D. Sheltering the Child – Bringing child to Cheder covered in a Tallis:[1]

In the morning, the father [specifically the father[2], or a renowned Torah scholar[3]] takes his child to the cheder wrapped in a garment in a way that he cannot see or be seen.[4] He is to be careful not to see a non-Kosher animal or gentile or even insect.[5] Although any garment suffices for this purpose[6], such as a sheet, practically, the custom is to wrap the child in a Tallis.[7] [After entering the cheder, the child is taken out from the Tallis and it is then draped around his shoulders.] The father is to bring the child to the hands of the Milameid.[8] [Some are particular to shelter the child from being touched or stared by any woman who is currently menstruating.[9] This, however is not the widespread practice and is too demanding on the public to be careful in.[10] See Halacha I regarding if the child is also to be returned home in a Tallis.

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[1] Machzor Vitri 291; Rokeiach 296; Kol Bo ibid; Orchos Chaim 2:3; Chinuch Hayeladim; Yesod Yosef 69; Kav Hayashar 72; Sefer Hasufos; Migdal Oz; Mishpat Tzedek; Shevach Habris p. 139; Nitei Gavriel 20:1-10

[2] Yesod Yosef 69; Kav Hayashar 72; Chinuch Hayeladim; Nitei Gavriel 18:4

[3] Machzor Vitri; Kol Bo; Nitei Gavriel 18:4

The reason: As this is similar to the giving of the Torah which was given to the Jewish people by Moshe. [Poskim ibid]

[4] The reason: As this is similar to the giving of the Torah which was given in a humble setting as it states that the Jewish people stood under the mountain as if they were covered by the mountain. [Machzor Vitri ibid; Kol Bo ibid; Orchos Chaim 2:3; Chinuch Hayeladim; Sefer Hasufos] Alternatively, the reason for this is so that the evil eye does not befall him. [Machzor Vitri ibid; Chinuch Hayeladim] Alternatively, the reason is so he should not see or be seen anything impure such as a dog, pig, donkey, or gentile. [Rokeiach 296; Mishpitei Tzedek; Kav Hayashar 72; Yesod Yosef 69; Chinuch Yeladim]

[5] Noheig Katzon Yosef 101:11; Nitei Gavriel 20:1-5

[6] See Machzor Vitri ibid; Kol Bo ibid; Orchos Chaim 2:3; Yesod Yosef 69; Sefer Hasufos; Kav Hayashar 72; Nitei Gavriel 20:2 footnotes 5-6

[7] Chinuch Hayeladim; Sefer Hasichos 5700 p. 67 that the Alter Rebbe instructed his grandson the Tzemach Tzedek to be wrapped in a Tallis; See Shevach Habris ibid footnote 11

[8] See Rokeiach 296; Chinuch Hayeladim; Yesod Yosef 69; Kav Hayashar 72; Sefer Hasufos; Mishpat Tzedek; Shevach Habris p. 139; Nitei Gavriel 21:1

[9] See Yesod Yosed 69; Nitei Gavriel 20:6-8

[10] Nitei Gavriel ibid footnote 13