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Tzitzit and Tallit

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Tzitzit and Tallit

Tallis with TzitzitThe Torah also commands us to wear tzitzit (fringes) at the corners of our garments as a reminder of the mitzvot. Num. 15:37-41. There is a complex procedure for tying the knots of the tzitzit, filled with religious and numerological significance.

The mitzvah to wear tzitzit only applies to four-cornered garments, which were common in biblical times but are not common anymore. To fulfill this mitzvah, adult men wear a four-cornered shawl called a tallit (pictured above) during morning services, along with the tefillin. In some Orthodox congregations, only married men wear a tallit; in others, both married and unmarried men wear one. In Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues, both men and women may wear a tallit, but men are somewhat more likely than women to do so. A blessing is recited when you put on the tallit. See the text of the blessing at Tallit and Tefillin.

Strictly observant Jewish men commonly wear a special four-cornered garment, similar to a poncho, called a tallit katan ("little tallit"), so that they will have the opportunity to fulfill this important mitzvah all day long. The tallit katan is worn under the shirt, with the tzitzit hanging out so they can be seen.

There is no particular religious significance to the tallit (shawl) itself, other than the fact that it holds the tzitzit (fringes) on its corners. There are also very few religious requirements with regard to the design of the tallit. The tallit must be long enough to be worn over the shoulders (as a shawl), not just around the neck (as a scarf), to fulfill the requirement that the tzitzit be on a "garment." It may be made of any material, but must not be made of a combination of wool and linen, because that combination is forbidden on any clothing. (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11). Most tallitot are white with navy or black stripes along the shorter ends, as in the illustration above. They also commonly have an artistic motif of some kind along the top long end (the part that goes against your neck). This motif is referred to as an atarah (crown). There is no particular religious significance to the atarah; it simply tells you which end is up! It is quite common, however, to write the words of the blessing for putting on the tallit on the atarah, so you can read the blessing while you are putting the tallit on.

If a blessing is written on your tallit, you should be careful not to bring the tallit into the bathroom with you! Sacred writings should not be brought into the bathroom. For this reason, many synagogues have a tallit rack outside of the bathroom. Conversely, if you see a room in a synagogue with a sign that tells you to remove your tallit before entering, you can safely assume that the room is a bathroom!

Dominater96:
I wear wool, round neck, sephardic tzitzit. I have a pair with techelet. My Tallit also has techelet (of the Murex of course). IM looking to buy a tallit and tzitzit with Rambam style strings.

Eliezer Ben Avraham:
One of my friends told me the tallit is supposed to cover the entire back, does anyone know if this is accurate and where it comes from? either way I just bought a wrap so it does now

judeanoncapta:

--- Quote from: Dominater96 on October 07, 2007, 10:07:22 PM ---I wear wool, round neck, Sefardic tzitzit. I have a pair with techelet. My Tallit also has techelet (of the Murex of course). IM looking to buy a tallit and tzitzit with Rambam style strings.

--- End quote ---

I would suggest the Raavad strings instead.

No offense to the Rambam but the Raavad's opinion is more solidly founded.

Dominater96:

--- Quote from: judeanoncapta on January 13, 2008, 05:34:28 PM ---
--- Quote from: Dominater96 on October 07, 2007, 10:07:22 PM ---I wear wool, round neck, Sefardic tzitzit. I have a pair with techelet. My Tallit also has techelet (of the Murex of course). IM looking to buy a tallit and tzitzit with Rambam style strings.

--- End quote ---

I would suggest the Raavad strings instead.

No offense to the Rambam but the Raavad's opinion is more solidly founded.

--- End quote ---
Why? and the techelet should be Murex, radzin, or Rav Herzog's?

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