12. The Tallis:[1]

The custom of all Jewry is to garb a [male[2]] corpse in a Tallis Gadol at the time of his funeral and burial, as his form of Tachrichim.[3] [The custom is to wrap him in the Tallis Gadol that he wore while alive.[4] This applies even if his Tallis is elegant and expensive.[5] If the deceased had a Shabbos and weekday Tallis, the Shabbos Tallis is to be used.[6] If this is not available, then a new Tallis may be used.[7] The deceased is not garbed with a Tallis Katan.[8] However, there is a difference of opinion and custom as to whether a child or Bochur who did not yet begin wearing a Tallis Gadol should be wrapped in a Tallis Gadol or Tallis Katan.[9] If a child below age three passed away, some do not wrap him in a Tallis at all.[10] In Eretz Yisrael, the custom is to bury the corpse without a Tallis, although he is garbed in a Tallis throughout the funeral, until the burial.[11] In Eretz Yisrael, one may not swerve from this custom.[12]]

Invalidating the Tzitzis: Some Poskim[13] rule that the corpse is to be buried in a Tallis that contains Kosher Tzitzis. Other Poskim[14] rule that there is no need for the Tallis to have Tzitzis. Practically the custom is to bury him with Tzitzis, however some[15] are accustomed to invalidating one corner of Tzitzis prior to the burial, and so is the Chabad custom.[16] Others[17] tie the Tzitzis to each other or tuck them into the corner.

Wrapping the deceased in the Tallis:[18] The Tallis is to be wrapped around the deceased and is to cover his head.

The Soveiv wrapping:[19] In addition to wrapping the body in a Tallis, one wraps it also in a white sheet, called a Soveiv. The Chabad custom is to first cover the body with a Tallis and only then with the Soveiv. Others do it in the opposite order and each is to follow his custom.

Covering the face:[20] In previous times it was customary to allow the faces of the wealthy to be revealed by the funeral, however, today the custom is for the face of all deceased to be covered to prevent shaming the poor. [It is covered by both the Tallis and the Soveiv.]

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[1] See Gesher Hachaim 2:14 for a lengthy treatise on this subject, with all the reasons and opinions mentioned; Nitei Gavriel Chapter 47

Deceased was garbed in another persons Tallis: See Igros Kodesh 18:374, printed in Shulchan Menachem 5:262 that one should pay them for the Tallis

[2] A woman is not wrapped in a Tallis, but rather in a white cloth. [Gesher Hachaim 10:4]

[3] Michaber Y.D. 351:2 “One may not bury a corpse in a Tallis without Tzitzis” and Rama ibid “Other Poskim rule it does not require Tzitzis, although the custom is to bury him with Tzitzis”; Nemukei Yosef Tzitzis; Shesileiy Zeisim 23:6; Aruch Hashulchan 351:3 “The custom of all Jewry is to bury the corpse in a Tallis with Tzitzis”; Kaf Hachaim 23:7

The reason: Some say this is because a corpse is obligated in Tzitzis, and it is for this reason that the Parsha of Tzitzis in Shelach was taught immediately after the Parsha of the death of the Mikosheish Eitzim. [Nimueki Yosef ibid] Alternatively, the reason is to show that we believe that the corpse will be resurrected with its clothing, and hence will immediately begin to perform its Mitzvah of Tzitzis. [Soles Belula, brought in Kaf Hachaim ibid]

[4] Sefer Chassidim 733; Beis Lechem Yehuda 349; Kitzur SHU”A 197:1; Mishmeres Shalom 9:22; See Sheilas Yaavetz 1:166; Pischeiy Teshuvah 351:3

[5] Kitzur SHU”A 197:1; Teshuvah Meahava 3:349

[6] Mishmeres Shalom Tes 23; Ishkavta Derebbe p. 105 that so was done to the Rebbe Rashab; Darkei Chesed p. 183; See Nitei Gavriel 47:10

[7] Sheilas Yaavetz 1:166; Pischeiy Teshuvah 351:3; Darkei Chesed 12:11

[8] See Nitei Gavriel 47:11; A murder victim, however, is wrapped in a Tallis Gadol while the Tallis Katan is not removed. [Daas Kedoshim 352:1; Mishmeres Shalom Tes 26; Nitei Gavriel 47:15]

[9] See Nitei Gavriel 47:12; 14; Maharam Shick Y.D. 350 that if he was not Frum [but married] he is to be garbed in a Tallis Gadol even if he did not wear one.

[10] See Darkei Chesed; Nitei Gavriel 47:13

[11] Gesher Hachaim Vol. 1 10:4; Vol. 2:14 [See there for a very lengthy discussion on this topic and that the Tallis remains permitted in benefit]; Mishpitei Uziel Y.D. 2:109; Nitei Gavriel 47:7

[12] See Gesher Hachaim ibid

[13] Michaber ibid; Ramban; Nemukei Yosef Tzitzis; Semak Amudei Goleh 31 Hagah 27; Shesileiy Zeisim 23:6; Kaf Hachaim 23:7;

[14] Rama ibid

[15] Rama ibid “Some say the Tallis does not require Tzitzis, and the custom is to bury in a Tallis with Tzitzis, but to invalidate one of the corners, or to wrap one of the corners”; Kitzur SHU”A 197:1; Aruch Hashulchan 351:3 [See there that the Gr”a and the Baal Yesod Veshoresh Havoda, Rav Alexander Ziskind, asked to be buried in Kosher Tzitzis and neither Chevra Kadisha were successful in doing so due to unexplainable events. In the case of Rav Alexander Ziskind, although the Rav reluctantly agreed to allow him to be buried with a Kosher Tallis [due to his great stature of holiness], during the funeral, the Tzitzis became stuck on something and tore, hence becoming invalid.]

[16] Minhag Chabad brought in Nitei Gavriel 47 footnote 7; Darkei Chesed 12:10 gives all three options listed; See Admur 15:5 in parentheses

[17] 2^nd option in Rama ibid; Shach 351:2 in name of Bach that the Tzitzis should not be invalidated but simply tied to each other or covered. [See Admur 23:3; Michaber 23:2; M”A 23:1 regarding if tying the Tzitzis invalidates it]; Mavor Yabok Sifsei Rinanos 13; Chochmas Adam 157:1; Kitzur SHU”A 197:1 that so is the best option; Nitei Gavriel ibid that so is custom of most communities

[18] Mavor Yabok Sifsei Tzedek 7 and Sifsei Rinanos 13

[19] Darkei Chesed 12:10 and 12 [see there for the exact order of how the body is wrapped inside the Tallis and Soveiv simultaneously]

[20] Michaber 353:1