Sport Strings vs. Sport Tzitzit

If you're a big Tamir Goodman fan and you need tzitzit that perform well on the court, on the playing field, while running or cycling, then you'll probably want to order Sport Strings.

But if you don't need the name Tamir Goodman on the Sport Strings label, you might want to consider Sport Tzitzit. Even after you pay the $5-$10 for shipping from Israel, you'll be saving a whole lot of money. Also, Sport Tzitzit come with a number of different tzitzit options.

The fabric has been used extensively by IDF soldiers. Thousands of the same tzitzit, in army green instead of white, have been supplied to the IDF, and received rave reviews for their wicking properties and durability under tough field conditions.

Wool tallit with blue stripes

If you want a traditional tallit, unless you're on a shoestring budget, make sure it's wool. A wool tallit looks nicer, lasts longer, feels better and is considered superior from a halachic standpoint.

Many Sephardim have a custom of wearing a white-striped tallit, Ashkenazi traditionalists will stick with black stripes, but the blue-striped wool tallit is also very common. In fact, according to some opinions, originally the tallit had blue stripes, which later morphed to black.

A blue-striped tallit with silver pinstripes is definitely very popular, although some people prefer gold pinstripes and others want blue striping with nothing else.

The standard blue-striped tallit often comes with a simple white atara (neckband), whereas blue-gold and blue-silver tallits, which are considered slightly more modern, come with the Tzitzit Blessing on the atara.

Go to Black-Striped Tallits>>

Go to White-Striped Tallits>>

Go to Blue-Striped Tallits>>

On tzitzit material and techelet

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This week we received an inquiry from someone in the U.S. Air Force. It sounds like he cherishes the mitzvah of tzitzit.

I work on an air force base and wonder if you deliver to APO? Also, I would like to order some Sephardic and Yemenite tzitzit of different material. According to halacha, what material is appropriate (i.e. I use wool since it is cold where I live)?

Also, I do not know how to tie knots and would like my knots regardless of tallit style tied in the Yemenite fashion, with the techelet tzitzit. Is this possible? Also, is the techelet you use made from the chilazon?​

Thank you, Yosef Eliyahu

Yes, we do ship to APO addresses. In fact, we even offer a special 10% discount for Jewish soldiers serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Use coupon code JIG5689.

According to all opinions, wool is the ideal fabric. Many (including the Shulchan Aruch) hold that if you use cotton, you are only fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzit at the Rabbinical level (d'Rabbanan), not according to Torah law (d'oreita).

If you do not know how to tie Yemenite tzitzit, you're not alone. It takes a bit of work to figure it out. We made an instructional video, but it's still challenging if you don't have someone to correct your mistakes. Only a small minority of our customers ask us to leave the tzitzit for them to tie.

The Gemara says the techelet dye must come from a chilazon. There is a bit of debate surrounding the definition of a chilazon, but today there is considerable consensus that the chilazon is what we call today the Murex trunculus snail. This is the chilazon used by Ptil Tekhelet. For detailed information on the topic, you can refer to this page.

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White-Striped Tallit: Beit Yosef, Malchut, Prima A.A., Hamefoar

The following is a series of questions and answers from a customer who bought a black-striped tallit from us in the past, and now wants a white-striped tallit for Shabbat. Since the distinctions from one white-on-white tallit to the next are subtle, I felt his insightful questions are worth posting.

Does the Malchut Tallit have a weave similar to the "box" or "waffle" weave found in Hamefoar, or more like that found in the Beit Yosef Talit?
The Malchut Tallit is very similar to HaMefoar.
 
Is the color of the Malchut more white, or more yellow/cream like the Beit Yosef Talit?
Both are very slightly off-white.
 
Are the stripes in the Malchut Tallit flat or shiny?
Matte, not shiny. The Prima A.A. and Hamefoar have shiny stripes.
 
I don't see an option for adding lining and side bands on the Malchut or the Beit Yosef, but assume that you can do that. Am I correct in that assumption?
Of course we can. Just keep in mind that it will add 2-4 days to processing time.
 
Can you confirm the dimensions of the size 80 for each of those two tallitot? I'm a big guy, and my weekday tallit is actually a 90, but it appears that the both are only available up to an 80, so I want to be sure about the size.
The Beit Yosef Talit is 170 cm x 200 cm. The Malchut Tallit is 180 cm x 200 cm.

Are Rambam tzitzit kosher?

We get a substantial number of orders for tzitzit (especially techelet) tied according to the Rambam, sometimes referred to as Yemenite tzitzit.

Recently a customer sent us the following remark:

Hi. I ordered a tzitzit from you with techelet tied Rambam style. A rabbi told me that it was not kosher because it didn't have 4 knots or something (I don't know much about the halacha of tzitzit). But it seems all Rambam strings are tied this way so I'm just wondering if you could as an expert explain to me how the Rambam style is kosher. Thanks

At first I was a bit peeved by the remark the rabbi mentioned above, but when I calmed down I realized that in the U.S. you are unlikely to ever see Rambam tzitzit tying.

 

The Gemara discusses how to tie tzitzit in Masechet Menachot, in a chapter called Hatchelet. It gives us several guidelines. Probably the most notable are the following:

1. The first and last windings must be white
2. There must be a minimum of seven chulyot and a maximum of thirteen.

A chulyah is usually understood to be a group of 3 windings.

The Rishonim interpret these guidelines in a number of different ways. Examples of many of them can be seen here.

Most of them do have five double knots (not four), but this is not mentioned in the Gemara. If you open up the Rambam (Hil. Tzitzit, 1, 6-8) you will see that he makes no mention of any double knots.

There are some Rishonim who say that one double knot is required by Torah law. Most hold that this is referring to the first double knot closest to the garment.

Can one rely on the Rambam? Many Yemenite Jews tie their tzitzit according to the Rambam (i.e. just like the ones we tied for you, except all white) to this day. In fact, I myself learned to tie Rambam by going to several Yemenite Jews in my neighborhood, who learned from their father. Some people claim that many of the traditions handed down by the Yemenites are the most faithful to the early masorah.

Rabbi Dov Lior holds that techelet should be tied according to the Rambam, regardless of whether you are Yemenite, Sephardic or Ashkenazi.

A few words on tefillin prices

Tefillin are not cheap. Part of the reason prices are high is because the materials are relatively expensive, but moreover because tefillin production is labor intensive and involves high-level expertise.

Basically tefillin are made up of three components: the parchments, the leather boxes that house them and the straps. The difference in cost between mediocre tefillin straps and quality handmade straps is not so significant.

Very bare-bones, barely kosher parchments cost around $100-$150. Top quality writing on good calibre parchment can run you $400 or $500. You pay not only for a sofer who is graced with attractive writing, but also for his reputation as a pious Jew who adheres carefully to halacha in writing the parchments, and keeps his body and mind pure throughout the writing process.

With the battim (the boxes), you pay for fine leather and good craftsmanship. There are plenty of shortcuts to take in making the boxes. If you want tefillin that will last (10-20+ years), you won’t want to buy Tefillin Peshutim, Tefillin Peshutim Mehudarim or even Tefillin Dakkot. Spend the extra money for Tefillin Gassot, which are made of super sturdy leather.

Bargain Tefillin

If you are shopping for budget tefillin, sometimes referred to as bar mitzvah tefillin or Tefillin Peshutim, be aware that if the tefillin are used on a regular basis, you probably will not wind up saving money in the long term, because inexpensive tefillin cannot be reshaped and may start to come undone after a few years of use.

Still, I realize some people are simply not in a position to lay down $500. Less expensive tefillin options include tefillin dakkot, tefillin peshutim mehudarim and tefillin peshutim, which range in price from $200 to $400.

If you are planning to buy tefillin online in this price range, you should be extra careful to buy from a dealer you can trust to ensure the tefillin you are getting really are reliably kosher. Beware if you come across tefillin for under $200. For bar mitzvah tefillin or an initial set of inexpensive tefillin, expect to pay at least $230 if you want to be certain they are really kosher.

What are “tefillin peshutim?” Tefillin peshutim are made using a simple design. The head tefillin (“tefillin shel rosh“) is made of several pieces of parchment to form the inner walls, and then glued within a slit square to divide it into the four required compartments.

The next caliber is “tefillin peshutim mehudarim.” Tefillin peshutim mehudarim can be roughly translated as “superior simple design.” The boxes are made from a single piece of hide, as required. When completed, tefillin peshutim mehudarim look almost identical to the more expensive cowhide type, but are less durable.

The next level up is “tefillin dakkot” (or “dakkos” or “dakkot ohr echad“). “Dak” means thin in Hebrew. Tefillin dakkot are made by stretching a thin layer of parchment over a structural base similar to the peshutim. This outer parchment forms the entire box of the tefillin, which is halachically preferable. Because of its thin design the tefillin can become halachically invalid relatively easily. The quality of the parchments inside is often the same as in tefillin peshutim mehudarim.

Today tefillin dakkot can be hard to find. But keep in mind that until 100 years ago all tefillin were tefillin dakkot.

Tefillin Gassot

For somebody who lays tefillin daily, tefillin gassot are the way to go. Have you ever heard the expression "I can't afford to buy cheap"? That can apply to a tefillin purchase as well.

When I bought tefillin before my oldest son's bar mitzvah, I had a hunch he would take very good care of them, but that still, in the care of a 13-year-old on a daily basis, they were not out of harm's way. Sure enough, somehow the corner got slightly dented within just a few months, but that proved quite simple to repair.

Good boxes cost $200-$300 and great boxes can cost $500-$600 or more. Top-end boxes are made with various stringencies (e.g. "ribua regel") that were very uncommon until the past half century, i.e., they are more kosher than the tefillin the Chafetz Chaim laid!

Typical prices for tefillin gassot range from $450 to $750. You can also find tefillin gassot with exceptionally beautiful parchments inside, superb craftsmanship and various halachic stringencies in the construction that will cost you upwards of $1,000.

Where to Buy Tefillin Online

Here are a few recommendations for reliable places to buy tefillin online from sellers in Israel, based on first-hand knowledge.

HaSofer – Located in downtown Jerusalem. Knowledgeable and reliable staff.
Ben’s Tallit Shop – Located outside Jerusalem in Givat Ze’ev. Affordable prices.
Oter Yisrael – In Jerusalem, straddling Har Nof and Givat Shaul. I bought my first tefillin gassot there 17 years ago.

Beit El – Located in Beit El, with an outlet store in Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul neighborhood.

All of the above online tefillin dealers ship around the world.

Blue Strand in Tzitzit

A customer recently ordered a set of handspun tzitzit. Upon receiving the shipment, he was quite surprised to find all white tzitzit, with no blue strand.

He sent the following inquiry:

My tsitsit arrived today.  Is there a reason why blue strands were not included?

 I was tickled by the innocence of his question. He may have come across various "blue strand tzitzit" products offered by non-Jewish Internet dealers at very low prices, probably made of synthetic or plant dyes.

"Most Jews do not use techelet," I explained to him. The reason is quite complicated. Instead, the tzitzit are all white. If you go to our Tzitzit Strings page all of the items listed are all white, except for the last two." I sent him there so that he would see that the difference in price between standard all-white tzitzit and techelet tzitzit is very substantial.

But he was not satisfied, and again asked a very innocent sounding question:

But Moses commanded that we are to have a blue strand.  Is there a Talmudic explanation for deviating from this?

Tzitzit with blue strand, Rambam tying custom

In Talmudic times techelet was still used. But subsequently, during the turmoil under Roman rule, if I'm not mistaken, the correct source of the techelet dye was lost. Over the past century various efforts have been made to recover the lost dye. In recent decades there has been a brisk debate over the authenticity of the findings.

There is a whole lot of material available on the topic. For an initial overview, you might want to take a look at this page.

Ptil Tekhelet has some very convincing claims. In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox community tends to be very resistant to new changes. Techelet is seen more frequently within the more modern Orthodox community and in the U.S.

Size 60 Tallit or Size 70?

We often get tallit size inquiries. Obviously it's a problem sizing someone for a tallit when he can't try it on. But fortunately, perfect tallit sizing is not critical. Since a tallit is worn loosely, you have some leeway. It's not like buying a t-shirt where you have to get the fit just right.

This week we received an inquiry from someone debating whether to buy a tallit in a size 60 or a size 70.

I think I want to order the blue Prima A.A. Tallit for weekdays and the Malchut Tallit for Shabbat. Both with thick Ashkenazi tzitzit. I am still worried over whether I should go with a size 60 or a size 70 tallit. If I get both tallits in a size 60, and I feel they are too small, can I swap for 70?  Thanks, Zach.

It's a good thing Zach asked, because since we are located in Israel, returns and exchanges are problematic. You have to pay for shipping three time (to you, back to Israel and again to you) and we do not refund the amount for the tzitzit we tie on. I suggested to Zach that he try to do either of the following:

1) Try to find someone with a size 60 tallit or size 70 tallit that you can try on. Remember, the difference between sizes is four inches.

2) Order the Prima A.A. Tallit in a size 60 and wait until it arrives. Then decide if you want to go with a size 70 for the Malchut Tallit. It's actually fairly common to have a slightly bigger tallit for Shabbat. The smaller size is more practical, the larger size more elegant.

I told him that that if he wanted to go with the second plan, we could send him a coupon for free shipping on the second tallit.

Go to Tallit Size Wizard>>

Choosing a White-Striped Tallit

Because we offer a wide selection of white-striped tallitot, often our customers have a hard time deciding which is best. They all look pretty much the same online. This week we received a typical question on the difference between the various white-on-white tallits for sale.

Are you able to give any more information to help me with choosing between the following white-on-white tallits?
1. Beit Yosef
2. Prima A.A. White Stripes
3. Hamefoar White Nonslip Tallit

They all seem much of a likeness to me. I am Moroccan Jewish if in any way that can help with my choice?

Thanks, Andrew H.

First I explained to Andrew that his family origins are not really consequential in buying a tallit. All Sephardic Jews tie the tzitzit the same way (except some Iraqi Jews who follow the Ben Ish Chai and a small number of Sephardim who tie 10-5-6-5 on their tallit gadol instead of 7-8-11-13).

Really the decision is just a matter of aesthetics and personal preference.

Prima A.A. - This is the white-striped tallit you probably have seen fairly frequently. The striping and atara (neckband) are shiny.

Hamefoar - This tallit has the same striping and atara, but the fabric has subtle texturing to it. This texturing gives it a slightly more supple feel and helps the tallit stay in place on your shoulders a little better.

Beit Yosef - This tallit has matte striping, on the the tallit, the atara and the corners, which lends it a very subtle, understated beauty. The vast majority of tallitot, including Prima A.A. and Hamefoar, have a synthetic atara with a shiny leaf and diamond design, whereas the Beit Yosef has a wool atara with integrated striping. The striping on the tallit, the atara and the corners is not a different material added on, but an integral part of the weave itself.

Lightweight Tallis

'Tis the season for lightweight tallit purchases. This week we received several lightweight tallit purchases and inquiries. One inquiry I found to be surprisingly insightful:

Hi,
I would like to get your advice on taleisim, since I can't actually see them when ordering online. I'm looking for a traditional black-stripe talis, as light weight as possible, except with the top part reinforced for putting it over your head. Can you recommend one? I find having a little extra weight on the top part help it stay on my head.  It tends to fall off frequently when it’s unlined. 

I was looking at the page for the Kalil Tallis, and I’m curious as to why it is made narrower than other taleisim.  Do you know why they do that, and how different that feels practically?  Are there any lightweight taleisim that are sized normally?
Thanks, David

David is very right. A year or two ago I happened to have an extra Beit Yosef atara, and had it sewn on my Shabbos tallis, and then noticed that adding a bit of weight there does improve "tallit stability."

The Kalil is narrower so that you have less tallit bunched on your shoulders. Thin fabric, doubled up, is no longer very thin.

Just about every other tallit is sized normally. I suggested to David that he consider the Tashbetz. But if you want to stick with a very conservative black-striped look, you should know that up close the Tashbetz fabric looks very slightly different from standard black-striped tallits. 

Another option would be Hamefoar. Here in Israel it's marketed as Pe'er Kal (kal means lightweight) and it is a smidge lighter than your standard tallit. I would say it breathes a bit better than a standard tallit, but not quite as well as the Tashbetz.

          Go to Lightweight Tallit page>>

Tallit Sizing Tips

Questions on tallit sizing are just about the most common inquiries we receive. This week we received an email from a customer in Australia who is happy with the handwoven tallit he bought from us six months ago, and is thinking of buying a second handwoven tallit, but has questions on tallit sizing. 

Although his question is specific to his height, a lot of people out their can benefit from an understanding of how a size 24 tallit and a size 36 tallit fits, which is fairly universal.

I have been thinking about  purchasing another tallit .  Although very pleased with my last purchase I have always been keen on the look of the Kedma Classic (based on the photos on your website). I'm just wondering about the size?  Would the 25 inches be wide enough or 36 inches?  I am 5'10 in height.
I appreciate your advice.

With larger sizes, say 55 inches and up, the tallit is going to hang down in back, and then the question is how far it drapes.

With smaller sizes, whether 25 inches, 36 inches or 40 inches, someone 5'10" could wear any of them, but each would be worn very differently. Let me explain in detail.

If the tallit is 18 to 20 inches wide, it is worn like a scarf, just sitting on the neck and hanging in front.

If it is 24 to 26 inches wide, it is worn the same, but looks a bit different because it covers some of the upper back and upper arms.

A size 36 sort of wraps around you, as opposed to simply hanging down in front.

Once you get up to a size 45+, like you bought last time, the dimensions are designed so that it drapes down the back, traditional style, covering most of the back, or even hanging down to the belt, the back of the legs or the knees, depending on one's personal preference. Some people your height would even wear a size 70, which would hang down to the back of their knees. It looks long and elegant that way, and very frum, but many people find that to be too much tallit and hard to manage.

I have two idea for you to get an idea of a size 25 and a size 36.

1) Watch this video. The model is only 5'1", but it still gives you an idea of what I'm describing.

2) Take your tallit, which is around 48 inches. Fold it in half lengthwise, i.e. keep the atara straight, unfolded. You just turned it into a 24 inch tallit. Try it on.

By the way, I have seen Yemenites who wear their tallit this way every day. The Gemara speaks of taking your tallit and מתעטף yourself in it, which means wrap yourself. According to the Yemenite, and to some extent German, tradition, this means you wrap it around yourself, with the tzitzit in front. (I can't understand why Yemenite Jews don't simply buy a size 24 or 36 and save themselves a lot of money.) Most other Jews hold that you should have two tzitzit corners in front, and two in back.

Tallit Size Wizard>>>

Nonslip Tallit

In recent years nonslip tallits have gained popularity quite quickly. Today we received the following, very short inquiry from parents shopping for a nonslip tallit for their son.

Which is the tallis that does not fall off?

The truth is that any tallit can fall off, but in recent years tallit makers started developing special textured weaves that help keep the tallit in place. Tallit sellers often call these a "nonslip tallit," which is probably a touch of hyperbole, but I have had customers rave about how well they stay put on their shoulders.

My own Shabbos tallit has this nonslip tallit fabric (sometimes referred to as a box weave or waffle weave) and I'm quite happy with it. Beyond the nonslip factor, the tallitfabric is supple and has a nice feel to it.

If you go to the search box on the upper right of our webstore and enter "nonslip" you will see a wide range of nonslip tallit options, or try this link.

We have a lot of resources on the upper navigation bar to help you choose the right tallit, the right tzitzit, etc., and if you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.

Tallit with Matching Tallit Bag

This week we received an inquiry from a customer in Chile. He plans to make a big order, including tallit, tallit bag, tallit bag cover, tallit katan and mezuzahs, so he has a lot of questions to ask.

After he settled on a top-of-the-line traditional black-striped wool tallit, he asked about a matching tallit bag.

I think i'm buying the chatanim, it's really beautiful =)

http://tzitzit.tallit-shop.com/tallit-chatanim/

The tallit also includes a plastic bag and the matching tallit bag?

From his question, it sounds like he's assuming the tallit comes as a set, with a free matching tallit bag. But the truth is high-end tallits are never sold with a matching bag.

There is no matching bag made for the Chatanim. In fact, I've never seen a matching bag for a black-striped tallit. All of the matching tallit bags have a bit of color in them, e.g. black-silver, white-silver, blue-silver, blue-gold, etc. Also, the matching bags on the top line here are not such great quality (that's why they are only $12.50) and they are not quite big enough for a size 70.

Usually people who wear a black-striped tallit do not have a matching bag, but just any bag they like (usually dark blue, but not always). With tallit bags, generally the more you spend, the better the material.

I use a fairly inexpensive velvet bag (under $15) from before I ventured into the tallit business, and it has held up quite well for several years. But to tell you the truth, I secretly wish it would wear out so I could get something a bit nicer.

Tallit Construction: Atara and Corner Patches

Two or three times in the past we've emails emails from slightly alarmed customers, wondering why the corner patches of the tallit were not sewn on the correct side.

We put their mind to ease and explain how the tallit is assembled and sewn. This week we received this inquiry in an interesting form:

Some time ago I received a Sfardi tallit after mentioning that I believed my family was of Anusim Sfarad. Anyway I sat this tallit back as I used my first tallit for years.

I have a problem /question about it, and when I saw your post about tallits and Christians. I don't know where this tallit originated but there is something that was strange to me and made me suspicious. I would simply describe it as seeing the atarah facing out of course, but the corners facing in. i.e., the atarah is fine but the corners to reinforce the tzitziyot are opposite/inward to the body.

Is that just a mistake, a different minhag, or what?

I explained that actually there's no problem with his tallit at all. The way the atara and corners are sewn on is counterintuitive, and you are not the first person to ask about it.

The atara is sewn on to the top side of the atara so that it shows on the back of the neck (or on the crest of the head, if you wear the tallit pulled up on your head). The corner patches are sewn on the underside of the tallit, so that when you flip the sides (i.e. the fringed sides) up onto your shoulders, the corner patches are visible.

When I first started working with our present seamstress, I reminded her of this every time I had her sew on a different atara.

Tzitzit with Blue String

A large portion of our customers choose tzitzit with a blue string.

I am Ashkenazi, I would like tzitzit with a blue string on the corners as the Torah commands, along with the white ones. Also, I wear a 1XL shirt. What size do I need?

We offer techelet, i.e. blue tzitzit options on every tallit katan we sell. First you'll need to decide which type of blue tzitzit you intend to order, Ptil Tekhelet or Radzin. We have an introduction to both here.

Then you'll have to decide whether you would like the tallit katan garment to be wool or cotton. You'll see both categories here.

And finally, you choose whether you would like the traditional style or shirt style.

Almost every tallit katan has a different sizing. On each product page, scroll down and you should see detailed sizing information for that specific tallit katan.

And you'll find a lot of other useful resources on the top navigation bar of our webstore.

Go to Tallit Katan/Tzitzit page>>

How to Buy a Chabad Tallit

We recently received the following email inquiry from a customer asking how to buy a Chabad tallit.

I currently live in Western Canada.  I would like to order a Chabad tallit, size 70. Does the tallit come with tzitzit already fastened to the tallit?

Thank you for your inquiry. To order a Chabad tallit go to our Chabad tallit and tzitzit page. The only difference between the two tallitot you'll see there is the type of fabric. One is smooth, and the other is textured. Be sure to try zooming in on all of the images for each to discern the difference.

When you select the size and tzitzit, you will see the price shown changes automatically, based on your selection.

The tzitzit will be tied on, unless you leave a note asking us to just include tzitzit strings for you to tie yourself.

The opposite applies to the atara (neckband). The custom in Chabad is not to have any atara at all. Therefore our Chabad tallits come without an atara. For those who do not strictly to adhere to all Lubavitch traditions, we also enable you to select the atara of your choice from our Atara page.

Orthodox Tallit or Conservative Tallit?

Choosing and buying a tallit can be a fairly personal decision, so sometimes our customers...get personal.

I'd like some help on choosing a Tallit, as I am a recent convert. Probably traditional, but I need advice about options. On the Orthodox end of Conservative, but attend a Conservative shul. Ashkenazi design, but I could be tempted to something more modern if it includes a depiction of the Montefiore Windmill? Thanks, John W.

In strictly traditional Orthodox Ashkenazi congregations just about everyone wears a black-striped tallit. In a Sephardic congregation a lot of people have a custom to wear a white-striped tallit.

In a Modern Orthodox congregation you see a fair amount of variety. A blue-striped tallit is not going to stand out at all. And sometimes you'll encounter fairly colorful designs.

In a Conservative congregation the tallit designs tend to be -- I guess you'd have to say less conservative -- on the more modern end of the spectrum and some of the congregants will wear the narrow type of tallit (sizes 18, 24 and 36) that does not cover the back.

The closest we could come to the Montefiore Windmill would be this atara (neckband), which we could add to just about any tallit we sell.

Go to Classic Tallits>>
Go to Modern Tallits>>

 

Custom Tallit Bag

I'm often surprised at how few of our customers are willing to pay $30 or $40 for a nice tallit bag, opting instead for a $15 tallit bag. 

Part of the problem is that when looking at photos on a website, even if they are high quality, high resolution images, it's hard to appreciate quality fabric.

An inexpensive tallit bag. Made in China.

Our $15 tallit bags are made in China, using inexpensive velvet. They look fine, they do the job and they generally last well, but when you go up in price you get a lot more tallit bag for your money.

Our Invei HaGefen and Magen David tallit bags, for example, are made by hand in Israel from start to finish, using high quality velvet. (Here in Israel they refer to this type of velvet as ketifah germanit or "German velvet," but I have a feeling there's another term for this in English. I've been trying to figure out the correct translation for about two years now.)

Likewise our tallit bags made by Rikmat Elimelech, Weaving Creation and Kedma also feature high quality materials and unique designs and are made in Israel.

Go to Tallit Bag page>>

Handwoven Tallit: Hand-tied, machine-spun tzitzit

There's a bit of confusion surrounding the term "machine-spun tzitzit." Sometimes I get customers (even seasoned yeshiva students) who want me to assure them the tzitzit are tied by hand. "You mean hand-spun, right?" They may nod, but in their eyes I detect some perplexity. 

This week we received the following email from a woman in New York interested in a handwoven tallit for her son's bar mitzvah.

I need to make sure that the machine spun tzitzit threads are still hand tied...Also, his Bar Mitzvah is May 17. I'd like to make sure it will get here on time. Thank you. Nancy N.

Dear Nancy,

Thank you for your order and congratulations on the upcoming bar mitzvah.

I've asked the weaving studio to try to have it ready by Pesach. I can't guarantee that will happen, but if not there are steps we can take to expedite both the final preparation and the shipping.

Tzitzit strings spun by hand

As for the tzitzit, the truth is there is no such thing as a machine that can tie tzitzit. All tzitzit are hand tied. The question is whether the t'via stage (twining or plying) is done by an automated machine or by a hand-operated machine. (From a halachic perspective this is parallel to the issue of machine matzahs vs. hand matzahs.) Many people are unclear on this point. Tzitzit that are spun by hand are referred to as "hand-spun tzitzit" or "tzitzis avodas yad."

Unlike most of the tallit makers we work with, the handwoven tallit maker you are referring to is run by non-observant management. But from a halachic standpoint, it's fairly hard to render the tzitzit not kosher during the tying process. The halacha states that tzitzit have to be tied by an adult Jew and they must be tied with the intention to do the mitzvah. (They also have to be positioned properly, but obviously that's very easy for us to confirm.) There is also a custom to have them tied by a man, not a woman, but according to all opinions, if the tzitzit are tied by a woman they are kosher.

Many of our customers choose a tzitzit option (e.g. Ptil Tekhelet or handspun or tzitzit or Sephardic tying, etc.) that requires us to retie the tzitzit, so the issue of the tying setup does not apply.

As for those orders for tallits from this particular tallit maker with machine-spun tzitzit and Ashkenazi tying -- which is what comes standard from their weaving studio -- I'm undecided as to whether we should retie the tzitzit. I plan to ask a qualified rav for guidance on this as soon as possible.

You're welcome to ask your own rav, as well, and we will abide by your request if possible.

Chabad Tzitzit on a Cotton or Undershirt-Style Tallit Katan?

We once had a customer who wanted to order our Cotton Comfort and Wool Comfort tallit katan items and asked me if they were available with two holes, but the truth is that none of the tallit katan manufacturers make an undershirt-type tallit katan with Chabad holes (or Chassidic holes). 

There are various levels of adherence to Chabad customs. Strictly speaking, there is only one type of tallit katan for Lubavitch chassidim: wool, round neck, straight bottom hem, silk corners and diagonally aligned holes. Apparently because some people really find it hard to wear wool, there is also a cotton version, but again, people who adhere closely to Chabad customs will stick with wool. 

Also note that we describe the tzitzit tying as "Arizal/Chabad." Chabad holds that there should be two holes in the corner, the Arizal does not. Chabad adopted the Arizal's method of tying tzitzit with chulyot. The holes on the beged and the way the tzitzis are tied are really two separate issues. The concept of two holes is similar to the two horizontally aligned holes you find by other Chassidim, who do not tie in accordance with the Arizal.

We aim to provide talleisim and tzitzis to Jews of every description, therefore we get all sorts of orders: a Yemenite tallit with Ashkenazi tzitzit, a modern tallit with Yemenite tying, etc. We have had at least two customers who repeatedly ordered the Cotton Comfort with Yemenite tzitzit. The Rambam writes that you need a wool garment for tzitzit, so it doesn't make sense for customers to order this, but they do. 

Recently I had a customer who ordered this tallit katan and asked us to make it super long, because he wanted to follow the tradition of the Vilna Gaon to have a tallit katan down to the knees. He ordered niputz lishmah tzitzit on it. And he lives in Singapore. Putting these elements together is very incongruous, but I don't impose my opinion on my customers.

To help make matters clear to Chabad customers, we organized strictly Chabad products in a separate category called "Chabad."

Tefillin: Why are some more expensive than others?

This week we received an inquiry from a grandmother in Georgia trying to buy a good set of tefillin for her almost-13-year-old grandson.

I am in search of Tefillin and was directed to [name of webstore deleted]. I am wondering as to the difference in cost for seemingly the same items. Please advise me by providing a comparison between their basic kosher Tefillin Peshutim and your Tefillin Peshutim if you can. Thanks

"Buying a decent set of tefillin is not easy," I wrote her, "so if you're feeling a bit bewildered, you're not alone."

I get the impression that [the webstore in question] is a reputable dealer, but there is really no useful information on their tefillin product pages.

I cannot tell who makes the tefillin or the size of the boxes. But the truth is, even if that information were listed, it wouldn't help that much. When you buy tefillin, especially in the $200-$400 range, you have to be certain the tefillin you are receiving are really kosher.
 

A lot of small details in the production process can render a set of tefillin not kosher. Probably the main issue is the writing of the parchments inside. 

Just about every tefillin dealer out there will assure you all of the tefillin he sells are "100% kosher." So you have to have confidence in the tefillin dealer you buy from. 

I really can't say why that webstore prices their tefillin peshutim so much higher than our tefillin. It could be that their supplier is located in the U.S. and charges much more than our Israeli supplier. Or it could be that they have a large profit margin on their tefillin. We have a very low profit margin on our tefillin, because we've found that a lot of people buying tefillin online want to spend under $250 for tefillin peshutim and under $450 for tefillin gassot.

In general, you should buy the best tefillin you can afford, because upgrading is not just a matter of aesthetics.

Also, keep in mind that if you expect the recipient to wrap tefillin every day, you should try to buy tefillin gassot. Tefillin peshutim and tefillin dakkot are made of relatively thin leather, so they are prone to damage, and if they do get damaged or lose their shape over time, it's often impossible to fix them.
 

Tefillin gassot, on the other hand, can easily last 20 or 30 years. I bought my last set of tefillin (tefillin gassot) just before my wedding 17 years ago. A year or two I had the straps replaced, and some light reshaping, and they were pretty much as good as new.

Go to tallit, tzitzit and tefillin webstore>>

Tallit Sizing for Tall Men

We get a lot of inquiries about tallit sizing. We have a tallit size video for bar mitzvah boys, but we really need to put together a tallit size guide for men. For now, we have our Tallit Size Wizard. Today we received an inquiry from Laura, who lives in Los Angeles, and has ordered from our tallit webstore in the past.

Good Morning (or Erev Tov),

I have a question about Tallit Sizes. I am buying for my sons. It will be about a month or so before I can really decide what I want for them and the quality of the product I received from you keeps me shopping with you. 

My son is 6'2. 

The other is 5'9. 

I'd prefer the tallit that drapes over the back. 

Thank you for your time.

Since this question applies to a whole lot of men out there (and kallahs, wives, daughters, etc. trying to figure out how to buy a tallit for a man), I'm posting my reply in full here:

Notice that the tzitzit are hovering just
off the floor. Many men prefer to wear
their tallit a tad shorter than that.

Greetings Laura, we're glad to hear from you again. You mean a tallit that drapes down the back, right?  [See photo to the right.]

Son who is 5'9" - I estimate that a size 60 would come down to the top of his thighs in back. A size 70 would be pretty long, about like the tallit in the attached photo. If he prefers something short and manageble, he could even go with a size 55. A size 55 is four inches shorter than a size 60, and a size 70 is four inches longer.

Son who is 6'2" - Same as the above, but we'll move up a size. Let me copy/paste and edit, to make it easy for you: I estimate that a size 70 would come down to the top of his thighs in back. A size 80 would be long, about like the tallit in the attached photo. If he prefers something short and manageble, he could even go with a size 60. A size 60 is four inches shorter than a size 70, and a size 80 is eight inches longer.

If you go with a size 80, you should probably check with me before you order, because many tallitot are not available in a size 80.

Go to Tallit Size Wizard>>

Bnei Ohr Blue

The most popular modern tallits we currently sell are the Bnei Ohr Tallit and the Bnei Ohr Blue Medley Tallit. We just received the following inquiry from a grandmother looking for a bar mitzvah tallit for her grandson.

My grandson loves the B'nei Ohr Blue Medley tallis. His Bar Mitzvah is very soon. Do the sizes listed refer to length or width? Thank you! - Susie

Bnei Ohr Blue Medley Tallit

I congratulated Susie on the upcoming bar mitzvah and then explained to her that this seemingly simple tallit size question can be a bit confusing, because it depends on how the tallit is worn. 

If the bar mitzvah boy wants a tallit worn on the neck and hanging in front, then a size 24, for example, means it is 24 inches wide and 72 inches long. A size 36 is 36 inches wide and 72 inches long.

But if he plans to wear the bar mitzvah tallit traditional style, draping down the back, that's a different story. Then the size number is an indication of what some people would call the length, not width.

Confused? Take a look at our Tallit Size Wizard.

Also, this bar mitzvah tallit size video is very helpful.

Bnei Ohr Blue Medley Tallit - Details and prices>>

Tallis for the Groom: Tips for the kallah shopping for her chassan

When a bride sets out to buy a tallis for the groom, whether she's looking for a nice, traditional black-striped tallis, or something with a bit of flare, she generally needs some guidance. Yesterday we received an inquiry from a bride in Massachussetts.

Hi Ben,
I'm shopping for a tallis as a gift to my fiance for my upcoming wedding. We're modern Orthodox Ashkenazim and prefer traditional, long talleisim. He has a blue-striped tallis already, so I was hoping for some recommendations for a tallis with black stripes. Thanks in advance!
Sharon

Since this is a fairly common request, I had no problem firing off a quick reply.

Here are my recommendations:

Chatanim - basic, no frills tallit; very high quality weave

Hamefoar - features a weave with a bit of texture, supple, luxurious fabric

Tashbetz - box weave to keep the tallit in place better on the shoulders; looks slightly more modern, and in my opinion, a bit less elegant

Kmo Turkish - a heavy, dense fabric and unique double-knotted fringes

Crown Tallis Bag

Sharon wound up choosing a Kmo with a Crown tallit bag. I always thought the crown on this tallit bag was meant to remind us of the King of Kings, but it may be especially apt for a groom, because the Gemara says a groom is like a king.

I remember many years ago, just before I got married and was setting up our soon-to-be apartment in Beitar Illit, a neighbor who was a young Torah scholar from the U.S. and a big tzaddik, found out I was a chassan and saw me shlepping a box up the stairs. He ran up and snatched it from my hands, insisting he would carry it for me, quoting that shtikel Gemara.

Tallis Sizes 

But then we needed to work out the proper tallis size. At 6 feet, Sharon's groom is not short. When the tallit wearer is under 5'6" it limits our selection, because then the groom would probably need a size 55 tallis and all of the models mentioned above, except for the Tashbetz, are only available in size 60 and up. I recommended she go with a size 70,which I recommend would hang down in back to about mid-thigh on him.

     Go to Ben's Tallit Shop>>
     Go to  Wedding Coupons page>>

Size 36 Tallit

Tallit sizing is standardized internationally, for the most part, but there's still plenty of room for confusion. If you're looking at the smaller tallit sizes, i.e. 24, 36, 45 and 50, there's an important distinction you need to understand.

Yesterday we received the following inquiry from a prospective tallit buyer:

I am considering my first adult tallit (I'm a recent convert). I stand about 5'9". I find full size traditional a bit large, but not to fussy on the scarf like shawls. Would a 36" fall somewhere in between? Thanks, Thom

I recommended to Thom that he choose either a size 36 or a size 50. Let me explain.

A size 24 tallit and a size 36 tallit are worn with all the tzitzit in front. It covers just the shoulders and upper back, and then wraps around the upper arms and hangs in front.

The larger tallit sizes, i.e. 45 for a 5' bar mitzvah boy, then 50, 55 and 60 for short and medium height men, and finally size 70 and 80 for tall men (and occasionally even a size 90), are all worn with two tzitzit hanging in front and two in back.

In halacha this is considered preferable, however there are two Jewish communities -- German Jews and Yemenite Jews -- that wear the tallit with all the tzitzit hanging in front. Both of these groups adhere very closely to traditional Jewish practice, and I'm not sure how to reconcile this with the halachic preference of two in the front and two in the back.

I'm 5'7" and my size 60 hangs down to mid-thigh on me. A size 50 is 8 inches shorter, so I would estimate it would hang down just below Thom's waist, and shouldn't be cumbersome at all.

More tallit sizing resources:
Tallit Size Wizard
Bar Mitzvah Tallit Sizes

Women and Tzitzit

I have written on the topic of women and tallit wearing, and women and tzitzit elsewhere...

Recently I came across a really wild -- and mistaken -- application of the concept of tzitzit on women. Every once in a while I see an unusual garment that would require tzitzit, but it never occurred to me that an apron is among them. But the mitzvah to attach tzizit only applies if you have more fabric than open space on the shoulders, i.e. if there are just strips of cloth on the shoulders, the mitzvah of tzitzit does not apply.

Recently I came across a fabulous apron by a talented designer who seems to be a bit misguided, because she went and attached tzitzit (!) to the otherwise fabulous apron she designed (see photo).

As long as we're on the subject, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt"l wrote a responsum on a closely related topic decades ago, but his words continue to resonate.

Rav Moshe Feinstein on Women and Tallits>>

Which Rabbanim Wear Techelet?

At a recent conference in Jerusalem sponsored by the Ptil Tekhelet Assocation, Varda Meyer Epstein of The Jewish Press spoke with Dr. Ari Greenspan on the topic of techelet. She asked Greenspan which prominent rabbanim wear techelet themselves.

"There’s Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg who has actually served as a posek," said Greenspan. "There’s Rav Amram Opman who is one of the dayanim of the Beit Din of the Badatz Eidah Chareidis and Rav Dichovsky on the Beit Din HaGadol of the Rabbanut. The entire Zilberman clan wears tekhelet. And the truth is, as you begin to go into the chareidi world, you begin to find some of the unique, individual thinkers that are looking for truth, and wearing it. Not a lot, but a significant number of chareidim. In the English world, both Rabbi Herschel Shachter and Rabbi Yisroel Belsky of the OU."

Rabbi Moshe Karp was not mentioned. I'm not clear on whether he wears techelet or not.


On the authenticity of Murex trunculus, Ari Greenspan said, "Here’s what I’ll tell you: There is no doubt that this is the color that our ancestors wore. There is no doubt that this is the source that the Romans used — no other source. And there’s no doubt that it was this snail — that the Romans killed people for wearing the color of this snail. There’s also no doubt that there was no other snail that the Romans used and we know for a fact that what we wore is what the Romans wore."

Tallis for the Chassan

When the wedding season goes into full swing, we'll start seeing a lot of orders and inquiries from brides looking for a tallis for the chassan. Today we received an inquiry from a kallah shopping for a traditional black-striped tallis.

I'm shopping for a tallis as a gift to my fiance for my upcoming wedding. We're modern Orthodox Ashkenazim and prefer traditional, long tallitot. He has a blue tallis already, so I was hoping for some recommendations for him in black.
Thanks in advance!
Sharon 

I had a number of suggestions for Sharon.

Chatanim - basic, no frills tallit; very high quality weave

Hamefoar - features a weave with a bit of texture, supple, luxurious fabric

Tashbetz - box weave to keep the tallit in place better on the shoulders; looks slightly more modern, and in my opinion, a bit less elegant

Kmo Turkish - a heavy, dense fabric and unique double-knotted fringes

 

Sometimes the bride (or her parents) will spring for a nice atara, but in most cases they should consult with the groom to make sure he wants to wear a tallit with a special atara.

Cotton Tzitzit

A customer recently asked me whether there is such a  thing as cotton tzitzit strings.

Are tzitzit -- the strings, not the tallit/begged)-- ever made from cotton rather than wool? Thank you, David

Cotton Tzitzit (with wool tzitzit strings)

Tzitzit strings are always made of wool, because according to halacha only wool tzitzit can be used on any begged whatsoever, regardless of the fabric. (In theory, linen tzitzit can be used too, but the custom is not to use linen for either the begged or the tzitzit strings.)

To understand the confusion surrounding the term "cotton tzitzit," refer to this blog post.

              Buy tzitzit>>

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Yellowing Tallit

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Today I got an inquiry from a kallah shopping for a tallis for her chassan. The wedding is still several months away, but she's the type of person who doesn't wait until the last moment. She also seems to be the type of person who thinks ahead, because she asked me about the tallit yellowing, and what can be done about it.

Also are you able to tell me if the Turkish ones, given they are woven in a heavier wool, get yellowy quicker (don't want to be dry-cleaning it every month!)? Or does this happen with all wool tallitot over time and regular washing is required? Are they treated with any bleaching agents or anything like that?
Many thanks in advance,
Suzy

I explained to Suzy that regarding the tallit yellowing, that's the way it goes with wool. And laundering and dry cleaning won't help, it will only hinder. 

Most people I know wash their weekday tallit once or twice a year. Over time, typically hair grease (even if the wearer does not have greasy hair) accumulates on the underside of the tallit, opposite the atara and makes the tallit start to look grimy. The discoloration is not visible to other people, but after a while the wearer starts thinking about taking it to the dry cleaners, and many people do this in the weeks leading up to Pesach.

Obviously a Shabbos-only tallis will stay clean for much longer.

The traditional tallitot we sell are made by Mishkan Hatchelet, which started making their products extra white in recent years, and the fabric undergoes a treatment to help them retain whiteness over time.

Yellowing should not be an issue for a few years, and some tallitot still look okay after ten years or more.

               Enter tallit and tefillin webstore>>

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All-White Tallit

​

The all-white tallit looks very elegant and is an accepted custom among many Sephardim. Today we received the following inquiry from a customer in the U.S. looking for an all-white tallit with Sephardic tzitzit:

 

Hello,
What is your best quality all-white, wool tallit? I am looking at the Hamefoar, Beit Yosef, and Malchut. The tzitzit would be tied in accordance with the Sephardic tradition.
When I mention highest quality, I do not necessarily mean heaviest weight since I live in a warm climate.
My current tallit is 25 years old and it’s time for a new one. My old one is 70" x 46" and I would like something a bit bigger, but when I tried a friend's Echt Turkish tallit size 67"x 80" it was much too long in back. I am 6 feet tall.
Steven

I thought long and hard about Steven's question, but I don't really have an answer, because all three of the tallitot he mentioned are top-of-the-line. I suggest that he go with whichever tallit has the features and look he prefers.

Hamefoar - Has a supply, luxurious fabric and satiny stripes

Beit Yosef - not shiny at all; the striping is integrated into the weave, both on the tallit and the atara (neckband)

Malchut - sort of a cross between Hamefoar and Beit Yosef; no shiny striping and the fabric is like Hamefoar; features distinctive fringes, which some people really like, and others don't.

Tallit Sizing

Steven's old all-white tallit is a good benchmark. It's a size 50. From size 50 to size 55 the tallit will hang down in back another 4 inches, from size 55 to size 60 another 4 inches, etc. So he could just put his old tallit on and figure out how many inches he wants to add to the length. To add an extra 8 inches, he would choose a size 60, to add 12 inches a size 70.

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Wholesale Tzitzit - Buying tzitzit strings at bulk prices

We often get inquiries regarding bulk purchases of tzitzit. Sometimes they are peculiar requests, leading me to wonder what the prospective buyer intends to do with them, but generally the purchaser wants to buy tzitzit strings in bulk for a tzitzit-tying project for kids or teens -- either at summer camp, a synagogue program or a Jewish day school project.

Almost invariably they choose are machine-spun tzitzit strings, which are very affordable to begin with, and we offer bulk discounts. We make buying in bulk very convenient: you simply select the quantity you need, and the discount is applied automatically.

       Buy Machine-Spun Tzitzit - Wholesale Prices>>

We purchase the tzitzit at low wholesale prices, and pass the savings on to our customers.

We happened to come across a good wholesale price for thick handspun tzitzit strings recently, so we can offer special discounts for quantity purchases. Contact us for details.