Folding a tallis for next Shabbos

Hi,

One may not clean clothing on Shabbat, and this applies to non-laundering actions which make clothing better suited for wearing. This may apply to folding clothing, too, although justifications are offered for folding which does not create a lasting crease, or for folding which does not improve the appearance of the garment. However, the consensus of authorities is that one may not fold a garment on one Shabbat to prepare it for the following Shabbat, as in the case of folding a tallit after davening. One may not prepare on Shabbat for after Shabbat.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:229 - see more there)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting a tallit on top of a siddur or other sacred book

Hi,

One may not put a tallit on top of a sacred book, like a siddur; its own sanctity is of a lesser degree. However, one may do this for the protection of the siddur, or for its honour. Therefore, one may wrap a Torah scroll with a tallit to preserve its honour or safety.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:119:1)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Checking one's tallit

Hi,

Normally, one is required to check the strings of his tallit daily (other than Shabbat). However, one who would miss davening with a minyan may skip the check and rely on the check he did yesterday [assuming nothing has happened that might cause him to doubt that the tallit is still fine].

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

An atarah for a tallit

Hi,

There is no obligation to put a decorative atarah (lit. crown) on the part of the tallit which goes on one's head, and many Jewish communities historically did not do it. However, one who has an atarah need not remove it.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

New tefillin and tzitzit during the Three Weeks

Hi,

May I wear new tzitzis or tefillin during the Three Weeks?

During the "Three Weeks" period between the 17th of Tammuz and Tishah b'Av we do not wear clothing which would require a berachah of shehechiyanu, because of the joy involved. This includes wearing a new tallis; it also applies to wearing tzitzis, where new tzitzis garments are uncommon and bring joy.

Many authorities do permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat, before the Nine Days begin. Some specify not to recite shehechiyanu, although they permit wearing a new garment on Shabbat. One should follow communal custom.

New tefillin may be worn during the Three Weeks. Even though some do recite shehechiyanu on the first occasion of wearing tefillin, that is because of joy in the mitzvah, not because of the joy of wearing new clothing.

(Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Berachos 11:9; Beit Yosef Orach Chaim 22:1; Birkei Yosef Orach Chaim 551:10-11; Avnei Nezer Orach Chaim 428; Chayyei Adam 133:8; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 551:18; Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Folding a tallis on Shabbos

Hi,

May I fold my tallis after davening on Shabbos morning?

There are three halachic concerns related to folding one's tallis:
• Folding fabric is a way to maintain its clean, crisp look, and can be a form of the forbidden melachah of melaben (whitening).
• If folding improves the tallis, making it more usable, then one could be liable for metaken (making an item functional).
• Since the next use of the tallis will be after this Shabbos, one could be liable for hachanah (preparation for after Shabbos), even if the next use will also be on a Shabbos.

Some authorities are lenient, contending that folding a tallis does not improve it and is not on the level of "cleaning". Others recommend folding the tallis off of the normal crease, to avoid improving it.

The Maharil, an early Ashkenazi authority, folded his tallis right after Shabbos. This practice is laudable, as it begins the week with a mitzvah and with preparation for the next Shabbos.

(Tosafos Shabbos 113a mekaplim; Magen Avraham 300: hakdamah; R' Akiva Eiger on Magen Avraham 302:6; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 302:12; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 15:45; Az Nidbiru 7:88, 8:27; Badei haShulchan 4:117:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Buying mitzvah items during the Nine Days

Hi,

One may purchase tefillin during the Nine Days, as these are purchased for their mitzvah.

One may not purchase a Tallit, because it is a garment and it is important enough to warrant a Shehechiyanu.

One may purchase a Tallit Katan (tzitzit) if the garment is not significant to him [I believe the definition of significance is in terms of the joy it brings the wearer].

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:80)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reciting a berachah if a tallis falls off

Hi,

If I remove my tallis temporarily, am I required to recite a berachah when I put it back on?

One who removes his tallis and plans to put it back on immediately (some suggest within 30 minutes; others offer a period of hours) should not recite a new berachah, even if he goes to the washroom in the interim. Ideally, one should have these intermissions in mind at the time of his original berachah.

One whose tallis falls off entirely should recite a new berachah, although some suggest this may not be required if one's tallis falls off incessantly. If one's tallis falls off during Shemoneh Esreih, he should put it back on without a berachah. After Shemoneh Esreih he should recite the berachah and shift the tzitzis strings as though putting it on again.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 8:14-15; Kaf haChaim 8:52-56; Mishneh Berurah 8:38; Biur Halachah 8 "Im pashat"; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 8:20-22; Chelkas Yaakov Orach Chaim 236; Mishneh Halachos 15:7; Yabia Omer 8: Orach Chaim 2; Tzitz Eliezer 17:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Used tallit and tzitzit strings

Hi,

Technically, tzitzit-strings that have become separated from a tallit possess no sanctity. However, out of respect for their mitzvah we don't discard them in a disrespectful fashion. Some people bury them, and others discard them in a respectful manner, wrapping them to avoid contact with refuse. Others recycle them for another mitzvah - they use the strings as a bookmark in a sefer (book of Torah).

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 21:1; Mishneh Berurah 21:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tallit for a blind person?

Hi,

Although the Torah states that the mitzvah of tzitzit involves 'seeing' the strings, blind people are also obligated in this mitzvah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 17:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Removing tzitzit strings

Hi,

One may not remove the tzitzit strings from a four-cornered garment, as this would disgrace the mitzvah. One may only remove the strings if the garment has worn out beyond use, or the owner of the garment has died, or one intends to use the strings on a different garment.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 15:1; Mishneh Berurah 15:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A "borrowed" tallit

Hi,

One may use a tallit he finds in the synagogue or another public place, because it is assumed that people are happy to have others perform mitzvot with their property. However, one may only use it in the spot where he found it, and one may not do this on a regular basis (and one may not do it if the tallit is new).

If the tallit was originally folded, one must re-fold it when putting it back.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 14:4; Mishneh Berurah 14:13)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Who makes the tzitzit strings?

Hi,

The tzitzit strings, and their attachment to the four-cornered garment, must be done by Jews; the Torah introduces this mitzvah by saying 'Speak to the Jews...'

Some further prefer that this be done by men, specifically, because the mitzvah is obligatory for men, and only optional for women.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 14:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit: All or nothing

Hi,

For the tzitzit on a garment to be valid, one must have the strings on all four corners; all of the strings combine for one overarching mitzvah. If the strings on any corner become invalid, the entire set of tzitzit are invalid.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 13:1; Mishneh Berurah 13:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting the tzitzit strings through the corners

Hi,

Tzitzit have four strings looped through each corner, so that a total of eight string-ends hang down.

One may not put a single long string through the corner four times and then cut it to produce four separate strings; the strings must be unique from the start, such that putting them through the hole is the final act to create a valid set of tzitzit.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:12-13)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

The corners of the tallit

Hi,

The holes in the corners of the tzitzit or tallit garment, through which the tzitzit-strings are looped, may be no more than 3 inches from the edge - otherwise the strings cannot be said to go "through the garment's corner," which is a biblical requirement.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 11:9; Mishneh Berurah 11:41)

Chag chanukah sameach,
Mordechai

The scarf tallit

Hi,

A scarf worn around the neck is exempt from tzitzit, even if it is of significant length. [This is one of the reasons that a tallit should not be worn around one's neck, but rather should be draped over the body.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 10:11; Mishneh Berurah 10:34)

Chag sameach,
Mordechai

The earliest time for tallit and tzitzit

Hi,

There is an "earliest time" for the mitzvah of donning tzitzit or a tallit; before that time, one who puts on tzitzit or a tallit does not recite a blessing on them. Many calculate this time as 45 or 60 minutes before sunrise.

One who puts on tzitzit or tallit before the "earliest time" should wait until the earliest time arrives, then recite the blessing, then shift the tzitzit/tallit around somewhat and re-settle them in place.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 8:16; Mishneh Berurah 8:43)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit Check

Hi,

One should make sure, daily, to examine the strings of his tzitzit and tallit before reciting berachot (blessings) and donning these garments, to make sure the strings are whole and the knots have not come undone.

One should even do this on Shabbat, according to many authorities, even though he might be tempted to fix the strings, which is prohibited on Shabbat. The concern for an improper berachah is greater than the concern that he might re-tie the strings.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 8:9; Mishneh Berurah 8:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu on a Tallit?

Hi,

One who acquires a new set of tzitzit, or a new tallit, recites the blessing of "Shehechiyanu." One does this upon acquiring/making the item, but if he didn't do it at that time then he does it before donning it for the first time, after reciting the normal blessing.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 22:1; Mishneh Berurah 8:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai