CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
9. Congregation and Tallit
QUESTION: Should a Reform Congregation provide a tallit for all worshippers? Up to the present time it has been the custom for the rabbis and cantor, as well as anyone involved in the Torah service to wear a tallit We have also encouraged the congregation to wear a tallit at the Kol Nidrei service. Although traditionally the tallit is worn only during daytime services, would it be appropriate for congregants to wear a tallit on Friday evening as we customarily read the Torah on that evening? May the tallit reflect some individuality? (Robert Strauss, Oklahoma City OK)ANSWER: The tallit and the tzitzit represent the rabbinic interpretation of a Biblical commandment (Nu 25.38 ff). This was originally fulfilled through the wearing of the four cornered garment with tzitzit (fringes) at all times as a constant reminder of the obligation to perform the commandments. When styles changed, the tallit became an additional garment worn beneath other garments and so it remains as the tallit qatan worn by many traditional Jews. This is worn throughout the day. The Talmud (Men 43a) debated whether women are obligated to wear tzitzit. Rab Judah felt that the obligation rested upon them as did other earlier teachers while Rab Simeon declared them exempt as this was a positive commandment which depended upon a fixed time. In other words, one was obligated to recite a special blessing in the morning when the tallit was donned. It has been the general Orthodox practice to exclude women from this commandment (Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 8.6). The tallit worn during services grew out of the same custom as the tallit qatan. It is generally worn at all morning services and in the Orthodox tradition by all males even those below the age of Bar Mitzvah (Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 17.3) . There are, however, other traditions which state that it is worn only after Bar Mitzvah (Tur and Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim and commentaries) or only after the male has married. A tallit is also required, according to tradition, for those who participate in the Torah service (Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 14.3). This would be true whenever the Torah is read. It is likewise worn at the Kol Nidrei service to demonstrate the great significance of this service. Traditional Jews will try to begin to wear the tallit before it is dark so that the appropriate blessing can be said while it is still daylight. Otherwise they don it without any blessing (Levush Orah Hayim 619.1). The wearing of a tallit during morning services is an option for us. There is a provision for this in the Gates of Prayer where the appropriate benedictions may be found. Furthermore, it should be worn by all those who participate in the Torah service if that is the custom of the congregation. This means both the shabbat morning Torah readings as well as any Torah readings which may take place during the evening and if the Torah is read during shabbat minhah. This is in keeping with the traditional moods and we should encourage it wherever it is appropriate. As a number of worshippers may come to the synagogue without a tallit or may be a guest in the city, the congregation may want to provide them with a tallit. I am sure that most individuals will, however, bring their own. We would, of course, make no distinction between men and women in this obligation so both men and women of all ages who wish to wear a tallit during the morning service should do so. If it is customary to wear a tallit during the Torah service then this should also be equally obligatory for men and women. As a wide variety of woven and decorative tallisim have become available in the last decades, it should be easy to find an attractive tallit and to express one’s individuality through it.April 1988
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