From what I understand, the tradition of Sephardim was to either wear a Tallit Gadol all day or nothing at all, only Torah scholars would wear Tallit Kattan. In fact, some Sephardic poskim, like Rav Messas, paskened that sephardim who are not Torah scholars should avoid wearing a tallit katan.
What is the position of the Rav on this matter nowadays?
Sephardim like Ashkenazim should wear talit katan all day everyday. (One may take off their talit katan when exercising for example, where they will get smelly or ruined by sweat).
Whats the reasoning that Rav Messas says non scholars should avoid wearing talit katan? Is this written somewhere?
R’Messas wrote in Otsar haMikhtavim (Vol. 3 Siman 1761) that the minhag of Morocco was that the scholars wore Tallit Kattan but general populace refrained.
Also, R’Abadi seems to say in Or Yitshak that one need not wear a tallit katan if it bothers them. Wouldn’t that mean that that tallit kattan is middat hasidut and not a requirement?
Incorrect.
R’ Abadi in the Ohr Yitzchak is very clear that one should wear a talit katan all day except during those times when it is TRULY bothering you during exercise or causing issues in your work. The Rav goes further and says that if you just don’t wear a talit katan “the door is open” as the Gemorah says if someone wants to sin the door is open.
Thanks for the elaboration. I appreciate it.
