Hat and Suit in Prayer and Grace After Meals
Question
Is a hat and suit obligatory? If it is obligatory, what should one prefer: praying with a congregation without a hat and suit, or afterward praying individually with a hat and suit? Is this also required for Grace After Meals? And which is more important in this regard, Grace After Meals or prayer? And if it is obligatory, how can it be that many national-religious Jews, and even some of their rabbis, do not wear a hat and suit in prayer? Thank you very much
Answer
Shalom רב,
1. Anyone whose custom is to wear a hat and suit when appearing before an important person must also wear a hat and suit during prayer (see Mishnah Berurah, siman 91, s.k. 12. And see also Responsa Teshuvot Vehanhagot, part 4, siman 26).
2. The later authorities of our generation disagree about whether it is preferable to pray individually with a hat and suit rather than to pray with a minyan without a hat and suit, because the view of the Chafetz Chaim was that it is preferable to pray with a minyan without a hat and suit. However, the view of R. Chaim Kanievsky is that it is preferable to pray individually with a hat and suit (although even according to his view, if one does not have a hat and suit and if waiting for them will cause the time for prayer to pass, one should pray without a hat and suit; see the book Daat Noteh, part 1, page 261, note 53).
3. Regarding Grace After Meals - see Mishnah Berurah (siman 183, s.k. 11), which cites the Magen Avraham in the name of the Bach, that a God-fearing person should recite Grace After Meals with a hat on his head. Some also customarily put on an outer garment, since all of this falls under the category of wrapping mentioned in the Talmud with regard to the cup of blessing. And this is the custom in Israel today during Grace After Meals, that they place the hat on their heads even when reciting it individually without a cup. However, it should be noted what the Aruch HaShulchan wrote (there, section 4), that we have neither seen nor heard of this custom to put on an outer garment during Grace After Meals.
See also in the book Orchot Rabbeinu, part 2 (page 83), that R. Yaakov Kanievsky was particular during Grace After Meals to place his fedora on his head, but was not particular to wear an outer garment. The Chazon Ish recited Grace After Meals only with a large kippah and did not wear a fedora. However, in the book Toldot Yaakov (page 302), it is written in the name of R. Yaakov Kanievsky that one should not learn from the practices of the Chazon Ish, who did not put on a hat for Grace After Meals, because he was weak and frail, and did not have the strength to get up and take it.
And in the book Orchot Maran, part 2 (chapter 14, section 13), it is written that R. Ovadia Yosef was not particular to wear a hat and outer coat, but would recite the blessing with a large kippah on his head covering most of the head, and a shirt with long sleeves covering the entire arm.
4. National-religious Jews who are not particular to appear before an important person with a hat and suit are not required to wear a hat and suit during prayer.
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
