Tallis and Tallis Katan at Night

Q. May one wear a tallis at night? Also, if one took off a tallis katan at night, can it be put it back on?

A. The Rema writes that if one put on a tallis at night, a beracha is not recited, because there is a dispute whether the mitzvah applies at night. The Mishnah Berurah (18:4) cites the Bach who writes that when wearing a tallis gadol (the tallis worn for davening) in the late afternoon, such as on Tisha B’av, it should be removed before nightfall. Otherwise, it might appear that the person intends to fulfill the mitzvah of tzitzis at night. Why will it matter if people have that impression? Teshuvos Ish Matzliach (1:15) explains that if one intends to fulfill the mitzvah at night it would be a violation of Bal Tosif (adding to a mitzvah) according to the Rambam who maintains there is no mitzvah at night. If one follows this explanation, it would appear that it is not permissible to put on a tallis katan (the small talis) at night after it was removed. Although one who is wearing a tallis katan need not remove it in the evening, that is because it is common to wear the tallis katan the entire day and not bother to change. However, putting a tallis katan back on at night indicates a desire to perform the mitzvah.

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igeros Moshe YD 2:137) offers a different explanation of the Bach. He writes that if one wears a tallis at night, it will give the impression that a beracha must be said. According to Rav Moshe, this concern would not apply to a tallis katan that was removed and then put back on (since a bracha is not recited on a tallis katan that is put back on during the day). Rav Moshe concludes that although there is no issur to put a tallis katan back on at night, it is unnecessary, and it would be preferable to not do so.

The Bach points out that on Yom Kippur the minhag is to wear a tallis during Ma’ariv because we wear a tallis on Yom Kippur to resemble the angels, and not to fulfill the mitzvah of tzitzis. It is also true that a shaliach tzibur may wear a talis at night, since this is done for the honor of the tzibbur, and not for the mitzvah of tzitzis.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.