What Is A Kittel?

A white robe that men and some women wear during High Holiday services and on other occasions.

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A kittel is a white robe that men and some women wear during High Holiday services. The kittel is white to represent the purity we hope to achieve through our prayers on these holy days.

A kittel may also be worn at a Passover seder, under the chuppah (wedding canopy) at a wedding, during the recitation of Tefillat Geshem (Prayer for Rain) on Shemini Atzeret, and during Tefillat Tal (Prayer for Dew) on Passover. Some people are also buried in their kittels.

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