Are you about to buy a tallit that is the wrong size?
To choose a tallit, decide whether you need a tallit gadol or a tallit katan, and then pick a size that fits your height. After that, choose the fabric and the stripe color. Size is the choice most first time buyers get wrong.
A tallit is a four cornered prayer shawl with tzitzit, the ritual fringes, tied on each corner. The Torah commands fringes on the corners of a garment in Numbers 15:38 and Deuteronomy 22:12.
This guide explains each choice in order so you can buy the right tallit for daily prayer or for a family milestone such as a bar mitzvah or wedding.
What is the difference between a tallit gadol and a tallit katan?
The tallit gadol is the large prayer shawl worn over the clothes during morning prayers. It is also worn at every service on Yom Kippur, starting with Kol Nidre.
The tallit katan is a small four cornered garment worn under or over the shirt during the day. Observant men wear it so they keep the mitzvah of tzitzit all day long. When people shop for a tallit, they usually mean the tallit gadol.
Customs differ on who wears a tallit gadol. In many Eastern European Ashkenazi communities, men begin wearing one after marriage. Sephardi and German Jewish communities begin at bar mitzvah or earlier, as do many non Orthodox congregations.
What size tallit should I get for my height?
Tallit sizes are given as width by length. The right size depends on your height and on whether you want a full traditional tallit or a narrow scarf style. Use these general guidelines.
- Scarf style, about 45 to 60 cm wide by 180 cm long: worn around the neck and down the front. It is common in many Reform and Conservative congregations.
- Medium, about 90 to 120 cm wide: suits a bar mitzvah boy of average height or a shorter adult in the traditional style.
- Full size, about 130 cm by 180 cm: fits most adults of average height and covers the back and shoulders.
- Large, about 140 cm by 190 cm and up: suits tall or broad adults. The largest sizes are also used as a chuppah, the wedding canopy.
A traditional tallit should cover most of the back when it rests on the shoulders. If you are well above average height, move up one size. If you are buying for a growing teenager, a full size tallit will last into adulthood.
Which is better, a wool, acrylic or silk tallit?
Wool is the classic choice. Many halachic authorities prefer wool, because the Torah obligation of tzitzit applies most clearly to a wool garment. A wool tallit drapes well and stays warm in a cool synagogue.
Acrylic tallitot are lighter and less expensive than wool. Many rabbis accept them, and they are widely used for daily prayer and as gifts.
Silk tallitot are light and shiny and are often chosen for decorative designs. If the halachic preference matters to you, ask your rabbi before you buy acrylic or silk.
What do the stripe colors on a tallit mean?
Black stripes on white are the most familiar Ashkenazi style. Blue stripes recall the blue thread of tekhelet mentioned in the Torah. All white tallitot are common in many Sephardi communities and with some Hasidic groups.
Modern tallitot also come with gold or silver stripes and other colors. Jewish law does not require any particular stripe color, so the choice is about custom and personal taste.
What are the atarah, the tzitzit and tekhelet?
The atarah is the decorated band along the top edge of the tallit. It marks which side goes on top, and it is often embroidered with the blessing for wearing the tallit. Jewish law does not require it.
The tzitzit are the fringes on the four corners. Each corner has four strings folded to make eight, tied with five double knots. In the common Ashkenazi method, the windings between the knots number 7, 8, 11 and 13.
Tekhelet is a blue thread tied into the tzitzit. Its dye source was lost for many centuries, and in recent decades some have revived it from a sea snail.
Some communities wear it and many do not. Blue stripes woven into the fabric are a design feature and are separate from a tekhelet thread.
How do you choose a bar mitzvah or wedding tallit?
- For a bar mitzvah: choose a size that fits now with room to grow. Acrylic suits a younger wearer, and wool suits a boy who will wear it daily for years.
- For a wedding: in many Ashkenazi communities the bride or her family gives the groom a tallit. A wool tallit is a common choice, because he will wear it for decades.
- For a chuppah: some couples hold a large tallit over themselves as the wedding canopy.
- For a tallit bag: buy a bag to protect the tallit when you carry it to synagogue. Many people choose a matching bag and add the owner's name in Hebrew.
Which tallitot can you buy at The Israel Store?
The Israel Store carries tallitot made in Israel by Talitnia, a tallit maker founded in 1898. Each one below measures 130 cm by 180 cm, a full adult size, and includes tzitzit and an embroidered atarah.
- Premium Wool Tallit, White and Gold, $129. Made of 100% wool with gold stripes. It is a strong choice for a wedding tallit.
- Premium Wool Tallit, Light Blue and Silver, $129. Made of 100% wool with light blue stripes and silver Lurex threads. It suits a buyer who wants wool in a modern color.
- Acrylic Tallit, Traditional Black Stripes, $59.99. The classic black and white look in light acrylic, a good bar mitzvah tallit.
- Acrylic Tallit with Blue Stripes, $59.99. White acrylic with deep blue stripes for daily prayer.
- White Acrylic Tallit, $59.99. White on white stripes for those who prefer an all white tallit.
The product listings do not mention a tallit bag, so plan to buy one separately.
Orders from The Israel Store are processed in 1 to 3 business days. US delivery usually takes 5 to 10 business days. International delivery takes 7 to 21 business days, and returns are accepted within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tallit does an average adult need?
A tallit of about 130 cm by 180 cm fits most adults of average height in the traditional style. Taller adults should look at 140 cm by 190 cm or larger.
Is a wool tallit better than acrylic?
Many halachic authorities prefer wool, and wool drapes well. Acrylic is lighter and less expensive, and many rabbis accept it.
When does a boy start wearing a tallit?
It depends on the community. Many Eastern European Ashkenazi men start after marriage, while Sephardi communities and many others start at bar mitzvah or earlier.
Do blue stripes on a tallit count as tekhelet?
No. Tekhelet is a blue thread tied into the tzitzit, and woven stripes are a design feature of the fabric.
Which blessing is said when putting on a tallit?
The blessing ends with the words l'hitateif ba'tzitzit, meaning to wrap ourselves in tzitzit. It is said while holding the tallit, just before wrapping it around you.
Settle on the type and size before you look at fabric and color. You can compare every option in the full tallit collection. Once your tallit arrives, read our guide on how to wear a tallit properly.
