May the Tallit Katan be worn directly on the body?

Question

Is the Tallit Katan allowed to be worn directly on the body?

Answer 1

I am not adding anything lehalacha, but the siach yitzchok could agree that the old-time garments were worn on the body. However, now that we wear special garments m'yuchad for tzitzis, it would be a bizayon to the mitzva to wear that on the body. (No source, just my own idea.)

Answer 2

The Siach Yitchok in Siman Ches says it is Assur because it is an embarrassment to the Mitzvah that its being used as a sweat absorber.

Answer 3

Reb Shlomo Zalman Aurbach in his HALICHOS SHLOMO (Hilchos Tztzis Perek Gimmel SIF KATAN YUD ALEPH) says it is allowed.

This answers a simple question that if the original takanah of Tzitzis was on clothes (it is only today that we wear a special garment to obligate ourselves), you would not be allowed to put it on regular clothes either as one's clothes absorbs sweat.

Answer 4

For Kabalistic reasons (See the Pri Etz Chaim, Shaar Tzitzit, quoted here), the Ari Z"l would wear his Tallit Katan under all his garments. This seems to indicate that he wore them directly on his skin.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe says that R' Chaim Vital was describing a private practice of the Arizal, but (assuming it is literal) it would appear that the Arizal did not have an issue with wearing the Tallit Katan directly on his skin.

One source. also see this source for more details.

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The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 8:11) says that "The main Mitzvah of a Tallit Katan is to wear it on one's clothes, so that he constantly see it and remember the Mitzvot. The Magen Avraham (quoting the Pri Etz Chaim brought above) says that while there are Kabalistic reasons to where the Tallit Katan under the garments, the Tzitzit strings themselves should still be visible (See M"B S"K 25).

Answer 5

Halacha Berurah (8:33) rules that it's good wear something under the tallit kattan in order to separate it from the body, but me'ikar hadin it's permissable to wear the tallit kattan without another garment underneath.

Answer 6

שאלה - 68711 לכבוד הרב מוצפי שליט"א:

האם מותר להשים ציצית על הגוף ללא גופיה מתחת?.. תשובה אם יש סיבה לכך, מותר.

Rav Mutzafi says "if there is a reason for it, it is Mutar."

שאלה - 8105 האם מותר לילד ללבוש ציצית על הגוף בלי גופיה מתחת? תשובה אם קשה לו בגופיה _ מותר.

And in another place he writes "if it is hard for him, it is permitted."

שאלה - 8105 האם מותר לילד ללבוש ציצית על הגוף בלי גופיה מתחת? תשובה אם קשה לו בגופיה _ מותר.