Tallitot

Tallitot

There is a mitzvah, or commandment, in Judaism for men to wear to fringes on a four-cornered garment. In the modern age, it is uncommon for people to wear this type. So in order to fulfil this mitzvah, men wear a garment on themselves known as Tzitzit and attach fringes with the same name to the garment. In addition to this, men also wear a four-cornered garment called a Tallis during prayer services. There are different types of Tallitot and the most common of these Tallitot is the traditional Tallit.

The traditional Tallit is made from wool – usually Turkish wool – because it is considered to be one of the highest quality wools available. In addition, this Tallis is typically large enough to cover the head and most of the body. The traditional Tallit is typically worn with the top covering the head and then rest of the garment draped over the body, covering the shoulders and back. This Tallit typically has stripes that are usually black, blue or white; although it is possible to find Tallitot with stripes in gold, maroon or silver. The striping pattern is based on Jewish heritage and tradition with typical traditional designs being Chabad, Ashkenaz, Sefard and Yemenite.

In terms of the Tzitzit strings, there are several options available. Although the traditional Tallis usually comes with strings tied to the corners, it is possible to purchase a Tallit without strings. Many Jewish men will replace the strings with a different, often much nice, set of tzitzit strings. The strings are usually thick or thin with the thicker strings also being considerably. In addition, it is possible to purchase Tallitot with the Techelet string attached. The tradition of how the strings are tied vary and thus it is possible to find Tallitot with Tzitzit tied in different ways such as Rashi, Arizal, Rambam, Ra’avad, to name a few. Finally, the corners of the Tallis are usually strengthened with an extra piece of cloth attached. This prevents the Tzitzit from tearing Tallit due to wear and subsequently falling off.

If you would like to personalise your Tallit, there are several options available. One of the simplest options is to have your name sewn into the top of the Tallit. Another option is to attach an Atara – which is a piece of cloth that is attached to the top edge of Tallitot. The Atara usually has silver links attached to it or is made of silk and depicts something related to Judaism. Sterling silver Ataras are usually made of silver links which are usually square or shield shaped. The links are sewn into the Atara and can be patterned to create flowers or diamonds. Silver ataras usually depict Jerusalem or something related to Judaism.

Tallitot Guide

One of the most well known Judaica items that can be found in a synagogue other than Torahs and prayer books is the Tallit, also known as the prayer shawl.

What is a Tallit?

A Tallit is large four cornered garment that is worn by Jewish men during prayers during the week, Shabbat and Jewish Holidays. The Tallit is typically made from wool and is dyed white. It can actually be made of other material as well, although it may never be made from a combination of wool and linen due to a Biblical prohibition wearing such cloth. Depending on the community, the Tallit may be worn from the age of 7, Bar Mitzvah or after marriage. In some communities, the Tallit is also used in a wedding ceremony, being worn by the groom or used as the canopy used in the Chuppah service.

Decorations

The Tallit can be decorated with a wide range of scenes and Judaica objects. However, there are few decorations that all Tallitot share. The first decoration is the centre of the top edge, which features a second piece of cloth that is typically embroidered with a floral pattern and sometimes has the blessing that is made before wearying the Tallit embroidered in a colour such as black and or blue.

The second decoration found in all Tallitot is stripes that run along the sides. The stripes can be nearly any colour, but are usually blue, black or white. However, they may be other colours such as green and red. Some Tallitot are multicolored, having stripes in numerous colours and is meant to echo Joseph’s coat. Other common decorations on the Tallit’s top edge and sides are views of Jerusalem, the Seven Species.

Atara

In addition to having stripes and a decorated top edge, some Tallits have a specially made Atara, or “tiara” in English. The Atara is a long piece of cloth that usually features sterling silver decorations, typically plates in triangles, squares or stitched sterling silver thread that creates a floral pattern. The Atara, while not a required part of the Tallit, is very popular amongst many groups of Jews.

Strings

The Tallit typically comes with strings tied to each of its corners. The strings tied to the corners follow the same rules as those on Tzitzit and may be tied in several different ways, keeping in line with the valid rulings issued by past Jewish leaders such as Rashi, Rambam (Maimonides), Arizal and others. In addition, one may tie strings with Techelet to its corners just like by Tzitzit.

For More Information

For more information on Tallitot, Judaica Items, or synagogue items, feel free to contact our Judaica experts with any questions or concerns.