The tallith, tefillin and kippah
Tallith
The tallith, also known as the prayer shawl, is a shawl traditionally worn by Jewish men during morning prayer services, festivals and on the Sabbath. Many Reform and Liberal Jewish women now choose to wear a tallith and this is becoming more acceptable in these movements. The tallith has 613 fringes known as 鈥榯zitzits鈥 which represent the 613 commandments or A commandment or a good deed. The plural is mitzvot. that Jews have to follow. After death, the tallith is often wrapped around the body.
The wearing of the tallith comes from the quote in the Torah which states:
The Lord said to Moses as follows: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge.
There are two different types of tallith:
- tallith gadol
- tallith katan
The tallith gadol refers to a large tallith which is usually worn over clothes and rests on the shoulders. This is the type which is usually worn during worship.
The tallith katan is a smaller tallith which is worn by many Jews as an undergarment between their T-shirt and jumper at all times.
Tefillin
Tefillin are worn mainly by Orthodox Jewish men during morning prayer. Tefillin consist of two leather boxes which contain words from the A prayer declaring Jewish faith that is said by many Jews twice a day. The Shema states that there is only one God. It is placed in the mezuzah case and tefillin.. One of the boxes is tied onto the arm with the leather strap it is attached to, and the other box is tied to the head. This signifies that God must be served with thoughts and with the heart.
The reason for wearing the tefillin is based on a biblical law, which states:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your might. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house鈥檚 doorframes and on your city鈥檚 gates.
When the tefillin have been put on, a special prayer is said 鈥 Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments as to wear tefillin.
Kippah
The kippah, often referred to as a skull cap, is worn by Jews as a sign of Jewish identity. In Orthodox Judaism the kippah is worn by Jewish men at all times, apart from when they are sleeping or washing.
In Liberal and Reform Judaism some women choose to wear the kippah if they are doing anything holy, eg
- during ceremonies at home
- in the synagogue
- during holy days
- when they are reading the Torah
Unlike the wearing of the tallith and tefillin, there is no commandment for Jews to wear the kippah, however it is believed to be a sign of respect to God to cover your head.