Nonslip Chabad Tallit

Posted by Ben G. on 10th Feb 2017

A prospective customer pointed out a very valid point regarding a seeming contradiction in the nonslip Chabad Prestige Tallit. 

Comparing Chabad tallit To Nonslip (Prestige) Chabad tallit. Confused about two things that seem to contradict each other. The Prestige is lined with silk. You indicated elsewhere that the silk lining tends to make it MORE slippery. Also I'm unclear whether the waffle weave is warmer or less warm. I want the warmer version, but I also want it not to be slippery and I want it to be as durable as possible, So I'm leaning toward the regular Chabad tallit because I can get it with a cotton lining that will be less slippery (and more durable). But now that you know what I am looking for (greater warmth, greater durability, and less slipping), what would you recommend? I will follow your advice. -- OR -- If I could, I would get the Echt Turkish with the two-hole Chabad Tzitzit attachment, Arizal/Chabad knot, and thick handspun tzitzit material and the silver atara (unless it has something already around the neck area). Can I get those things? How much would that cost? I think this would be the warmest and most durable option of all, no? Is the "half-lining" of the Echt Turkish different from the cotton lining on the (regular) Chabad tallit? Thanks Much!!! Scott R., San Diego

Scott had an astute observation: Why put smooth silk on a tallit with a nonslip weave? I have discussed this very issue with some employees at Mishkan Hatchelet, and they agree with me that it's a bit odd.

Apparently the reasoning is as follows: Not all Chabad followers adhere to all of the Lubavitch minhagim down to the smallest detail. But those who do will insist on a Chabad tallit with all of the traditional features, including the silk lining, regardless of its "performance." It seems Chabad yungerman tend to like the nonslip fabric, either because they simply like the way it looks, because it feels a bit more supple and drapes differently or because it does a slightly better job of staying in place where it's bunched on the shoulders.

The topic of "nonslip" tallit stability really has two factors: some people just have a problem keeping the sides of the tallit bunched on the shoulders, but the center of the tallit stays in place on the back and the back of the neck, while for others the whole tallit tends to slip around. In the former case, the slip lining might not cause difficulties.

Silk is not durable. The silk lining (and corner squares) may tear and need replacement well before the tallit needs replacement.

The Echt Turkish is definitely the warmest tallit I know of. The cotton lining on all tallitot is identical.

If you want a second Chabad hole, you would simply write in a request in the comments field toward the end of checkout. There is no fee for that, but it sometimes adds a day or two to processing time. The Echt Turkish has no atara. Most people add an atara to the cart for us to sew on. All of the tzitzit and tying options are available on the Echt Turkish, and just about all of our other tallits as well.