The tallit is also known by the name "prayer shawl", although this term is never used by a Jew. The Tallit comes in different sizes and colors, from the Tallit qatan, a small Tallit worn under the clothing, to a Tallit gedolah (the more common variety). I tend to prefer the larger size Tallit, which are 72" wide or so.
Commandment 84 D’varim 22:12 Mishlei 3:1 Mattit'yahu 9:20 Thessalonians Rishon 4:7 |
| Rambam, Hil. Tzitzit, 3;13 One
should always be heedful of the commandment to wear Tzitzit, for the Torah equated and
connected all other mitzvot with it, as it is written 'And you shall see it and remember
all of the commandments of Hashem and you shall do them.' Sh’mot Rabbah 18:5 A man's honor is in his clothes. Rambam, Hilchot Tzitzit 3:1 The garment on which a person is obliged by Torah law to put Tzitzit is one which has four or more corners. Its size must be such that it can cover the head and most of the body of a child who is old enough to go on his own to the market, without needing someone else to watch him or walk with him ["And it seems that this would be a child of about six or seven years of age" — Sefer Hachinuch, mitzvah 386]. The garment should be of wool or of linen. The garment on which a person is obliged by Torah law to put Tzitzit is one which has four or more corners. Its size must be such that it can cover the head and most of the body of a child who is old enough to go on his own to the market, without needing someone else to watch him or walk with him ["And it seems that this would be a child of about six or seven years of age" — Sefer Hachinuch, mitzvah 386]. The garment should be of wool or of linen. Rambam, Hilchot Tzitzit 3:2 A garment made from other fabrics . . . is only obliged to have Tzitzit by Rabbinic law (d'rabanan), in order to alert us to the importance they attach to the commandment (mitzvah) of Tzitzit . . . Rambam, Hilchot Tzitzit 3:10 What is the obligation of the commandment of Tzitzit? Any person who is obligated to fulfill this commandment, if he covers himself with a garment that is appropriate for Tzitzit, he should put in Tzitzit and only then cover himself with it . . . However, garments that would require Tzitzit — if they are not worn, but folded and stored away, they are exempt from having Tzitzit, since [Tzitzit] is not an obligation of the garment, but rather of the person [wearing] the garment. Rashi on B’midbar 15:39 That you should remember all the commandments of the Lord That you should remember all the commandments of the Lord (B’midbar 15:40) — Since the numerical value of the word Tzitzit is 600, and together with the eight stands and five [double] knots, the total is 613 [the number of commandments in the Torah]. RaMBaN on B’midbar 15:38 . . . but the remembrance is through the strand of techelet . . . as it says (Menachot 43b), "techelet is like the [color of the] sea, and the sea is like the sky and the sky is like the Throne of Glory, etc." B’midbar Rabbah 14:3 What makes techelet different from all the other colors, so that God commanded that it be added to the Tzitzit? It is because techelet is like the [color of] grass, and grass is like the sea, and the sea is like the sky, and the sky is like the rainbow, and the rainbow is like the cloud, and the cloud is like the [Divine] Throne, and the Throne is like His Glory . . . and He granted [the mitzvah that includes] techelet to those that fear Him . . . . Shulchan Aruch 16:1 The size of a garment that requires Tzitzit is such that it would cover -— length and width -— the head and most of the body of a child [a] who is old enough to go to the market alone without supervision, Rema: then a garment of that size requires Tzitzit;[b] i.e. a garment that an adult[c] would wear occasionally to go out to the marketplace.[d] |
The purpose of the Tallit, strange as it may seem, is merely to hold the ritual fringes, the Tzitzit ציצית. Since the original source for the tekhelet had disappeared, suffice it to say that most Jews do not wear the blue thread anymore, keeping them all white. The Tallit usually comes with a number of stripes across it (usually black), with each number standing for a different meaning. When purchasing a Tallit, it is best to buy one that appeals to you — but be sure to visit the congregation you wish to attend before buying one.
What if you get a brightly colored Tallit, like a Gabrieli or an Agam, and the congregation you end up attending at wears only the orthodox black and white? These are more than fashion concerns! It might be felt that you are not giving enough reverence to the Tallit, the Temple in Jerusalem, or even the western wall (I have no idea — everyone takes their beliefs seriously, as they should, and like thinkers tend to congregate together. Should you attend a congregation where everybody wears the orthodox Tallit, you should too; unless of course, it's because the congregation is poor and that's the least expensive Tallit you can buy).
But what is a Tallit? The exact numbering of the word Tzitzit adds to 612, the number of the commandments less one. The Tzitzit is an "OT" אוֹת, a visual reminder of HASHEM 's covenant with us, and the 613 commandments. The word OT אוֹת is unusual; it comprised Aleph א and Tav ת, the first and last letters of Emet (truth) אמת. Note that the middle letter of Emet is Mem מ, the first letter of Moshiach משיח. Where am I going with this? I don't know, but sometimes these things aren't coincidental.
The Tallit is a clean garment.
|
Stripes on the tallit
- Black stripes — Man was born before 1948
- Blue stripes — Man was born after 1948
- Gold or Silver stripes — Royalty
- Flag of Yisra'el modeled after the tallit. The covering of God over the nation of Yisra'el.
- Symbolizes God's covering of man.
- When placed over the head it becomes synonymous with entering your prayer closet (tent).
- The tallit has four corners. Each corner has a tassel.
- Zion Tallit — Has the “Out of Zion shall go the Torah”
The tallit is a basic white garment. It is representative of cleanliness and cleanness. That's how God makes you clean, He covers you.
It is said that when a man dons a tallit, at the moment he puts it on, before the Living God he is blameless. The reason that this is said is because it is a commandment to don the tallit and at that moment you obey that one commandment you are obeying the commandments, not disobeying commandments, so you are blameless before God.
Anywhere in the TaNaK where you see the word blameless, it means you are found obeying HASHEM.
Stripes — Threads of Blue.
/ STRIPES
Holy || World
Holy || Holy || World
Holy || Holy || Holy || World
Holy || Holy || Holy || Holy || World
We keep crossing the line and God keeps drawing the line in front of us to make us holy. It is a picture of mercy. How many times is He willing to forgive: over and over.
Silver and Gold — It is a royal garment. It belongs to the King Messiah. It is a kingly garment. A Royal Priesthood Servants of the King's court.
The Tzitzit
The ציצית (Tzitzit or tassels) consists of eight strands, or more accurately four threads doubled over. The four threads are attached to the garment by being passed through a small hole near the corner, being doubled over, and then having knots tied in them to secure them. A total number of five knots are customarily tied into the threads. Between the knots, on of the threads is wound around the others.
|
Hebrew Name |
Numerical Value |
|
|
ת |
tav |
400 |
|
י |
yod |
10 |
|
צ |
tzadee |
90 |
|
י |
yod |
10 |
|
צ |
tzadee |
90 |
|
8 strands + 5 knots |
13 |
|
|
Number of Laws |
613 |
The five knots tied in each tassel can be viewed as symbolic of the five Books of Moshe. In English these books are known as Genesis (B’reshit), Exodus (Sh’mot), Leviticus (Vayikra), Numbers (B’midbar) and Deuteronomy (D’varim). This is the material written in the Sefer Torah. The Torah is the foundation for all of Judaism as well as the Christian faith.
The knots and windings are also considered symbolic of the Shema (shem-ah). Shema Yisra'el Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad -— Hear Oh Israel, HASHEM our God, HASHEM is One D’varim 6:4). In prayers, "Israel" refers to the Jewish people. It is shorthand for "Children of Israel." "Eretz Israel" or "Land of Israel" refers to the country. The Shema is commonly referred to as the watchword of the Jewish faith. The recitation of this line is important part of the morning and evening services. The five knots can be viewed as representing the first five (Hebrew) words of the Shema. The last word, Echad, is represented by the windings between the knots. Echad means "one". The windings bind the knots into a single unit
Blue string is used to do all the work of the ציצית (Tzitzit or tassels).
Shames — Servant string. Messiah binds us together.
When we see the ציצית(Tzitzit or tassels) we are to remember the commandment of HASHEM that we should obey HASHEM and not follow after our eyes which go whoring after idols.
We should hear the instruction of HASHEM and obey the instruction of HASHEM.
Donning the Tallit
The following is a brief ritual for putting on the tallit
- Pick up the tallit and hold it with both hands, one hand at each end of the "collar", the part of the tallit with the atarah at the top. Spread out the tallit. The atarah (the decoration and Hebrew words) should be facing you and right-side up. Some atarah have only a decoration and some have a decoration and Hebrew words.
- The Hebrew words on the tallit are the traditional blessing for putting on a tallit. Say the blessing. (Most people say the blessing quietly or silently.)
Baruch Atah HASHEM, Eloheynu Melech haOlam, Asher Kiddshanu B'Mitzvotav V'Tzivanu L'Hitatef B'Tzitzit.
Blessed are you, HASHEM our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy with his commandments, and commanded us to enwrap ourselves in the fringes- Put the tallit over your shoulders, in the fashion one would put on a cape. Make sure the "collar" is where the collar should be --— around your neck. The Hebrew words and/or decoration (atarah) should be on the outside.
- Some people like to kiss the tallit as some point before step 4 to express their affection for it.
- When the tallit is donned we are to reach down and cinch that last knot. Not as an act of show but as a remembrance to obey HASHEM and all the instruction that is given.
Yeshua was wearing the Tzitzit when the woman with the issue of blood touched Him. This was the "fringe" she touched.
The garment has the power to make you clean. It's not the threads, it's what it stands for -— the Spirit of God -— that makes it clean.
When your heart is yielded to don it, to obey HASHEM, then HASHEM works through you to make you clean.
We choose not to be clean. We do things the Bible says not to do.
We ignore the commandments. We don't pay attention.
If a man wants to be in the presence of God, if a person wants to closer to HASHEM. You have got to get these basic principles down.
Don't come to the table filthy.
In the house of HASHEM there are some rules. BE CLEAN BEFORE HIM.
Miracles of HASHEM
To some He would say “Be clean”
To some, usually in front of the religious leaders, He would say “Your sins are forgiven”
The spiritual equation is "SIN CAUSES YOU TO BE UNCLEAN". If you want to be clean "YOU'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THE SIN"
SIN = UNCLEANNESS
| Mizmor 52:10 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Ur 7:22-23 |
Man's heart must be rendered unto HASHEM before he can partake of Passover. Passover is a feast unto HASHEM.
Must come to the table clean. Cannot have ought with your brother
Any leaven in you life.
|
Corinthians Rishon 11:30 |
You CANNOT take unholy things in before a Holy God!
First thing Yeshua did at the Passover was to wash the disciple's feet and pronounced them clean save one. Now they could celebrate the Passover. They had been made clean.
The Blessing: When you finally get one, the blessing for it is
Shalom Aleychem Malkey hasharate malakey el-yon, Mi melech malkay hamlakim hakadosh baruch hu;
Baruch ata HASHEM, Elohaynu Melech ha'olam, asher kidshanu b'mitsvotav l'hitatef b'Tzitzit
Blessed are you HASHEM our God, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments on wearing Tzitzit.
Try it, you'll like it!
Mishnah Berurah
[a] of a child: aged 9 years.[b] requires : An adult who wears a garment of this size would have to put Tzitzit in it. This is to exclude the case of a garment that is smaller than the specified size, which all authorities agree would be exempt from having Tzitzit, even if an adult (see [c] below) might wear it occasionally to go out to the marketplace. However, if all the people of that place would not be embarrassed to wear such a garment regularly when going to the marketplace, then [a garment of that size] would require Tzitzit [Bach].
[c] an adult: i.e. 13 years old.
[d] to the marketplace: or, to the front door of the house, facing the street. However, if an adult would be embarrassed to wear such a garment, even on occasion, to go out to the market, then it would not be considered a garment, even if he wears it within his house. There are those who disagree, and they hold that all that is required [for the obligation of Tzitzit] is the minimum size. However, the latter authorities [Acharonim] agree that no blessing should be said on such a garment if an adult would be embarrassed to go out with it occasionally . . . And the custom of righteous people is to make a tallit katan of one cubit in front and one cubit in length, exclusive of the neck . . . [the Mishnah Berurah here discusses certain local customs of a very small Tallit katan] . . . But one who fears heaven should not rely on these [approaches] at all, but make for himself a proper garment, each country according to its own custom. And in some places it is customary for a garment called a "camisole" or "vest" to be open at the back, and people put Tzitzit on the four corners, and this is commendable; however, they should ensure that the majority of the garment is open [to create four corners], and this also applies to the Tallit katan made in our own country.
The above is a selection of halachah from various poskim discussing different aspects of the mitzvah of Tzitzit. It is by no means meant to be a definitive guide, nor replace your local rabbi, who should be consulted on all aspects of halachah, including the Halachah of Tzitzit.
The texts were translated by Peretz Zamek.
I have begun keeping this commandment.
1 B’midbar 15:38. One of the strings of each fringe is to be dyed turquoise with the blood of an aquatic creature known as chilazon (Rashi). The exact identity of the creature that is the source of this blue dye is unknown nowadays.
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