Whats the correct way to put on tallis for askanazim? I know that there are many customs. Whats the halachcally correct way that fulfills most of the different opinions?
Answer:
The way to put on a tallis is to wrap oneself in the tallis, leaving a small part of the front of the tallis hanging over one’s forehead. The four corners of the tallis are then put together, and the tallis wrapped around the person, and gathered over the left shoulder, leaving it in this position for a number of seconds. This ensures that the tallis is fully wrapped around the person.
Sources: See Shulchan Aruch, Magen Avraham, and Mishnah Berurah, beginning of Siman 8. Note that the tallis should not merely be worn as a scarf, but must be wrapped around the body, including the head.
