Tallit - The Traditional Jewish Prayer Shawl

Tallit, also spelled as Talis, is the Jewish Prayer Shawl worn mostly at synagogues and during the morning services. The Tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as Tzitzit. For many generations, Tzitzit was used to be worn on top of the four corners of the garments . Since this is no longer a commonly worn garment, today it is customary to wear the Tallit instead. A Tallit can be made from any material and come in any color to fit various occasion.  

Wearing a Tallit
Besides inside a synagogue, In Israel, Tallit is often worn by visitors to the Wailing Wall. In many Jewish communities, it is also customary that the groom wears a Tallit at his wedding day, under the Huppah.

The Jewish prayer shawl, Tallit, must be wrapped around the shoulders in a special way. If you're not sure how it is done, there are many videos online that explain and demonstrate .  

Wearing Tzitzit is a mitzvah according to the Torah: Book of Number, chapter 15, it is said": 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". Wearing Tzizit, the Jewish person needs to remember the mitzvoth as we shall explain.

God has given the Jewish people, 613 commandments  . In Gematria, the word Tzizit equals 600. If you add the eight strands of the Tallit and the five knots, you sum up 613. This is exactly the function of the Tallit, to constantly remind us of the mitzvoth that God has given us in the Torah.

Tallit according to the Kabbalah
According to the Kabbalah worldview, the Tallit a tool that can help us connect to God. The Tallit has two parts - the garment and the fringes (Tzizit). These two segments  represent the two aspects of God's existence. God's true self is hidden from our material world, represented by the garment, while we are exposed to a small piece of His being, represented by the fringes.

Can a woman wear a Tallit?
There is certainly a disagreement in the Jewish community whether women should be allowed to wear a Tallit.  In reform and conservative Jewish communities Tallit is worn by women as often as by men. It has been argued by different Jewish scholars that wearing a Tallit by a woman is a sign of vanity.  However, many rabbis today permit this practice. Social changes seem to gradually take place across the Jewish communities. Today, even in modern orthodox communities more and more women proudly wear their Tallit. Tallit for Women

Giving Tallit as a gift
According to a long Jewish tradition, a son is given his first Jewish prayer shawl as a gift from his father on his Bar Mitzvah. Wearing the Tallit by the son stands for the boy's entering into the world of religious practice. It is also very common to give Tallit on special occasions such as anniversaries and Jewish weddings. 

In several Sephardic communities, it customary for the bride to purchase a new Tallit for the groom before the wedding day. The groom then wears the Tallit under the Huppah .

Canaan online company brings you a selection of handmade Tallits designed by Israeli artists. Each Tallit features traditional Jewish motifs in exquisite designs to bring you closer to your roots.