The Nonslip Tallit: Myth or Modern Breakthrough?

Today, a number of tallits are billed as a “nonslip tallit.” Is there such a thing as a nonslip tallit? Of course not. The Shulchan Aruch (and earlier sources) explains in detail what to do if your tallit slips off your shoulders in terms of saying a new bracha when you put it back on – and this question will never disappear entirely.

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Bareket Nonslip Tallit with box weave
Note the waffle weave of the Bareket Tallit

However, the nonslip tallit is not just marketing hype. Both Talitnia and Mishkan Hatechelet have a number of models often marketed as a nonslip tallit. For instance, the Tashbetz features a special box weave (you can only discern it from fairly close up) that helps keep the tallit in place on your shoulders.

One of the company’s distributors told me he believes the lightweight tallit model stays in place quite well, although nobody markets it as a nonslip tallit per se.

Hamefoar Nonslip Tallit

Recently I spoke with the director of marketing at Mishkan Hatechelet about Hamefoar (marketed in Israel under the  name Pe’er Kal and very similar to the Malchut Tallit made by Talitnia), which he described as a high quality weave that helps the tallit stay in place on your shoulders. (He also revealed to me that he himself has one.) I recommend the Hamefoar to anyone looking for a traditional tallit, because it’s well priced.

The Tashbetz and Bareket nonslip tallits are a bit more modern, and both are made of a lightweight, box weave fabric. One of our customers bought a Tashbetz and sent me a letter raving about how well it stays in place on his shoulders. A month or two later he bought a Bareket, which is also a box weave tallit, and told me it performs even better as a nonslip tallit. Interesting, because Mishkan Hatchelet markets the Tashbetz as a nonslip tallit much more than the Bareket.

Although I have never worn one, I assume the Turkish Tallit stays in place well, not just because it’s so heavy, but also because the fabric is a bit coarse. I have also found the Beit Yosef stays in place thanks to the heavy atara (just about the only wool atara on the market).

Go to Nonslip Tallit page>>>