The Tallit and Tzitzit

The Prayer shawl is a

Tallit

, pronounced “tah-

LEET

”. This is themodern Yisra'el pronunciation. (Plural tallitot, “tah-lee-

TOHT

”). Thetasseled fringes on the corners are the the

Tzitzit

, pronounced “

TSI

-tsit” The most common

Tallit

in modern synagogue's are white withblack or blue stripes.

The origin and significance of the Tallit and the Tzitzit

Originally the

tallit

was a four-cornered outer garment that hadfringes

tzitzit

attached to it. Wearing of the

tallit

has its origin in theTorah (Old Covenant), the word itself is not found in the Bible. The

tzitzit

(tassels), however are.

Num 15:37 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,Num 15:38Speak to the children of Yisra'el, and bid those who they make them tzitziyot in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the tzitzit of each border acord of blue:Num 15:39and it shall be to you for a tzitzit, that you may look on it,and remember all the mitzvot of the LORD, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after whichyou use to play the prostitute;Num 15:40that you may remember and do all my mitzvot, and beholy to your God.Num 15:41I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.Deu 22:12You shall make you tzitziyot on the four borders of your cloak, with which you cover yourself.

The real significance of the

tallit

is not in the garment/shawl itself,but in the fringes. In modern terms, it might be likened to asweatshirt or School Jacket which the item is not what is important butthe symbols on them, i.e.; the slogans or School emblems.Now like many objects in the Old Covenant times, fringed garmentswere also found in many non-Hebrew cultures such as Egyptian,Mesopotamian and Midianite. The fringes of the other nationsgarments were probably worn as decorations or amulets to keep awayevil spirits (possibly). But, as with many other Old Testament laws, G-d took the already known and gave it a new significance for Yisra'el.The tassels or fringes (

tzitzit

) were to remind Yisra'el of Hiscommandments.1

The primary purpose of the

tzitzit

is based on the Pentateuch, wealso find another. In ancient times, tassels were part of the hem of agarment, and the hem symbolized the wearers authority. When Davidspared Saul's life in the cave at En Gedi, he cut off the corner of Saul'srobe, symbolically demonstrating that the king's authority would becut off. As we can see here in 1 Samuel 24:8-42.

1Sa 24:4The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which theLORD said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand,and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Sha'ul's robe secretly.1Sa 24:5 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him,because he had cut off Sha'ul's skirt.1Sa 24:6He said to his men, the LORD forbid that I should do thisthing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed.1Sa 24:7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Sha'ul. Sha'ul rose up out of the cave,and went on his way.1Sa 24:8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Sha'ul, saying, My lord the king. When Sha'ul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.1Sa 24:9David said to Sha'ul, Why listen you to men's words, saying,Behold, David seeks your hurt? 1Sa 24:10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that the LORDhad delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bademe kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.1Sa 24:11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you,though you hunt after my life to take it.1Sa 24:12The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORDavenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.1Sa 24:13As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.1Sa 24:14After whom is the king of Yisra'el come out? after whom doyou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.1Sa 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence betweenme and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of

your hand.1Sa 24:16It came to pass, when David had made an end of speakingthese words to Sha'ul, that Sha'ul said, Is this your voice, my sonDavid? Sha'ul lifted up his voice, and wept.1Sa 24:17 He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for youhave rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil.1Sa 24:18You have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn't kill me.1Sa 24:19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.1Sa 24:20Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Yisra'el shall be established in your hand.1Sa 24:21Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my nameout of my father's house.1Sa 24:22David swore to Sha'ul. Sha'ul went home; but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.

Tassels were added to the hem of the cloaks of nobility or royalty

.The second significance of the

tzitzit

, then is that they showed thewearer to be more than a commoner. He was a noble, or a royalpersonage.Now the presence of the

tzitzit

was not the only significance inmeaning but also the colors also carried meaning. The color waswhite, but among the white cords on each tassel there was to be oneblue strand. This color combination was part of the trappings of royalty, as were the colors blue and purple:

Eze 23:6who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.Est 1:6There were hangings of white, green, and blue material,fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red,white, yellow, and black marble.Ester 8:15aMordekhai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with arobe of fine linen and purple;