From the Rav’s Desk: What to do if married man wore Tallis katan with blessing in morning

1. Question: [Tuesday, 27^th Nissan 5783]

I generally do not switch my Tallis Katan upon awakening, and anyways have it in mind when saying a blessing over my Tallis Gadol prior to prayer. This morning I decided to switch my Tallis Katan to a newer one prior to prayer and absentmindedly said a blessing over it. Now, I know that one who is married and wears a Tallis Gadol is not to say a blessing upon wearing his Tallis Katan in the morning. So I want to know what I was supposed to do. Do I simply say Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso in such a case, or do I not say it and now not say a blessing over my Tallis Gadol? Is it consider that I said a blessing in vain?

Answer:              

It was not considered a blessing in vain and there is therefore no need for you to say Baruch Sheim Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed after having said the blessing. Likewise, you are still to recite the blessing as usual upon wearing your Tallis Gadol prior to prayer.

Explanation: By married men the custom is for them not to say a blessing upon wearing a Tallis Katan prior to prayer being that it is included in the blessing that is recited upon wearing the Tallis Gadol prior to prayer. The reason for this is in order so one not make an unnecessary blessing, being that one can include it within the later blessing said over the Tallis Gadol. Nonetheless, if one went ahead and recited a blessing it is not considered a blessing in vain. This is due to several reasons: 1) Some Poskim rule a blessing is always to be said over the Tallis Katan even if one plans and wearing a Tallis Gadol immediately afterwards being that they are two distinct blessings. Now, although we do not rule like this opinion nevertheless 2) from the letter of the law it is permitted for one to say blessing over his Tallis Katan if much time will pass until one wears the Tallis Gadol [or one will switch areas], and it is only a custom of most communities not to do so. Now since today most people Daven in Shul and make an interval in between the two wearings, hence from the letter of the law a blessing may be recited on both pairs of Tallis. This explains why it is not a blessing in vain.

Now, regarding whether one should also recite a blessing upon wearing the Tallis Gadol later on in Shul if one followed the letter of the law and said the blessing over his Tallis Katan, then if one spoke or changed location in between then a second blessing must be recited. Now since today most people walk to Shul, or make an interval of speaking, in between the two wearings, therefore a second blessing must be recited prior to wearing his Tallis Gadol even if one normally never says a blessing on his Tallis Katan. So explicitly rules Admur and other Poskim. Furthermore, the Poskim rule that a new blessing should always be recited prior to wearing a Tallis Gadol even if worn immediately after the Tallis Katan without any interval at all being that it has a different blessing then the Tallis Katan. [In other words, the custom of married men is only to be stringent regarding not saying the blessing on the Tallis Katan, because it can be included in the blessing over the Tallis Gadol, however, there is no such custom in the opposite case to not say a blessing over the Tallis Gadol if he already recited a blessing over the Tallis Katan, and on the contrary, doing so would be against the law, being that the law requires a blessing to be repeated in such a case.]

Sources: See regarding a married man not saying a blessing over a Tallis Katan worn prior to Davening if he will be wearing a Tallis Gadol for Shacharis: Admur 8:21; M”B 8:24 and 30 Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one is to say the blessing of Al Mitzvas on a Tallis Katan even if he will wear a Tallis Gadol immediately afterwards, as it is two different blessings, and one does not fulfill one blessing with the other. [Zera Emes 1:2; See however Kaf Hachaim 8:50 that we do not rule like this opinion] See regarding repeating a blessing on a second Tallis if an interval took place after saying the blessing on the first Tallis: Admur 8:21; 432:8 regarding Bedikas Chameitz; Kuntrus Acharon 8:3; Michaber 8:12-13 and 1st opinion in Michaber Y.D. 19:5; M”A 8:14-17]; Rosh; Tur; Shach 19:7 and “all Acharonim” [Kuntrus Acharon 8:3]; Elya Raba 8:14; Kaf Hachaim 8:49; See regarding repeating a blessing ovr a Tallis Gadol even if worn immediately after Tallis Katan: M”B 8:30 in name of Peri Megadim; Piskeiy Teshuvos 8:26