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Bar Mitzvah Tallit

When a young man comes of age as a member of the congregation and the Jewish people, one of the external signs of this advancement is the mitzvah of tzitzit, i.e. a bar mitzvah tallit. The Sages said ideally a mitzvah should be performed in a beautiful manner – zeh Eili ve’anveihu. Our aim is to help the young man find a bar mitzvah tallit that feels just right on his shoulders – on his bar mitzvah day and for years to come.

Choosing a Bar Mitzvah Tallit

If you’re looking for a traditional tallit, be sure it is made of wool tallit. Wool looks nicer, lasts longer and is the fabric of choice from a halachic standpoint.

The more expensive type of wool tallit is made of a denser weave and may include special features such as wool corners and stain-resistant fabric. Many parents want a traditional-looking tallit, but want it personalized for their son. They may want to have a special atara (neckband) sewn on or have the bar mitzvah boy’s name embroidered on the tallit. Personally, I discourage name embroidery on the tallit, but certainly it’s very appropriate to have a name embroidered, in Hebrew or English, on a tallit bag.

Thinking of buying a handwoven tallit? Although handwoven wool tallits are common, you will also come across cotton and silk. Gabrieli is the only tallit maker I know of that works with all three materials. Their wool and cotton look very similar, although the cotton is a bit thinner and smoother in texture. A handwoven silk tallit is not the sheer silk of a silk blouse, because thick silk yarns are used. Compared to wool and cotton, a handmade silk tallit is somewhat thinner, more details and has higher sheen.

Tallit Color Options

The age-old wool tallit is invariably white with black stripes. Some Sephardic Jews have a custom of opting for a white tallit with white stripes, which has a very elegant and distinguished look. Ivory and off-white handwoven tallits look traditional, yet unique and distinctive at the same time. White with blue stripes seems to be a popular choice among bar mitzvah tallit buyers, possibly because it is not too eccentric, yet adds a bit of color and flare.

Tallit Sizing for the Bar Mitzvah Boy

In a recent email, I received the following inquiry:

    Hello and good morning. I am looking for a tallit for my son. Do you have any sort of tallit that is 18 by 64 inches?

That was actually the fourth time in the past few weeks that I received a request for a tallit less than 70 inches long, for bar mitzvah boys around 4’8″ or 4’10″.

One aunt buying a bar mitzvah tallit for her nephew, worded her inquiry as follows:

The bar mitzvah boy is on the small side,  about 4’8” and 80 lbs.  So, that was why I thought an 18 x 64 tallit would be the best fit for him.  Do you agree or do you think he would be OK with a 20 x 72?  I don’t want him to feel like he is swimming in a too big tallit, but I also don’t want him to outgrow it within months.

Another customer said she didn’t want the tzitzit dragging on the floor, and recalled that she once saw a bar mitzvah boy trip over his tzitzit while walking down the aisle. “It wasn’t a pretty sight,” she added.

As far as I’m aware, the tallit makers in Israel do not make shorter lengths in the narrow (i.e. 18 to 36 inches) type of tallit.

However, we have longstanding relations with three of the tallit makers we work with (Gabrieli, Maaseh Oreg and Mishkan Hatchelet), and each of them has made arrangements to provide me special order tallits in shorter sizes, e.g. 18 x 64 inches, 18 x 65 inches, 20 x 64 inches, etc.).

What is the right bar mitzvah tallit size? That depends not only on the bar mitzvah boy, but on the type of congregation he belongs to as well.

Bar Mitzvah Tallit – Narrow Sizes

In most Reform congregations, people wear the type of tallit that sits on the shoulders and hangs in front, but does not cover the back. This comes in Size 18, Size 24 and Size 36. Those numbers refer to the width. A Size 18 is narrow, just 18 inches wide, a Size 24 is medium and a Size 36 is wide. The Size 36 can be cumbersome on a boy. If he is still short, say under 5 feet tall, he’ll need a custom size. We get this type of request fairly frequently, and have several options available.

Full-Size Bar Mitzvah Tallit

In some Conservative and all Orthodox congregations, people wear a full-size bar mitzvah tallit, worn in the traditional fashion – over the shoulders, with the corners pulled down the front and two-thirds of the tallit covering the back and hanging down to the waist (or sometimes even down to the legs).

If you wear the tallit this way, you’ll want a Size 45, Size 50, Size 55 or Size 60, depending on the bar mitzvah tallit wearer’s height.

Of course the best advice is to have the young man try on different bar mitzvah tallit sizes and decide which works best for him. If you’re unsure which size a given tallit is, measure it from top to bottom (from the edge with the neckband to the edge opposite it that hangs down in back). If it’s around 24 inches, it’s a Size 24, if it’s around 36 inches it’s a Size 36, 45 inches is a Size 45, etc.

Tallit Size Wizard>>>

Tallit Size Video>> (a one-minue video showing a 5’1″ boy sporting various tallit sizes

Bar Mitzvah Set

We avoid using the term bar mitzvah set because it can mean different things to different people. Often a bar mitzvah set consists of a tallit, matching bag and matching kippah. In other cases a bar mitzvah set revolves around a set of tefillin and often includes a siddur as well. Some bar mitzvah boys won’t want a matching kippah, and what they really need is a matching bag with custom name embroidery.

Our solution is to invite parents to browse our tallit and tefillin webstore, where they should be able to find whatever they need, and put together a bar mitzvah set of their own. Since we charge a low fixed price for shipping, essentially you only pay shipping for one item and the rest ship for free. For discounts, be sure to see our coupon listings.

If you would like a pair of tefillin for your bar mitzvah boy, Tefillin Peshutim Mehudarim is a popular choice. You can then choose a traditional tallit, a modern tallit or even a handwoven tallit set.

All of our Gabrieli and Maaseh Oreg handwoven tallit sets are available with matching tallit bag and kippah. Most of our tallits are also available with a matching bag and you can generally find a nice kippah that matches well among the Raw Silk Yair Emanuel kippot we offer.

If you have any questions about tefillin, tallit sizing, letter embroidery, shipping time etc., be sure to see the many resources listed in the top navigation bar, and of course if you contact us with inquiry, you can expect a quick reply.

Traditional wool tallits with a wide range of tzitzit options.
Made in the Negev by Mishkan Hatechelet.
Go to Traditional Tallits>>>

Wide selection of modern tallit designs in a range of colors and sizes.
Go to Modern Tallits>>>

The weavers at Gabrieli produce a large array of designs, from various styles in wool in traditional colors, to cotton and silk tallits in bold colors and patterns. Gabrieli Hand Weaving was founded in 1964 by Malka Gabrieli, who studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Today the studio boasts 40 workers on 13 looms.  Prices start at $205
Go to Gabrieli Tallit Sets>>>

One-of-a-kind custom tallits lovingly woven in cotton by craftsmen
Yosef Gabso and Ori Faran on their looms in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Bar mitzvah tallit sets beyond compare.  Starting at $290
Go to Maaseh Oreg Tallit Sets>>>

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Rav Moshe Feinstein on Women and Tallits

Though the issue of women wearing a tallit has evolved over time, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s remarks on the topic reverberate to this day. In the 1970’s feminist Orthodox Jewish women consulted with him to inquire whether a woman can wear a tallit. The following is an excerpt from his responsum to them, dated 19 Elul 5736 (1976).

“First, it must be clear that one of the fundamentals of our pure faith is that the entire Torah, both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah, were given by HaKadosh Baruch Hu Himself on Mt. Sinai through Moshe Rabbenu a”h and not even the slightest change can be introduced, whether the intention is to be more lenient or more stringent. However, we were commanded that when a need arises to establish limitations and boundaries, the Sanhedrin and the leading Torah scholars had an obligation to establish regulations, creating certain prohibitions and requirements, while clearly stating it is a Rabbinical regulation or limitation…

“That the Torah exempted [women] from positive, time-bound mitzvahs is itself a Torah law, and the Sages did not add on a requirement because they saw no need to obligate women. In fact, it seems there is a need to exempt them for the very reasons the Torah exempted them.

“In addition to the Torah’s reasons – which are not known to the average person and not even to the greatest Torah scholars, and we have an obligation to believe that HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Giver of the Torah, has profound reasons – there are also openly revealed reasons. For instance, most women are not wealthy and therefore the task of raising boys and girls – which is the most important type of work to Hashem Yisbarach and to the Torah – is incumbent on them. Furthermore, Hashem Yisbarach created all species such that the females raise the offspring. Humans are no exception, for women are more capable of raising children, and as such He lightened their load, not obligating them in Torah study and positive, time-bound mitzvahs.

“Therefore, even if the human condition evolves – even for all women, and for wealthy women in times past and present – and the task of childrearing can be passed onto others, as we see in the U.S., Torah law does not change, not even Rabbinical law. It does not matter that a battle is being waged, for there is no power to make any changes – even were there to be a worldwide consensus. Those women who insist on trying to wage a campaign to introduce change are considered deniers of Torah (Rambam, Hil. Teshuva, Chap. 3, Hal. 8). According to the Rambam there are three types of deniers of Torah: one who says that Moshe introduced even a single letter on his own, one who denies the interpretation, which is the Oral Law, and one who says a certain [mitzvah] has now changed. Each of these three denies the Torah and they have no portion in the World to Come…Although the Rambam writes that [the third type] refers to one who said the Creator changed a certain mitzvah, he stated it in a more inclusive manner, i.e. even one who says the Creator changed a given mitzvah, for this applies even more in the case of one who says people have the authority to make a change, for in making such a statement one in effect says the Torah is not forever, which rejects various verses that show that the Torah is forever, as the Kesef Mishneh writes.

“Every woman is indeed allowed to fulfill even those mitzvahs which the Torah does not command them to do, and they earn reward for performing these mitzvahs; in fact, according to the Tosefos, they can even recite a blessing over the mitzvah, and [the Ashkenazi] custom is for them to perform the mitzvah of shofar and lulav [i.e. the Four Species], and they recite a blessing on them.

“Therefore on the mitzvah of tzitzit is would also seem to apply if a woman wants to wear a four-cornered garment – though it should differ from typical men’s clothing – and tie tzitzit to it and carry out this mitzvah. Only in the case of tefillin did the Tosefos write (Eruvin 96a) that they should be prevented from doing so…But this is clearly if she has a heartfelt urge to keep mitzvahs, even when not commanded. However, since [in the present case] this is not the intention, but rather resentment toward Hashem Yisbarach and His Torah, this is not an act of performing a mitzvah at all, but the very opposite: a prohibited act, the prohibition of heresy, for she thinks Torah laws can be replaced.”

Before concluding, Rav Moshe notes that none of this implies that women are on a lower level of santity than men. He explains that all the places in the Torah where the Jews are exhorted to be holy are addressed to both men and women alike. Therefore, he writes, women recite blassings that contain the words, “Who sanctified us and commanded us,” even regarding mitzvahs from which they are exempt, “for this exemption is merely a leniency granted to them, as noted above, not an indication of any sort of inferiority, G-d forbid.”

Finally, Rav Moshe points out that a husband’s obligation to honor his wife is identical to a wife’s obligation to honor her husband. In closing, he writes that these obstinate women should not be countenanced “and the holy Jewish custom should not be altered in any manner.”

– Excerpted from Iggros Moshe, O.C. 4, 49

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How Tallit Sizing Works

Before diving into the tallit market; understand how tallit sizing works. Really there are two ways to wear a tallit.

  • In Reform and Conservative congregations you see tallits that sit on the neck and drape in front, covering just the shoulders and a little bit of the upper back. This is sometimes referred to as a Size 24 (because the width is about 24 inches).
  • In Orthodox congregations, in contrast, the norm is a full-size tallit that covers the back, and sometimes even drapes down to the thighs or the knees. These are sometimes referred to as Size 45, Size 50, Size 55, Size 60 and Size 70 (because the width — or the height, really — is 45 or 50 or 55 inches, etc.).

The first type generally measures 20″ x 80″ or 24″ x 72″. In contrast, a full-size tallit that hangs both in front and down the back, measures anywhere from 44″ x 64″ to 60″ x 80″ or more.

For more details, refer to our Tallit Size Chart and our Tallit Size Wizard.

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Bar Mitzvah Tallit Buyers Guide

When a young man comes of age as a member of the congregation and of the Jewish people, one of the outward signs is the mitzvah of tzitzit, i.e. a bar mitzvah tallit. According to the Talmudic Sages, ideally a mitzvah should be performed in an aesthetic manner – zeh Eili ve’anveihu. Our aim is to help the young man find a bar mitzvah tallit that feels just right on his shoulders – on his bar mitzvah day and for many years to come.

Bar Mitzvah Tallit Shopping Tips

Traditional Wool TallitIf you’re looking for a traditional tallit, ensure it is made of wool, which looks nicer, lasts longer and is the material of choice from a halachic standpoint. When comparing prices, keep in mind that the same tallit made of a synthetic material (generally acrylic) will cost at least 30% less than a wool tallit. Most tallits are either all wool or all acrylic, but there are a few out there made of an acrylic/wool blend.

The more expensive type of wool tallit is made of a denser weave and sometimes includes special features such as wool corners and stain-resistant fabric. Many parents want a traditional-looking tallit, but want it personalized for their son. They may want to have a special atara (neckband) sewn on or have the bar mitzvah boy’s name embroidered on the tallit. Personally, I discourage name embroidery on the tallit, but certainly it’s very appropriate to have a name embroidered, in Hebrew or English, on a tallit bag.

Thinking of buying a handwoven tallit? Although handwoven wool tallits are common, you will also come across cotton and silk. Gabrieli is the only tallit maker I know of that works with all three materials. Their wool and cotton look very similar, although the cotton is a bit thinner and smoother in texture. A handwoven silk tallit is not the sheer silk of a silk blouse, because thick silk yarns are used. Compared to wool and cotton, a handmade silk tallit is somewhat thinner, more details and has higher sheen.

Tallit Color Options

As noted above, the age-old wool tallit is invariably white with black stripes. Some Sephardic Jews have a custom of opting for a white tallit with white stripes, which has a very distinguished and elegant. Off-white and ivory handwoven tallits look traditional, yet unique and distinctive at the same time. White with blue stripes seems to be a popular choice among bar mitzvah tallit buyers, possibly because it is not too eccentric, yet adds a bit of color and flare.

What is the right bar mitzvah tallit size? That depends not only on the bar mitzvah boy, but on the type of congregation he belongs to as well.

Bar Mitzvah Tallit – Narrow Sizes

In most Reform congregations, people wear the type of tallit that sits on the shoulders and hangs in front, but does not cover the back. This comes in Size 18, Size 24 and Size 36. Those numbers refer to the width. A Size 18 is narrow, just 18 inches wide, a Size 24 is medium and a Size 36 is wide. The Size 36 can be cumbersome on a boy. If he is still short, say under 5 feet tall, he’ll need a custom size. We get this type of request fairly frequently, and have several options available.

Full-Size Tallit

In some Conservative and all Orthodox congregations, people wear a full-size bar mitzvah tallit, worn in the traditional fashion – over the shoulders, with the corners pulled down the front and two-thirds of the tallit covering the back and hanging down to the waist (or sometimes even down to the legs).

If you wear the tallit this way, you’ll want a Size 45, Size 50, Size 55 or Size 60, depending on the bar mitzvah tallit wearer’s height. 

Of course the best piece of advice is to have the young man try on different bar mitzvah tallit sizes and decide which works best for him. If you’re unsure which size a given tallit is, measure it from top to bottom (from the edge with the neckband to the edge opposite it that hangs down in back). If it’s around 24 inches, it’s a Size 24, if it’s around 36 inches it’s a Size 36, 45 inches is a Size 45, etc.

Tallit Size Wizard>>>

Tallit Accessories

Generally tallit clips are relatively inexpensive, around $10 a set, but I have also seen spectacular sterling silver tallit clips and 14 karat gold tallit clips that run anywhere from $200 to $1,200. The most common designs include Jerusalem motifs, the Ten Commandments (Luchos Habris) and the Star of David. If you go for vibrant colors, try a set of Choshen tallit clips.

Upon Giving a Bar Mitzvah Tallit

Upon giving a bar mitzvah tallit to his son, Rabbi Menachem Creditor penned an insightful “meditation.”

“Maybe once you wear this tallit, perhaps on a day when no one else is watching, you and I will be able to talk about how it felt,” he writes. He shares with his son “an understanding gained over time that a tallit is not only an object of beauty.  Jewish hands have sometimes trembled holding our holy objects.”

He mentions the custom of wearing the tallit over one’s heads during prayer, adding, ” A tallit helps you see with your eyes closed.”

“I give you this tallit,” Rabbi Creditor concludes, “with a heart full of hope and full of anticipation for the person you are becoming.”

The Tzitzit

The essence of the tallit is the tzitzit. In his book of responsa, Az Nidberu, Rabbi Binyamin Zilber zt”l writes that all of the mitzvot ennoble the person who fulfills them, but some, namely tzitzit, are one of the main ways to undertake the yoke of Heaven.

He cites the Rambam, who notes that the mitzvah of tzitzit causes one to carry out all of the other mitzvahs in a comprehensive manner.

 

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Epops Sport Tzitzit

An Israeli company called Epops has introduced an innovative tallit katan product designed to make your workout more comfortable than ever before. The Epops tallit katan is similar in concept to Tamir Goodman’s Sport Strings, but at Israeli prices instead of U.S. prices.

sports-tshirt-olive-worn.jpgMade of a special Moisture Management fabric designed to wick moisture away from the skin, this tallit katan allows you to comfortably wear tzitzit with a single layer while jogging, on the court or on the playing field. It fits just like a t-shirt, with snaps along the sides.

It features kosher hand-tied tzitzit with reinforced tips to prevent fraying, reinforced eyelets and laundry pockets to protect the tzitzit strings.

Designed to fit snug, the Epop comes in various sizes and colors, including white, orange, blue and black.

Prices and details>>

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Ptil Tekhelet and Radzin Techelet

The issue of wearing techelet tzitzit is complex, and I make no claim of authority, however I can offer my customers some basic guidance.

During the past few decades two vanguard organizations claim to have rediscovered the techelet tzitzit dye mentioned to in Bamidbar 15:38. The first, Ptil Tekhelet, is derived from Murex trunculus. The second, Radzyn, is derived from the cuttlefish. (We also use Murex strings made by Techeiles Chabura.)

Today, most Orthodox Jews who wear techelet insist on Ptil Tekhelet, though Chassidim – notably Breslov and of course Radzyn – wear the Radzyn tzitzit. In recent years, even some Breslov chassidim have switched from Radzyn Techelet to Ptil Tekhelet.

Be warned that the Radzyn techelet dye tends to run. If you tie the tzitzit yourself, both your hands and the edges of the tallit may get a bit smudged and the white tzitzit strings will become slightly discolored. From my experience the smudges can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

Whether you choose thin techelet tzitzit or thick is a matter of aesthetics. The thick blue tzitzit may be easier to tie.

If you choose Ptil Tekhelet, before you order you’ll have to decide how you intend to tie the tzitzit, because when tied, with the Rambam set one of the eight strings hanging from each corner is blue, while with the Raavad set you will have two blue strings on every corner.

The Ptil Tekhelet Foundation website presents a wealth of information on the various techelet tying customs. Some of these are quite complicated, while others are relatively straightforward.

The simplest way to tie techelet tzitzit is to tie them just like white tzitzit strings, using the blue string as the shamash that wraps around the main cord. If you do this, be sure the very first and very last windings are white, as explicitly required by the Gemara.

Buy Techelet Tzitzit Strings

Go to Techelet Tzitzit Tying


Further reading on techelet:

History, Mesorah, Nignaz by Mois Navon
Ptil Tekhelet on Radzyn techelet by Mois Navon
Fake Techelet – forum string at Mi Yodeya
Tekhelet – Threads of Reason by Mois Navon
Understanding the Criteria for the Chilazon by Dr. Mendel Singer
Response to Understanding the Criteria for the Chilazon
 by Dr. Baruch Sternman
Has Techelet Been Found? by Menachem Epstein