Prayer is one of the believer’s most important expressions of praise, worship, communication and fellowship with the creator of the universe. The ancient Hebrew Israelites were commanded by Yahweh Elohim, via Moses, to make for themselves a fringed garment. The Hebrews were commanded to cover themselves with this garment as a reminder of the commandments of the Most High, and to keep them. In today’s Jewish communities, the fringed garment is called a tallit (tall-eet) and the tzitzit (tsee-tseet), commonly referred to as a prayer shawl by most non-Jews. The tallit is the most authentic Jewish garment in the world today. In this article, I will be addressing the origin, meaning and purpose of the tallit and the tzitzit. First, let us begin our excavation by looking to the Holy Scriptures for the origin of our subject matter.
THE ORIGIN:
Numbers 15:37-41
“And YHWH spake unto Moshe (Moses), saying,
‘Speak unto the ( bnei Yisrael) children of Yisrael, and bid them that they make them fringes (tzitzit) in the borders (kanaph) of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders (kanaph) a ribband of blue:
And it shall be unto you a fringe (tzitzit), that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of YHWH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring;
That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your Elohim.
I am YHWH, your Elohim, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: I am YHWH, your Elohim.'"
Deuteronomy 22:12
“Thou shalt make thee fringes (tzitzit) upon the four quarters of thy vesture (kanaph), wherewith thou coverest thyself.”
THE MEANING:
The etymology of the word “tallit,” we will discover, is highly revealing. Let us take a closer look at the word, “tallit,” also pronounced and spelled, “tallis” (ta-lees) or “talith” (ta-leet). With and analytical eye, we will discover it’s true meaning as we refer to the Hebrew language.
• (Heb.) tal = “tent”
• (Heb.) ith = “little”
• (Heb./Eng.) talith = “little tent”
• (Heb.) tzi-tzit = “tassel” or “lock of hair”; string; fringe
• (Heb.) kanaph = border; corner; extremity; wing
(Also pronounced: tall-it; like "wallet")
Today, like the ancient Hebrew Israelites of old, modern Jews and Messianic Christians all over the world, use this little tent (tallit) to cover themselves as they pray, praise, worship and fellowship with the Father and King of Righteousness. The tallit is meant to serve as a secret place under which the believer may fellowship with the heavenly Father. It is a tent of refuge and refreshing. The tallit, when placed on the head presents a tent-like structure. It also serves as a “secret closet” providing privacy that blocks out all of the cares, chaos and disturbances of the natural and spiritual worlds. With the fringes or the tzitzit hanging from the borders, the garment appears as wings covering the body of the person wearing it. The tzitzit symbolizes YHWH’s feathers, under which all who seek the face of the Almighty may find refuge.
THE GEMATRIA VALUE OF THE TZITZIT:
(The 7-8-11-13 Winding Pattern)
The word “tzitzit” in Hebrew is spelled with 5 Hebrew letters, tycyc = tzadi-yod-tzadi-yod-taf. These 5 letters together equal the number 600. Tzitzit is composed of 8 strands or strings and 5 knots (the first 5 books of Moses). Since 8+5=13, and the value of the five letters is 600, the total is 613. According to Judaic tradition, YHWH gave us 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the torah. Each tzitzit is made from 8 strings, 7 white and 1 blue. The number 7=perfection in the physical realm. The number 8 trascends the physical realm and symbolizes a direct link to the spiritual realm. The blue strand in the tzitzit is called the "techelet". Techelet is dyed with a special blue dye from the gland of the "chillizon" ( murex snail). The blue color is like royal blue or turquoise and it sybolizes spiritual purification. Each of the four tzitzit has 8 strings. 4x8=32. The number 32 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word for “heart.” The tzitzit’s loose strings, according to Judaic tradition, represent YHWH’s heart strings. Each of the 4 windings corresponds to one of the 4 letters in the Tetragrammaton (tetra=four; grammaton=letter or code)YHWH’s name. 7+8=15, which, in Hebrew, is written HY (yod-he), the first 2 letters in the Tetragrammaton. The 3rd and 4th letter in the Tetragrammaton, HW (waw-he) equals 11. The first 3 letters of the Tetragrammaton spell the Father’s holy name, YHW. The number 13, the last set of windings is equivalent to the value of the word “echad” which means “one.” Hence all 4 windings can be interpreted to say, “YHWH is ONE.”
HOW TO PUT ON A TALLIT:
Open tallit and hold in both hands so you can see atarah (atarah in Heb.= a crown/ it is the collar band on which the blessing is often embroidered). Recite the berachah (blessing): Hebrew: ‘BA-RUCH A-TA A-DO-NAI E-LO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM A-SHER KI-D'SHA-NU B'MITZ-VO-TAV V-TZI-VA-NU L'HI-TA-TAYF BA-TZI-TZIT.’
Translation: ‘Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with commandments, and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in the fringed garment.’
Kiss the end of Atarah where the last word of the blessing is embroidered (around the neck), and again at the beginning where the first word is. Wrap the tallit around your shoulders, holding it over your head for a moment of private meditation. Adjust the tallit on your shoulders comfortably.”
WHEN TO WEAR A TALLIT?
According to Jewish tradition, the tallit is to be worn only during morning prayers and throughout the day, not at night. The reason for this is because it is believed that the mitzvot must be able to be seen in the light of day in order to be observed and kept. The only exception for wearing a tallit at night is at the Kol Nidre (All Vows Service) during Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Also the tallit may be worn during the week as well as Shabbat (Sabbath) and other holy days. The Shaliach Tzibur (one who leads the prayer or service) usually wears a tallit, even in the evening.
The tallit is never to be taken into a restroom. It is to be removed and placed in a safe place (tallit bag, rack, hanger, chair, etc.) before entering a restroom. The restroom is considered to be unclean. After using the restroom, the tallit may again be donned. If a person removes his/her tallit for a short period of time, there is no need to recite the berachah again.
WHO CAN WEAR A TALLIT?
OT/NT
Tallits are worn by males who reach the age of majority (12 years old/13 for females in some Jewish communities). Until the late 70’s, the Jewish faith prohibited women from wearing the tzitzit. It was believed by the Jews that as man’s spiritual helper, a woman’s hair was her natural tallit and tzitzit given to her by YHWH for spiritual reception. The ancient Hebrews believed that the the hair (fringes; locks; strands) are antennas that act as receptors for spiritual energy. They also believed that the tzitzit, along with a man’s beard and a woman’s long hair, acted as receptors for spiritual energy and inspiration. They believed that the commandment to wear the tallit was given to the man, not the woman. The Jews of old also believed that if a woman prayed with her head uncovered, she was attempting to pray without her natural tallit and tzitzit, her hair. Therefore, it was counted as shame unto the woman who cut her hair (1Corinthians 11:6). According to modern Judaism, women are now permitted to wear the tallit only if her husband is first partaker. Moreover, since YHWH has no respect of persons and there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free in the spirit, both men and women may wear the tallit and the tzitzit. The tzitzit, commandments, are spiritual receptors filled with Ruach Chaim (Heb. holy life). The ailing woman with the issue of blood was healed instantly because of her faith in Yahshua ha Mashiach and the fringed garment he wore. For her, Yahshua was the commandments made flesh. He was the new covenant wrapped up in the old covenant. The woman touched the hem (fringe) of His garment (tallit, tzitzit, commandments) and was made whole (Mark 5:25-34). This is the kind of power that Jews, old and new, believe that was contained in the tallit and tzitzit. Even the Pharisees marveled at how Yahshua made the commandments come alive. For He was the living epistle, as we all should be.
CONCLUSION:
In this last and final hour, YHWH is restoring true worship and true worshippers within the Messiah’s body. There are many believers who do not even know what a tallit is or the importance and significance thereof. Most Christians think that wearing the tallit is just “a Jewish thing.” Truly, Truly, I say unto you, it is not just “a Jewish thing.” It is “a believer’s thing.” After all, the wearing of the tallit and tzitzit was a commandment given to the children of Yisrael and all who were and are now adopted into the family of Yisrael by the blood of Yahshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Christ). We, who are the believers and practitioners of YHWH’s word, are expected to obey Him. As for me, I count it an honor, a privilege and a great advantage to wrap myself in the commandments (the fringed garment). We all need to be reminded of the Father’s commandments. We should always have a mind to forsake sin (our natural desires) and to seek the Father’s will and desires for our lives. Well, the tallit and the tzitzit serve as a healthy reminder that we, the children of YHWH Elohim, are not of this world. It steadies our focus on the righteousness in which we are to walk at all times. The tallit, however, is not to be worn with the intent of appearing holy unto men, like the Pharisees. It is not to be worn to attract the attention of others, like the heathen. The tallit and the tzitzit should be worn with genuine, godly humility, understanding and an insatiable hunger and thirst for righteousness. The Father has given instructions and has set standards that all of his children must obey and uphold. May our prayer lives, daily devotions and spiritual walk be enhanced by our knowledge and obedience concerning the fringed garment. This is my prayer.
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