What Is a Prayer Shawl Used For?
Prayer shawls have been a traditional part of religious practice for centuries, beginning at least with the writing of then biblical Book of Numbers, when Moses was told, "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations..." (Numbers 15: 38). Many religious traditions and practices make use of the head and shoulder coverings.
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Jewish Shawls
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In Jewish practice, the prayer shawl is called a "tallit" and serves solely as a holder for the "tzitzit," or corner fringes, which are reminders of the commandments in the Torah. However, in practical use, the tallit creates a sense of separation from others to allow a focus on prayers. Usually made of wool, linen or silk, the shawl is usually long enough to cover most of the body. Worshipers wear it only during morning prayers, except on Yom Kippur, when religious Jews also don the shawl for the special night service.
Christian Shawls
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Also known as peace shawls, in the Christian tradition, those making the shawls pray over them, asking for blessings on the recipients. Shawl ministry participants then give the garments to those in need of healing, peace or hope with the idea that the prayers embedded in making the shawl will comfort the person receiving the garment. Prayer shawl ministries are especially involved in providing shawls to hospitals and shelters.
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Meditation Shawls
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Meditation practitioners hold that the shawls capture accumulated energy and that using them also provides extra warmth, which prevents a distraction during the meditation. Buddhist tradition uses the shawls in healing rituals, along with using them to cover and protect sacred scriptures and statues.
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