Sunday 23 January 2022

Tallis for Aliya

Question: I am single and do not wear a tallis while davening. Do I need to make a beracha when I wear one to daven for the amud or for an aliya?

Answer: The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 91:2) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 147:4) write that one who receives an aliya (or any other kibbud) should wear a tallis out of respect for the tzibbur. The Magen Avraham (14:1) quotes the Rosh who writes that one who wears a tallis to lead the davening or to duchen recites a beracha.

The Mishna Berura (14:11; Biur Halacha 14:3) writes that there is a machlokes as to whether one recites a beracha when borrowing a tallis. This specifically applies to borrowing a friend’s tallis. However, one does recite a beracha when wearing a tallis that belongs to the shul, as the tallis partly belongs to him. He suggests, therefore, that it is preferable to borrow a friend’s tallis to avoid the safek of saying a beracha.

Nonetheless, the Kaf Hachaim (OC 14:14 quoting the Ben Ish Chai), R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 3:12), R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 5:14:2) and R’ Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachos 9:234) write that one does not recite a beracha even when wearing a shul tallis for an aliya. R’ Greenblatt explains that the shul tallis was not necessarily bought on behalf of the shul members, but likely an old tallis that one no longer needed.

In conclusion, one recites a beracha when wearing their own tallis. One who borrows one to for daven for the amud or for an aliya does not recite a beracha.

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