DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.26 MB)
Sisit: Selling a Tallit to a Non-Jew, Hashgacha on Sisit, Using a Tallit to Clean Eyeglasses

The Shulhan Aruch rules that one is not allowed to sell a Tallit with Sisit to a non-Jew, out of concern that he may use it to masquerade as a Jew and ambush an unsuspecting Jew to murder him. Although, the Hayeh Adam (Rav Abraham Danzig of Vilna, 1748-1820) suggested that this does not apply nowadays, the Kaf HaHaim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939) maintains that it is still relevant. In fact, Arabs have dressed up in Sisit and Peyot to infiltrate.

The Mekor Haim adds that one should not even sell a Tallit without Sisit to a non-Jew for the same reason. That which the Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933, Siman 20:8) permitted selling a garment after the Sisit have been removed refers to a regular four-cornered garment and not a Tallit designated for prayer.

Rashi brings an additional reason for this prohibition. He says that the Non-Jew may use the Tallit as payment to a Zonah (prostitute), and this may present the impression that it was given by a Jew, causing a Hilul Hahsem.

----
Nowadays, one may not purchase Sisit without a reliable Hashgacha (seal of supervision). In the times of the Shulhan Aruch it was permitted to trust even a non-Jewish merchant.

----
The Poskim discuss whether it is permitted to use the Tallit to clean one’s eyeglasses. The Yalkut Yosef and Rav Elyashiv distinguish between a Tallit Katan, which is permitted, and a Tallit Gadol, which is designated for Tefila and may not be used. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Jerusalem, 1910-1995) ruled that even a Tallit Katan may not be used.

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) rules that one may not wipe his dirty hands on neither a Tallit Gadol nor Tallit Katan, whereas he may dry his wet hands on the Tallit Katan, but not the Gadol. For the same reason, the Kaf HaHaim (154:29) prohibits laundering a Tallit with other garments that are heavily soiled. The Poskim do permit using a Tallit for a non-degrading purpose, such as covering something or using it to shade from the sun.

SUMMARY
One may not sell a Tallit to a non-Jew.
One must purchase Sisit with a reliable Hashgacha.
One may not use the Tallit for a degrading purpose, such a wiping his soiled hands, but he may use the Tallit Katan to clean his eyeglasses or dry his wet hands.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Week of Tisha B’Ab – Using Fresh Linens, Wearing a Freshly-Cleaned Tallit, and Ironing Garments
Is it Permissible to Eat Fish at the Final Meal Before Tisha B’Ab?
The Divergent Customs of the Sepharadim and Ashkenazim Regarding Bathing During the Nine Days
The Prohibition Against Taking a Hot Shower During the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Preparing One’s Clothes For the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Tisha BeAv- Brit Milah on Tisha BeAv
Some Laws of Motza'ei Tisha B'Av and the Tenth of Av
Extending Greetings on Tisha B’Ab and Haircutting, Shaving and Nail Cutting During the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Tisha BeAb – Wearing Freshly-Laundered Clothing; Washing Dishes
A Biblical Allusion to the Special Haftarot Before and After Tisha B’Ab
Habdala When Tisha B’Ab Falls on Sunday
Preparing Clothes Before the Week of Tisha B'Av
Tisha BeAv- Is It Permissible To Take Medicine and Wash Hands On Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- Is it Permissible To Take A Hot Shower, Eat Meat, Shave And Clean Clothes At Then End of The Fast
Tisha BeAv- When Is It Appropriate To Remove One’s Shoes When Tisha BeAv Falls Out On Motzae Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found