Tallit
The tallit (from Hebrew טַלִּית, also called Tallith , rarely called Taled ; in Ashkenazi pronunciation Talliss, Tallis ; Plural: tallitot ), referred to as “prayer shawl ” in German, is a Jewish ritual object. The design of the flag of the State of Israel is based on the tallit.
Appearance
A tallit is a mostly square cloth made of wool, cotton, linen or silk. Animal (wool, silk) and vegetable textiles (cotton, linen) must not be used on the same tallit, as this mixing ( schatnes ) is prohibited. However, both types of textile may be combined with synthetic fibers. The color is mostly white or cream. Often the tallit is decorated with black or blue stripes, which are often made of organic textile paint. The Talmud says in the Mischnatraktat Menachot 43b that blue (techelet) refers to the color of the Mediterranean and is a reflection of God's throne , which is said to be adorned with sapphires . Because the knowledge about the correct production of the blue paint was lost in the chaos of history, the attachment of black stripes is common today. In addition, an atara (German: diadem ) is sewn onto the tallitot . This is a ribbon that indicates the correct side to put on and is often decorated with embroidery.
Essential for the tallit the Zizijot (plural of are tzitzit ). These are four long white threads that are knotted 39 times and are known as show threads . The number 39 is the sum of the numerical value of the Hebrew letters of the words Adonai Echad (German: the Lord is unique ). The visibility of the threads is crucial, which is why the tallit should only be worn in daylight. At each of the four corners of the tallit there is such a strand of four knotted threads. This is a fulfillment of the commandment from Num 15,37-41 EU and Dtn 22,12 EU . It says that one should tassels attach to the four corners of the garment and every time you see them, remember the commandments of God, so that they also fulfill.
There are different views of the necessary side length of the tallit. Since the Halacha requires the wearing of the zizite, but does not prescribe the tallit, there are tallitot in the form of shawls or cloaks covering the whole body.
use
In Orthodox Judaism , the tallit is worn for the first time by a thirteen-year-old at his bar mitzvah and then at morning prayers . Exceptions are the Mincha of Tisha beAw , the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av , and the eve of Yom Kippur , on which the tallit is put on before the recitation of Kol Nidre and before night falls. This applies both to prayers in the synagogue and to private prayer. When putting on the tallit, there is a custom of first placing it over the left shoulder and then pulling it over the head for a short time or during the entire prayer. The tallit blessing is spoken. During the service, the Torah scroll is removed from its place of storage, the Torah shrine , and carried by the assembled congregation after the reading. The bystanders bring their peep threads into contact with the wrapped Torah scroll and then lead the threads to kiss the lips.
According to some Ashkenazi traditions, only the groom and married men wear the tallit. This is part of the gifts that the bride gives to her bridegroom. The tallit is also often used as a wedding canopy, which is held up by four men.
For the fulfillment of the above-mentioned commandment to wear the tsiziyot, the tallit katan is worn under the clothing so that only the four tsitsyot are visible. In synagogues, tallitot, along with siddurim and kippot , are usually available for worshipers at the entrance to the prayer room. Other believers bring their own tallitot, for which special bags are available in stores. In many synagogues, these can be deposited in boxes.
A devout Jew is buried in his tallit. The atara and one of the tsizijot are removed beforehand as a sign that a dead person no longer fulfills any commandments ( mitzvot ). The tallit is therefore passul (unusable).
In liberal Judaism , women who so wish also wear a tallit. Tallitot is now available in many colors and designs, often with Hebrew blessings , for example . Decisive for the halachic suitability of a tallit is not the appearance, but only the zizijot. In liberal communities, a girl also wears a tallit during her bat mitzvah .
The Samaritan high priests also wear a tallit.
literature
- Dieter Philippi: Philippi Collection - Headgear in Faith, Religion and Spirituality . St. Benno Verlag, Leipzig, 2009, ISBN 978-3-7462-2800-6 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alfred J. Kolatch: Understanding the Jewish World - six hundred questions and answers . 3. Edition. Fourier Verlag, Wiesbaden 1997, ISBN 3-925037-68-3 , p. 115-120 .
- ↑ Simon Philip de Vries : Jewish rites and symbols . 11th edition. Rowohlt Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-499-18758-2 , p. 60-63 .
- ↑ Art. Tallith 1). In: Heinrich August Pierer , Julius Löbe (Hrsg.): Universal Lexicon of the Present and the Past . 4th edition. tape 17 . Altenburg 1863, p. 219 ( zeno.org [accessed January 23, 2010]).
- ^ Eliette Abécassis , Olivier Martel: L'âme juive . Éditions Gründ, Paris 2018, ISBN 978-2-324-02230-2 , pp. 26 .