a).

Blessings For putting on a Tallit Gadol

Who wears a Tallit

The prayer-shawl is worn over one's clothes, and is traditionally worn by Sephardi men from early childhood and by the majority of Ashkenazi men only after marriage; although many Ashkenaz criticize this practice as it delays an important mitzvah beyond the time a Bar Mitzvah boy is responsible for it. In some Ashkenazi communities, especially western European Ashkenazim, one accordingly has the practice of all men over 13 wearing the Tallit Gadol.

Sizing a Tallis

Wearing a Tallis like a Prayer Shawl

Wearing a Full-Length Tallis

Wrapping with a Full-Length Tallis

This section will give you information on how to figure the most appropriate size of the Tallis.

Please note that a Tallis always measures longer from head to tow, then from right to left.

Frequently Asked Question about the Talis