Recently a popular Christian pastor, whose services are broadcast around the world from his church in the United States, taught his congregation about the "mystery of the prayer shawl." The "prayer shawl" to which he referred was the talit. I must commend him for doing his homework! Much of what he had to say concerning the talit was quite correct. Unfortunately he made some assumptions that led him to some conclusions that were not accurate. I don't believe he had any intention to be deceptive. This pastor is well taught and a good friend of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He simply needed to consult his local rabbi!
There is no "mystery" to the mitzvah of wearing the talit. In this post I'll share the truth about the talit. What is it? Why is it worn? What is its purpose and meaning? Hopefully it will inspire you, my dear readers and friends, to "go forth and learn" more.
What is a talit?
A talit is a four-cornered garment that has four long fringes (tzitzit in Hebrew). There are basically three styles commonly seen in Jewish congregations. The traditional talit (also pronounced talis) is a large rectangular garment that covers the shoulders and nearly touches the floor. A smaller type is also frequently used that covers the shoulders and most of the back. The third type is called a talit katan, or "small talit." This talit is also rectangular and has a opening through which the wearer places his head. Unlike the other two types, this talit is worn under one's shirt. The talit katan is worn all day while the larger talit is worn only during morning prayers. (See the "Jewish Toolbox" page of this blog.) Any fringes on the garment other than the tzitzit are simply for decoration and have no ritual significance at all.
You may occasionally see a talit that has been modified in some way for the convenience of the wearer. I have even seen one with a zipper added so the person wore it like a coat! These may be interesting modifications but they are definitely not kosher and do not satisfy the mitzvah of wearing a talit.
 |
| A traditional talit. |
Why is the talit worn?
In the Torah (Numbers 15:37-41) G-d commands the "people of Israel that in every generation they shall put tzitzit on the corners of their garments and bind a thread of blue to the tzitzit of every corner." The purpose is made clear: "You shall look upon these tzitzit and be reminded of all the mitzvot (commandments) of the L-rd to fulfill them, and not be..led astray." By wearing the tzitzit and following the prescribed ritual, we have a visual representation of the commandments of Hashem and an incentive to follow them and lead godly lives.
What is the meaning of the talit?
The talit is a visual representation of the biblical commandments (mitzvot). Our rabbis and sages have determined the precise requirements (halachah) in order to fulfill the important commandment.
The tzitzit must be placed on the corners of the garment. Therefore the garment must be rectangular. The commandment to place a blue thread has been set aside because the source of the proper dye color is now extinct. (There has recently been some effort to renew the placing of the blue thread in the tzitzit, but there is not general agreement on whether the new-found dye sources are kosher or not. Check with your local rabbi for guidance.) The tzitzit are tied to the corners of the talit in a prescribed manner so that the number of knots brings the total of elements of the tzitzit to 613 - the number of commandments in the Torah. Therefore the tzitzit remind us of "all the mitzvot of the L-rd" as we look upon them.
Whenever the Torah commands us to "look" or "see," the rabbis understand this to mean that the mitzvah must be observed during the natural light of day. Therefore the talit is worn during shacharit, the morning prayer service. Since it is a time bound commandment women are traditionally exempt from its observance. (In some more liberal communities, women have been permitted to wear the talit. Here again, I recommend that you speak to you local rabbi to learn more about the requirements of wearing the talit.)
How is the talit worn?
Prior to beginning the morning prayers, hold the talit in front of you. There is a decoration on one of the edges of the talit. (Often this will have the Hebrew blessing over the talit printed on it.) Hold this decoration facing you and recite the appropriate blessing. (See the link below. Courtesy: Congregation Shaare Emeth, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) Flip the talit around so that it covers your shoulders. If you are wearing a full-length talit, fold the corners over your shoulder so that the tzitzit do not touch the ground. The first time that you don the talit, it is a good idea to have someone assist you in performing it properly. During the recitation of the Sh'ma you will hold the tzitzit in your hand. When you recite that paragraph containing the commandment of tzitzit, it is proper to kiss the tzitzit whenever the word is spoken.Your rabbi will be happy to show you when and how this is done.
It is not surprising that so many seekers after truth have discovered the value of the talit. Surrounded by a visual reminder of the mitzvot of Hashem, one is drawn closer to G-d's presence. This is a simple but powerful mitzvah. It is uniquely, and specifically ours. May you find blessing and fulfillment in the wearing of the talit.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dovid J. Aston
Photo credit: Courtesy of Dovid J. Aston
Related links:
No comments:
Post a Comment