The Torah says, "And you will see [the tzitzit] and you will remember all the commandments of G‑d." From this verse it was deduced that this mitzvah is relegated to the daytime--the natural time for seeing. Nighttime clothing is exempt from tzitzit.One is not precluded from attaching tzitzit to a night garment, but the mitzvah of tzitzit can be performed only with daytime garb, and the blessing for tzitzit or tallit may only be recited during daylight hours.

By Naftali Silberberg

Only a garment which covers most of the body requires tzitzit. A scarf, for example, is therefore exempt.

Any garment which has four or more corners is obligated in tzitzit. If the garment has more than four corners, tzitzit fringes are only attached to the four corners furthest from each other.

Only a garment which has two corners in the front of its wearer and two in the back must have tzitzit.

The mitzvah of tzitzit is discussed in the third section of the Shema which is recited during the morning prayers. Therefore, during the morning prayers it is customary to don a tallit gadol ("big tallit") -- a prayer shawl. Wearing a tallit is the ideal way to observe the mitzvah, for only in a tallit is the individual enwrapped in the garment.

By Naftali Silberberg

A blessing is recited before donning the tallit or tzitzit (see Donning Tzitzit or a Tallit). If one removes the tallit or tzitzit (for instance, if one needs to use the restroom during prayers), with the intention of donning the same tallit or tzitzit afterwards, then it is not necessary to recite the blessing again when putting it back on. If, however, when taking it off there was no intention of putting it back on, or if a person wants to put on another tallit or tzitzit, the blessing must be repeated.

By Naftali Silberberg

* If one is called up for an aliyah, and the entire congregation is waiting for him to don a tallit and ascend to the bimah (Torah reading table), the string inspection should be postponed until after the aliyah. Respect for the waiting congregation supercedes the need to inspect the tzitzit.

By Dovid Zaklikowski

Question:
I've noticed that in some synagogues the cantor always wears a tallit as well as those who are called up to the Torah, and in other synagogues a tallit is not worn in the above scenarios. What is the rule of thumb?

Answer:
In most Jewish communities, those who are honored with leading the congregation in prayer, or those who perform a public religious function such as receiving an aliyah or lifting the Torah, don a tallit.