A) WHY AND WHAT A PRAYER SHAWL IS.

B) HOW IT IS MADE.

C) THE BLUE DYE.

D) THE INTEREST IT IS TO US TODAY.

 

 

A) WHY AND WHAT A PRAYER SHAWL IS

 

 

The Prayer Shawl is called the “Tallit” in Hebrew; pronounced Ta-leet, with the emphasis on the second part.  In Greek, it is called the “Himation,” and in Latin it is called the “Pallium.”  The Greek word “Himation,” translates into English for “Stole,” from which we get the name of the garment worn over the robe of “liturgists” in “Sacramental” churches.

 

When used for prayer purposes, before putting on a “Tallit,” one should say the following blessing:  “Baruch Ata Ado-noi Elo-heiynu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hitatef batzitzit,” which means, “Blessed are You Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who made us holy with His Commandments and Commanded us to wrap ourselves in a Tallit.”

 

Recently, this blessing began appearing on the neck of the “Tallit.”  This has a practical advantage for someone who doesn’t know the blessings by heart.  He can hold up his “Tallit” and read the blessing before putting it on.  Traditionally however, the “Tallit” has never had any writing on it.

 

A “proper” Prayer Shawl is a rectangular shape, i.e., four-cornered (cloak, mantle or tunic), and is adorned with “fringes.”  In Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12, the ordinance for the fringes is given.  In Hebrew, the “fringe” is called a “Tzizit,” pronounced, “Zeezeet.”

 

The purpose of the “fringes” is spelled out by our Lord in Numbers 15:39-40:  “[39] 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; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: [40] That ye may remember, and do all My Commandments, and be holy unto your God.”

 

 

B) HOW IT IS MADE

 

 

The “Tallit” is usually white and made either of wool, cotton, or silk.  However, the “Tallit” can be made of any materials except a mixture of them; like wool and silk together.  Most traditional “Tallit’s” are made of wool.

 

Also, Numbers 15:38 tells us there is to be a ribbon of blue on it.  In Hebrew the blue is called “Techelet.”  Colors on the “Tallit” (Prayer Shawl) were usually “crimson purple,” or “royal blue” (a darker shade of blue), as outlined in the “Code of Jewish Law” for the High Priest.  We are going to understand why “purple” was acceptable a little later.

 

The Levitical Tribe had the colors of Blood Red with white and black stripes in it; and there were also different colors belonging to the banners of the other tribes.  Jewish tradition teaches that the garment that Moses wore was red, black, and white; signifying that he was from the tribe of Levi.

 

In ancient times, only kings wore garments made with colorings of dark blue, and this is why we have the phrase, “Royal Blue,” because only royalty could afford it.  Therefore, we learn that originally “Dark Blue” was not a symbol of royalty, but rather a declaration of buying power.

 

The “Tallit” (Prayer Shawl) is especially to be worn during prayer or certain holiday services.  Only men were obligated to wear them.  Women could wear them if they wanted to.  The “Tallit” is traditionally draped over the shoulders, but during prayer, one should cover their head with it.

 

“Tallit’s” are often given as gifts to male children on their “Bar Mitzvahs,” the reaching of Jewish understood adulthood and the age of 12.  In orthodox circles, a “Tallit” is customarily presented to a groom before marriage as part of the dowry.  The “Tallit” used to be used as a garment, bed sheet, burial shroud, and Prayer Shawl.

 

However, the long tradition of a single orthodox form of the “Tallit” became modified in a more culturally diverse atmosphere and continued to change throughout the ages of time until it became continually shortened in length.  Its original name was the “kitel,” then the “tallit katan,” then the “tallit gadol,” and then and now the more common “Tallit,” meaning “Prayer Shawl,” the form known today.

 

 

C) THE BLUE DYE

 

 

I want you to learn more about the blue coloring so you can better gain an appreciation for it.  The dye is extracted from a sea snail and was worth its weight in gold.  The snail must have its shell hand drilled while alive and the dye extracted from a gland.  It takes 8,500 snails to produce one gram of dye, or 3,855,515 snails to produce one pound of dye.

 

We are told that after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., the snail disappeared and the process was lost.  However, after the Six Day War in 1967, these snails began washing up on the shore around Tel Aviv, Israel.  In possibly an act of God, a nearby town next to Tel Aviv, that being Joppa, were dye makers who just happened to have the process required, which was handed down to them from generation to generation.  Thus, we now have the Biblical blue dye available to us today; and it is being produced.  The Blue dye is called “Rit dye,” and comes in a 31.9 grams weight container and costs about $3.99 U.S. at the store (2019 A.D. pricing).

 

The color source of that unusual blue remained a mystery because the color obtained from the snail, “Murex Trunculus,” tended towards purple.  However, there is now ample archaeological evidence in Tyre of mounds of shells dating from the Biblical period, which were broken in the exact spot necessary to obtain the dyestuff.

 

Chemical analysis of blue stains on vats from B.C. 1,200, reveals patterns consistent with those of this snail; corroborating the Bible’s reference to Tyre as the leader in the trading of this dye.  Does anyone remember “a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God” in Acts 16:14?

 

In regards to the “fringes,” or “Tzizit’s,” if we take the numerical equivalent in Hebrew for the tying, we see that the central element of the “Shema” is present.  That being, “Yahweh Echad,” i.e., “God is Unity” (often translated; “God is One”).  There are other reminders coded into the “fringes.”  The rabbis counted 613 Laws in the five Books of Moses (including 39 pertaining to the Sabbath).  Thus, the 613 Commandments of the “Torah,” as well as other messages, are contained within the tying of the fringes (Tzizit’s).  See my Bible Study:  “(613) THE LAWS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.”

 

 

D) THE INTEREST IT IS TO US TODAY

 

 

We learn in First Kings, Chapter 17, of Elijah and one of his miracles; 7 that are recorded.  One stands out in that the widow loses her faith in him as a man of God when her only son dies.  However, Elijah goes to the boy, lays his Tallitover the son, and lies over the son three times.  The Bible records also that God heard the prayer of this righteous man and raises the son from the dead.

 

Now Elijah had a prodigy by the name of Elisha.  And Elisha asked Elijah if he could have a double portion of Elijha’s Spirit.  Elijah replies, that if Elisha should see him going to Heaven in the chariot of God, then Elijah would toss Elisha his mantle (Tallit) and it would be so.

 

As we know from the Biblical account, Elisha saw and received the Tallit (2Ki. 2:14).  Upon receiving it he immediately puts it to use in the opening of the Jordan River.  We also know that Elisha has 14 recorded miracles in Scripture, i.e., a double portion.

 

It is recorded of Elisha also that he rose a woman’s son back to life in Second Kings, Chapter 4.  Gehazi, Elisha’s servant is told to lay his staff upon the child, but it is to none effect.  Only when Elisha lays himself and the Tallit upon the child does he return to life.

 

You might be interested in the last of Elisha’s miracles also, for it is when he was dead, being draped in the Tallit, that a dead man was buried above him and the dead man is immediately brought back to life (2Ki. 13:21).  Remember, he asked for a double portion; i.e., he raised two people.

In Matthew 6:6, we are taught by our Lord to enter into our “closet” for prayer.  When a Jewish man puts on his “Prayer Shawl,” he essentially closes himself in and shuts out the world.  This effectively becomes his “Prayer Closet,” and this was the image that Matthew wanted to create when he wrote the admonition of Jesus to enter into our closets.

 

Another account unfolds in Matthew 9:18-26 and Mark 5:20-43, where we find Jesus being sent for by Jairus, a ruler of a Synagogue, to minister healing to his daughter.  Before Jesus can get to her a woman with an issue of blood comes and touches His garment.  If she can just touch the “hem of His garment” she will be made whole.  The word, translated “hem” in this passage, is the same one translated as “fringes” in other passages.  She knew that if she could just touch the “fringes,” or Tzizet’s of God, she could be healed.

 

What must be understood however, is that the woman rendered Jesus unclean at that point by touching His clothes (see Numbers 6:6).  Through no fault of His own, Jesus became unclean and He felt the power of God leaving Him because of Himself taking upon her sin and becoming unclean.

 

Now this information is important to the rest of the account.  It was forbidden for a Rabbi or priest to touch a dead body, which would remove his state of cleanliness.  When Jesus reached Jairus’ house He was told that the damsel was dead.  Jesus however states that she is only asleep and they laughed Him to scorn (Mark 5:40).  Why did He make this statement?  He wanted them (everyone; us) to know for sure that she was dead and He was going inside anyway.

 

Remember, according to God’s Law, Jesus was allowed to enter in because the woman with the issue of blood had rendered Him unclean.  Jesus then calls out, “Talitha Cumi,” Mark 5:41.  The translators tell us it means “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”  Jesus could have addressed her with many other words, such as with Lazarus, i.e. “Damsel, come forth or wake up.”  However, what Jesus actually said was more like -- “Damsel in the Tallit, God says arise!”   Therefore, just as Elijah performed for the widow’s son, so Jesus used the Tallit to perform the miracle of the resurrection of this damsel.

 

This is why He said not to tell what had happened.  The people knew she was dead and would just as surely know she was now alive.  What Jesus did not want the crowd to know as yet was the fact that He walked, lived and functioned on earth as God and in fact was God!  That is why He only took a few chosen disciples into the room.  Only those in the room would know the damsel was dead and that He was acting as and was God; and He did not want anyone else to know it as yet.