10 Oct COVERING HEAD WITH A TALLIS

In shul many men
place their tallis over
their head for the entire
davening. Some do so
only after Barchu, while
others do not cover their
head with a tallis at all.
What is the reasoning
behind covering one’s
head with a tallis, and
is one required to do
so? Is it a custom or halachah? Should a tallis
cover the head for the entire davening or only
during certain parts?
The Lenient Approach
The opinion of the Baal Ha’itur1 is that as
long as one is wearing a yarmulke so that his
head is covered while making the brachah
on the tallis, this is enough and there is no
requirement to place a tallis on his head as
well.
The Stricter Opinion
The Beis Yosef mentions that it is the practice
of those who are “modest” to cover their
heads with a tallis, even if they are already
wearing a head covering. This is quoted in the
Bach, as well as others.

The Rema
Darchei Moshe, the Rema’s commentary
on the Beis Yosef, mentions that although
it’s a mitzvah to listen to the Beis Yosef, in
this situation the halachah follows the Baal
Ha’itur mentioned above.
Shulchan Aruch
When discussing covering one’s head with a
tallis, the Shulchan Aruch mentions that “it is
proper” to do so. Based on this, even if one
does cover his head it’s a proper thing to do
and not an obligation.
Entire Davening
The opinion of the Bach is that one should
leave his head covered with his tallis
throughout the entire davening. This is quoted
by others as well. Some mention that this
means from the beginning of davening until
the end, and not just for Shemoneh Esrei.
Even if one is lenient and only covers his head
for certain parts of davening, he should cover
it for Shemoneh Esrei and Chazaras Hashatz.
After Barchu
Many have the custom to cover their head
from after Barchu until after Shemoneh Esrei.
Purpose of the Tallis Covering
Covering one’s head with a tallis, in addition
to one’s regular head covering, brings one

to humility and yiras
Shamayim.
Other Opinions
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
mentions that after one
makes the brachah on the
tallis and covers his head,
he may remove the tallis
from his head.
Elya Rabbah mentions that
one’s tallis should cover his
head from the beginning of
davening until the end. One
shouldn’t be like those who
take their tallis off their
head and place it on their
shoulders.
Unlearned Person
The Magen Avraham mentions that if one is
not a learned person, even if he is married he
should not cover his head with a tallis.
Chazzan Covering His Head
A chazzan should always keep his head
covered during davening. Some are lenient
when it is hot, but he should keep his head
covered during Krias Shema, Shemoneh
Esrei, Krias HaTorah, and Chazaras Hashatz.
Ein K’Elokeinu
Before reciting Ein K’Elokeinu, some
have the custom (based on Kabbalah) to
remove the tallis from their head.
Aleinu
The Machzik Brachah mentions that the
tefillah of Aleinu is more praiseworthy
than any other tefillah, and it should be
said with a tallis on his head or a hat.
Single Boy
A single boy should not cover his head
with a tallis (if his custom is to wear one).
Yom Kippur
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,
many men are accustomed to covering
their head more often with their tallis,
especially during Neilah. Some have the
practice to recite Ashrei and Uva L’tzion
without a tallis on the head.
Krias HaTorah
In Chassidic circles the custom is that
the tallis is not kept on the head for
krias haTorah, but the Rebbe wears his
shtreimel during krias haTorah.
Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, mentions
that if by keeping a tallis on one’s head
he will not be able to hear krias haTorah
properly, then he does not have to keep
his head covered with a tallis. However,
otherwise he should keep it on his head.
Even if one can hear the leining the
custom is that one does not cover his head
during it, since krias haTorah is considered
learning Torah and not davening.
During the Heat
Although it is proper to cover one’s head

during davening, as mentioned above, in the
summer when it is hot and hard to concentrate
during davening some say that one can be
lenient.
Other Customs
The Keser Shem Tov says that in London, the
custom was that people did not cover their
heads with a tallis when reciting any brachah
or during davening. Only the chazzan and
the baal tokei’a did so on Rosh Hashanah,
Yom Kippur, and Hoshanah Rabbah. In
Amsterdam, the custom was that the Rav
and Dayan would cover their head during
davening.
In South Africa, the custom is that most
people do not cover their heads with a tallis
during davening, and it is only the learned
people who do so. One who is not a Rav and
covers his head with a tallis is regarded as a
show-off.
The Opinion of Harav Yosef Ber
Soloveitchik, zt”l
The opinion of Harav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik,
zt”l, as mentioned by Harav Hershel Shachter,
shlita, in Nefesh Harav, is that one should
cover his head for “devarim sh’bekedushah
(such as Kaddish and Barchu), as well as
Shemoneh Esrei, but one should remove it
from his head during Birkas Krias Shema
(author’s note: although one doesn’t see this
being done too often).
The Sharp Words of the Be’er Moshe
The following is paraphrased from the Be’er
Moshe’s response to those who do not cover
their head with a tallis:
“Now I would like to talk about the ‘bad’
custom in America; G-d forbid to call it a
minhag, but a bad act. It is bad in my eyes
that people take off their tallis from their
heads during davening and only daven with
a yarmulke on their heads. One, their head
should be covered during davening, and
second, it is not derech eretz and respectful
to stand in front of the Shechinah as one does
when he is talking to his friend. It is a great
wonder in my eyes that this bad custom of
davening with only a yarmulke has developed
in certain Chassidish shuls as well and they
are not embarrassed. One should do what he
can to rectify this.”