The Tallit After Death
Being buried with their personal tallit is part of the ritual observed by traditional Jews when they die. It is traditionally accepted that if you wear a tallit for prayer during your lifetime, then that tallit is the one that will be buried with you on the occasion of your death. Whereas previously it was only males that were buried with their tallit, today it is also accepted for females to be buried with their tallit, if they too, have worn a tallit during their lifetime.
In accordance with the Bible, as we are all seen as equal before G-d, burial garments (tachrichim) worn by the deceased are the same for all, be they rich or poor. White garments signifying purity, dignity and simplicity, and often handmade, are standard burial garments. For males, a kippah and tallit is also added, and for females, a tallit, where applicable. (If the woman customarily wore a tallit during prayer then this would mean it was appropriate for her to be buried with it. If she did not, then she would not be buried with a tallit).
In order for the tallit to no longer be used for prayer, a corner is removed and placed upon the body of the deceased prior to burial. This corner removal renders the tallit no longer kosher. As the tzitzit serve as a reminder of the commandments, once the body has died, these commandments are no longer able to be fulfilled.
Although it is not obligatory to be buried with your tallit, it is certainly desirable. Problems can arise however, if you wish to bequeath your tallit to a loved one upon your death. In this instance it may be pertinent to have more than one prayer shawl: one to be utilized in prayer and passed down through the generations; and one to be taken with you, to the grave.
You may even wish to have several tallitot to be used as items for inheritance. As a tallit must have been used in prayer in order for it to be utilized in burial, it is important to ensure that you have done this during your lifetime.
It is not the tallit itself that is holy, but rather your actions – immersing yourself in prayer and respect and maintenance of the mitzvah, that make, and keep, the tallit kosher (in addition to the actual kosher requirements of the tallit itself).
