November 2011 – Ben's Tallit Shop

Tzitzit tying customs: The basics

What is the most important part of a tallit? The tzitzit, of course, which are really the tallit's raison d'être. Without the tzitzit the tallit would be just a nice wool shawl for men. Yet some people don't think twice about the tzitzit when buying a tallit. Whether you plan to tie the tzitzit yourself...

Chabad Tallis: Why no atara?

Almost all tallits come with an atara (neckband), which can vary from plain white with a very subtle leaf motif to very ornate with vibrant colors. But there are two notable exceptions: the Turkish tallit and the Chabad tallis. The custom of adding an atara originated to ensure that the tallit was worn the same...

Tallit Katan – Is it Kosher?

I had always been under the impression that the only thing you have to look out for when buying a kosher tallit katan is the tzitzit. Many people insist on hand-spun tzitzit rather than machine-spun tzitzit, but the garment is just a garment – or so I had always assumed. Of course in the case...

Tallit Sizes: Get it Right

When I first started out in the tallit business, grappling with all the different sizes left me dazed and confused: Size 18, Size 24, Size 36, Size 45, etc., all the up to Size 90. These sizes are used throughout the industry and should actually be easier for English speakers, because they are based...