Page "Tallit" Paragraph 24

According to the Talmud, and subsequently modern non-egalitarian denominations ( Orthodox ), Women are not obligated to wear a tallit, since they are not bound to perform positive mitzvot which are time-specific, and the obligation to wear a tallit only applies by day.

Many early authorities did permit women to wear a tallit, such as Isaac ibn Ghiyyat ( b. 1038 ), Rashi ( 1040 – 1105 ), Rabbeinu Tam ( ca 1100 – 1171 ), Zerachya ben Yitzhak Halevi of Lunel ( ca.

1125 – 1186 ), Rambam ( 1135 – 1204 ), Rabbi Eliezer ben Yoel Halevi ( ca 1140 – ca 1225 ), Rashba ( 1235 – 1310 ), Aharon Halevi of Barcelona ( b. ca 1235?

), Rabbi Yisrael Yaaqob Alghazi ( 1680 – 1761 ), Rabbi Yomtob ben Yisrael Alghazi ( 1726 – 1802 )).

There was, however, a gradual movement towards prohibition, mainly initiated by the Medieval Ashkenazi Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg ( the Maharam ).

The Rema states that while women are technically allowed to don a tallit it would appear to be an act of arrogance ( yuhara ) for women to perform this commandment ).

The Maharil and the Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel both view a talit as a “ male garment ” and thus find that a woman wearing a talit to be in violation of the precept prohibiting a woman from wearing a man ’ s garment.