How to Wrap Your Tallis
According to the Tur and Geonim, the Mitzvah of Tzitzis is to wrap(עטיפה) oneself in the Tallis. They derive this from the Nusach of the Bracha Lehisatef BaTzitzis, meaning to wrap oneself with the Tzitzis. The way we customarily wear the Tallis draped over the head and shoulders does not constitute Atifah.
The type of wrapping required is defined as כעטיפת הישמעאלים, like the wrapping of the Arabs[1]. How this should be done is described below.
In contrast to the Geonim, Nimukei Yosef[2] writes that the Torah says that you shall place Tzitzis “on the corners of the garment that you cover yourself with”. Therefore, one fulfils the Mitzvah of Tzitzis on any garment that is worn in a manner of ‘covering’.
The Nusach of the Bracha was established at a time where the way of dressing was to wrap one’s head with their cloak. Further, even in their times they did not wrap themselves like the Yishmaelim. According to this view one need not wrap the Tallis with עטיפת הישמעאלים. Indeed, one need not even wear the Tallis over their head.
The Shulchan Aruch[3] rules that the Halacha accords with this second opinion and one does not need to place the Tallis over their head.
Nonetheless, in order to fulfil the Mitzva in the preferable way[4] and to be Yotzai according to all opinions[5], one should wrap oneself in the manner of the Yishmaelim[6] at the time of the Bracha. They should remain wrapped for the amount of time it would take to walk 4 Amos (approx. 2 metres). This amounts to a few seconds.
Wearing the Tallis on your head for davening
After this, one need not wear the Tallis in a wrapped manner and may also remove the Tallis from over their head.
Nonetheless, the Shulchan Aruch advises that it is appropriate to continue to wear the Tallis over one’s head. Magen Avraham[7] explains that wearing the Tallis over one’s head humbles one’s heart and brings one to Yiras Shamayim. The Bach[8] writes that the Tallis should remain over one’s head for the duration of davening from the very beginning until the very end. Baer Heitev writes that this is in order to daven with awe. Radba”z[9] writes that wearing the Tallis over our heads is Minhag Avoseinu and those who do not do so are not acting appropriately[10].
The Ta”z[11] rules that one should still keep their Yarmulke on underneath the Tallis.
Based on the Gemara[12], the Magen Avraham writes that a Bachur who has not been married does not wrap their Tallis over their head[13]. Similarly, there is a source[14] that suggests that wearing the Tallis over one’s head is reserved for Talmidei Chachamim. This is not brought by the Alter Rebbe. The above refers to wearing the Tallis over one’s head during the time of davening. At the time of the Bracha, all are required to wrap the Tallis over their head.
Shaarei Teshuva[15] writes that in a place where the practise of the majority is not to cover their heads with the Tallis during davening, if the majority are makpid that the others should not cover their heads, they should act according to the majority practise. The same would apply in the reverse case as well.
How to wrap the Tallis - עטיפת הישמעאלים
The Tallis should be placed over one’s head and pulled down over the face. In Shulchan Aruch[16] the Alter Rebbe rules explains that the Tallis should cover to below one’s mouth. However in the Siddur the Alter writes that one need not cover their mouth. Sefer Haminhagim Chabad writes that the Tallis when wrapped should cover the eyes[17].
According to other Halachic authorities, the Tallis should not cover one’s eyes. Certainly, the Tallis should not cover the entire face. Since one would not be able to see at all, this is not considered the wrapping of the Yishmaelim[18]. According to Chabad custom, even though the eyes are covered, one can still see by looking downwards.
The Tallis should then be wrapped around the body. Following the Minhag HaAriza”l[19], the wrapping should completely surround the person.
The Shulchan Aruch rules that two of the Tzitzis should remain at the front of the body and two Tzitzis should be placed at the back of the body so that one is surrounded by Mitzvos[20]. Following the Ariza”l[21], all four of the Tzitzis should be cast on the left side of the body[22] to be considered עטיפת הישמעאלים. On a more spiritual note, Rav Saadiah Gaon[23] writes that Tzitzis protect us so that “you shall not go astray after your heart and your eyes[24]”. This refers to subduing the Yetzer Hara which is in the heart on the left side.
There are those[25] who understand these two requirements (of having the four Tiztzis on the right side and having two Tzitzis in front and two at the back) to be contradictory and one should rather cast the four Tzitzis behind them over the left shoulder to constitute עטיפת הישמעאלים.
However many Acharonim explain that both requirements can be fulfilled.עטיפת הישמעאלים merely requires that the four Tzitzis should be on the left side, but not necessarily over one’s shoulder behind them. The left Tzitzis should be held up on the left side of the body at the front. The right Tzitzis should be swung over the left shoulder behind. This is the view of the Alter Rebbe[26].
The seder of wrapping the Tallis is described in the Alter Rebbe’s Siddur and in more detail in the Luach Hayom Yom[27]; the two left side corners are held at the front of the body (on the left side of the chest) and the corners of the right side of the Tallis are gathered and swung across the front of the body so that they go over one’s left shoulder. This way, all four Tzitzis should be on the left side. After this one can place the Tallis over their shoulders for the duration of davening.
Even when wrapping the Tallis over one’s head and face, it must remain covering an Amah across the width and length of the back and one’s front[28] as this too is part of the way Yishmaelim wrap themselves. The Alter Rebbe writes that those who only wrap the Tallis around their head and neck are mistaken[29].
Those who drape the Tallis over their heads until the middle of the Tallis sits on top of their head without casting the sides of the Tallis across their body, have not fulfilled their obligation as this is not considered wrapping[30].
Someone who wears the Tallis around one’s neck draped over their shoulders does not fulfil their obligation according to any of the opinions[31]. The Tallis must cover the chest and corresponding part on the back as well.
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[1] Tur Siman 8 quoting the Geonim based on Moed Katan 24a
[2] Hilchos Tzitzis quoting Ritv”a
[3] 8:3
[4] Shulchan Aruch Harav 8:6
[5] Mishna Berura 8:7
[6] See Piskei Dinim that according to many noted Halachic authorities including the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, the Shulchan Aruch does not require wrapping like the Yishmaelim. It suffices to cover one’s head with the Tallis.
[7] 8:2
[8] 8:5
[9] Volume 1:342
[10] See Elya Rabbah who writes that those who do not wear the Tallis over their head and instead wear it draped over their backs, are fulfilling the words of Melachim 1 (14:9) “and you have cast Me behind your backs”.
[11] 11. 8:2
[12] Kiddushin 31a
[13] See Mishna Berura 8:4 that this applies even if the Bachur is a Talmid Chacham. This is the basis of the widespread minhag that a Bachur does not wear a Tallis at all.
[14] Ibid 8a
[15] OC 8:3
[16] 8:5
[17] See Shaar Halacha uMinhag (Chabad) 1:6 that the Yishmaelim live in sandy regions and cover over their eyes to prevent sand blowing into them.
[18] Mishna Berura 8:4
[19] Also brought in Niglah in Magen Avraham 8:6
[20] Shulchan Aruch 8:4. Quoted in Shulchan Aruch Harav 8:10
[21] Pri Eitz Chaim Shaar Tziztis 1:1 quoted in Baer Heitev. Mishna Berura ibid.
[22] See also Radvaz 3:571 quoting Rav Saadiah Gaon
[23] Parshas Bo. This reason is also brought in the writings of the Ariza”l
[24] The Parsha of Tzitzis Bamidbar 15:37
[25] 25. Mishna Berura Shaar Hatziyun 11
[26] Siddur. This is also the view of Eshel Avraham Butshash Siman 16, Ketzos Hashulchan 7:14, Kaf Hachaim 8:7 and Ben Ish Chai. There are those who after holding the Tzitzis in this manner than place all 4 Tzitzis together over the left shoulder for an additional time of “four Amos”.
[27] Elul 5
[28] The primary wrapping according to all opinions is to cover the majority of the body/torso
[29] 8:8 and Siddur
[30] Mishna Berura 8:4 based on Moed Katan 24a
[31] Magen Avraham 8:2. Mishna Berura 8:3
The type of wrapping required is defined as כעטיפת הישמעאלים, like the wrapping of the Arabs[1]. How this should be done is described below.
In contrast to the Geonim, Nimukei Yosef[2] writes that the Torah says that you shall place Tzitzis “on the corners of the garment that you cover yourself with”. Therefore, one fulfils the Mitzvah of Tzitzis on any garment that is worn in a manner of ‘covering’.
The Nusach of the Bracha was established at a time where the way of dressing was to wrap one’s head with their cloak. Further, even in their times they did not wrap themselves like the Yishmaelim. According to this view one need not wrap the Tallis with עטיפת הישמעאלים. Indeed, one need not even wear the Tallis over their head.
The Shulchan Aruch[3] rules that the Halacha accords with this second opinion and one does not need to place the Tallis over their head.
Nonetheless, in order to fulfil the Mitzva in the preferable way[4] and to be Yotzai according to all opinions[5], one should wrap oneself in the manner of the Yishmaelim[6] at the time of the Bracha. They should remain wrapped for the amount of time it would take to walk 4 Amos (approx. 2 metres). This amounts to a few seconds.
Wearing the Tallis on your head for davening
After this, one need not wear the Tallis in a wrapped manner and may also remove the Tallis from over their head.
Nonetheless, the Shulchan Aruch advises that it is appropriate to continue to wear the Tallis over one’s head. Magen Avraham[7] explains that wearing the Tallis over one’s head humbles one’s heart and brings one to Yiras Shamayim. The Bach[8] writes that the Tallis should remain over one’s head for the duration of davening from the very beginning until the very end. Baer Heitev writes that this is in order to daven with awe. Radba”z[9] writes that wearing the Tallis over our heads is Minhag Avoseinu and those who do not do so are not acting appropriately[10].
The Ta”z[11] rules that one should still keep their Yarmulke on underneath the Tallis.
Based on the Gemara[12], the Magen Avraham writes that a Bachur who has not been married does not wrap their Tallis over their head[13]. Similarly, there is a source[14] that suggests that wearing the Tallis over one’s head is reserved for Talmidei Chachamim. This is not brought by the Alter Rebbe. The above refers to wearing the Tallis over one’s head during the time of davening. At the time of the Bracha, all are required to wrap the Tallis over their head.
Shaarei Teshuva[15] writes that in a place where the practise of the majority is not to cover their heads with the Tallis during davening, if the majority are makpid that the others should not cover their heads, they should act according to the majority practise. The same would apply in the reverse case as well.
How to wrap the Tallis - עטיפת הישמעאלים
The Tallis should be placed over one’s head and pulled down over the face. In Shulchan Aruch[16] the Alter Rebbe rules explains that the Tallis should cover to below one’s mouth. However in the Siddur the Alter writes that one need not cover their mouth. Sefer Haminhagim Chabad writes that the Tallis when wrapped should cover the eyes[17].
According to other Halachic authorities, the Tallis should not cover one’s eyes. Certainly, the Tallis should not cover the entire face. Since one would not be able to see at all, this is not considered the wrapping of the Yishmaelim[18]. According to Chabad custom, even though the eyes are covered, one can still see by looking downwards.
The Tallis should then be wrapped around the body. Following the Minhag HaAriza”l[19], the wrapping should completely surround the person.
The Shulchan Aruch rules that two of the Tzitzis should remain at the front of the body and two Tzitzis should be placed at the back of the body so that one is surrounded by Mitzvos[20]. Following the Ariza”l[21], all four of the Tzitzis should be cast on the left side of the body[22] to be considered עטיפת הישמעאלים. On a more spiritual note, Rav Saadiah Gaon[23] writes that Tzitzis protect us so that “you shall not go astray after your heart and your eyes[24]”. This refers to subduing the Yetzer Hara which is in the heart on the left side.
There are those[25] who understand these two requirements (of having the four Tiztzis on the right side and having two Tzitzis in front and two at the back) to be contradictory and one should rather cast the four Tzitzis behind them over the left shoulder to constitute עטיפת הישמעאלים.
However many Acharonim explain that both requirements can be fulfilled.עטיפת הישמעאלים merely requires that the four Tzitzis should be on the left side, but not necessarily over one’s shoulder behind them. The left Tzitzis should be held up on the left side of the body at the front. The right Tzitzis should be swung over the left shoulder behind. This is the view of the Alter Rebbe[26].
The seder of wrapping the Tallis is described in the Alter Rebbe’s Siddur and in more detail in the Luach Hayom Yom[27]; the two left side corners are held at the front of the body (on the left side of the chest) and the corners of the right side of the Tallis are gathered and swung across the front of the body so that they go over one’s left shoulder. This way, all four Tzitzis should be on the left side. After this one can place the Tallis over their shoulders for the duration of davening.
Even when wrapping the Tallis over one’s head and face, it must remain covering an Amah across the width and length of the back and one’s front[28] as this too is part of the way Yishmaelim wrap themselves. The Alter Rebbe writes that those who only wrap the Tallis around their head and neck are mistaken[29].
Those who drape the Tallis over their heads until the middle of the Tallis sits on top of their head without casting the sides of the Tallis across their body, have not fulfilled their obligation as this is not considered wrapping[30].
Someone who wears the Tallis around one’s neck draped over their shoulders does not fulfil their obligation according to any of the opinions[31]. The Tallis must cover the chest and corresponding part on the back as well.
________________________________________
[1] Tur Siman 8 quoting the Geonim based on Moed Katan 24a
[2] Hilchos Tzitzis quoting Ritv”a
[3] 8:3
[4] Shulchan Aruch Harav 8:6
[5] Mishna Berura 8:7
[6] See Piskei Dinim that according to many noted Halachic authorities including the Vilna Gaon and Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, the Shulchan Aruch does not require wrapping like the Yishmaelim. It suffices to cover one’s head with the Tallis.
[7] 8:2
[8] 8:5
[9] Volume 1:342
[10] See Elya Rabbah who writes that those who do not wear the Tallis over their head and instead wear it draped over their backs, are fulfilling the words of Melachim 1 (14:9) “and you have cast Me behind your backs”.
[11] 11. 8:2
[12] Kiddushin 31a
[13] See Mishna Berura 8:4 that this applies even if the Bachur is a Talmid Chacham. This is the basis of the widespread minhag that a Bachur does not wear a Tallis at all.
[14] Ibid 8a
[15] OC 8:3
[16] 8:5
[17] See Shaar Halacha uMinhag (Chabad) 1:6 that the Yishmaelim live in sandy regions and cover over their eyes to prevent sand blowing into them.
[18] Mishna Berura 8:4
[19] Also brought in Niglah in Magen Avraham 8:6
[20] Shulchan Aruch 8:4. Quoted in Shulchan Aruch Harav 8:10
[21] Pri Eitz Chaim Shaar Tziztis 1:1 quoted in Baer Heitev. Mishna Berura ibid.
[22] See also Radvaz 3:571 quoting Rav Saadiah Gaon
[23] Parshas Bo. This reason is also brought in the writings of the Ariza”l
[24] The Parsha of Tzitzis Bamidbar 15:37
[25] 25. Mishna Berura Shaar Hatziyun 11
[26] Siddur. This is also the view of Eshel Avraham Butshash Siman 16, Ketzos Hashulchan 7:14, Kaf Hachaim 8:7 and Ben Ish Chai. There are those who after holding the Tzitzis in this manner than place all 4 Tzitzis together over the left shoulder for an additional time of “four Amos”.
[27] Elul 5
[28] The primary wrapping according to all opinions is to cover the majority of the body/torso
[29] 8:8 and Siddur
[30] Mishna Berura 8:4 based on Moed Katan 24a
[31] Magen Avraham 8:2. Mishna Berura 8:3