What Is the Meaning of the Tassels of the Tallit?
The tassels, or Tzitzis, on the corners of a Jewish prayer shawl, called a tallit, reminding the wearer of God's commandments and to be mindful not to follow one's own desires, but rather to follow God's desires. They are not an addendum to the shawl. They are the reason the shawl exists.
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The Genesis of the Idea
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Reading from Torah Wearing a prayer shawl with Tzitzis is commanded in the Bible in Numbers, 15:38-40.
38: Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
The Blue Thread
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As commanded, Tzitzis, the tassels, should contain a blue thread. The blue is a particular shade, Techailis, made from the Chilazon, an animal. No one knows exactly what Chilazons were, so the prescribed blue is a mystery. Many use indigo. Some Jews shun the blue thread, fearing disobedience for using the wrong blue.
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The Atarah
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The Atarah, or crown, is an artistic border woven into the neck edge along the length of the tallit. Often, a black or blue stripe is woven across the width of the tallit on each end. Neither the Atarah nor the stripes have any religious meaning and are not related to the tassels.
The Fabric
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Fabric Tzitzis and tallits are usually made of wool, but they are also made of silk, cotton and polyester. Wool and linen mixes are strictly forbidden.
When the Tassels May be Worn
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Wearing the Tzitzis and tallit is a right earned by boys upon reaching the age of 13 and by non-orthodox Jewish girls upon reaching 12. Orthodox women never wear the Tzitzis. It is worn during morning prayer, but not for afternoon and evening prayers.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of inger maaike Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Dato Rostomashvili Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Tina Carlson
