Tallit/Tallis

Everything You Need to Know about Tallit 

What is the meaning of the Tallit?

Tallit is an Aramaic word from the root טלל meaning cover.

A tallit is a Jewish prayer shawl, worn during morning prayers. It is a four cornered garment onto which tzitzit, or “fringes”, are affixed, following the commandment in the Torah to affix fringes to the corner of garments. The tzitzit serve as a reminder of God’s unity and of all the commandments of the Torah. 

What is the Purpose of a Tallit?

The most common time that a tallit is worn is during the morning prayers, traditionally by those over the age of Bar or Bat Mitzvah. It is also traditional to wear a tallit for all of the services on Yom Kippur. It is the custom of some people to wear a tallit, or wrap themselves and their new spouse with the tallit, under the chuppah. Some people use a tallit as their wedding canopy. 

Many men also have the custom to wear a tallit katan, often referred to as “tzitzit”, under their clothing during the day as an ongoing reminder of the commandments. 

Things to consider when purchasing a tallit

There are multiple tallit styles are available to shop from

Traditional style- this allows you to place the tallit over your head, as well as bunch it up on your shoulders 
Shawl Style- this will be shorter in length, and will wrap around your shoulders and back or hang around your neck 

      Traditional Style

          

 

          

 

       Shawl Style

 

How Do I Know The Right Tallit Size?

Ask yourself the following questions first:

Is this for a child or an adult? 
Is this something into which you want a child to grow or just for an event ?
Are you looking for this to be a chuppah for your wedding? 
 

Tallit Size Guide: 

-length is measured from the neck down to the back 

-width is measured across the back and arms

-length will be the first number listed on sizing

 

What Material Do You Want Your Tallit Made With?

We offer:

• Silk Tallits
• Wool Tallits
• Cotton Tallits
• Organza Tallits 
• Raw silk Tallits
• Acrylic Tallits 

What Tallit Design Speaks to You?

• Traditional Tallits 
• Modern Tallits
• Solid color Tallits
• Patterns 

 

Also consider what you’ll want to store and wear your tallit with: Tallit bags, Tallit clips, there are even full sets (tallit,bag,kippah) available which will come with a matching bag and kippah!

 

More Tallit FAQs

Q: What size are our tallits?

A: Check the description for the size/sizes available. The most common size is 18”X72”

Q: Can the tallit fit my specific measurements?

A: Most tallits come in pre-set sizes, although some are available in non-traditional dimensions. Tallits can not be made in custom dimensions

Q: Why doesn't my tallit match the image shown on our website?

A: With handmade items, the coloring and patterns can differ slightly from the picture.

Q: Do we carry tallits for women?

A: Both gender options are available

Q: What is a tallit made from?

A: We offer talits made of wool, silk, organza, cotton, and acrylic 

Q: Does the tallit have an atara?

A: An atara is the extra layer of silk, cloth, or sometimes silver sewn onto the top of the tallit. Some ataras have the blessing for the tallit, while others have patterns or are a solid color.