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Everything you will love to know about a Jewish Prayer Shawl

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Did you ever try to find a tallit online? So what are tallits and what are its uses? In this post I will answer most of your common questions related to Jewish prayer shawls – the tallit in Judaica terms.

What does the tallit mean?

The prayer shawl reminds the Jew the commandments of Torah. The tallit hold fringes (tzitzit). Now in search for the co-relation between the tallit and the commandments of God, some amazing discoveries were made. The numerical value of the fringes is 600. Each of them holds 8 threads and 5 knots. The sum totals to 613 which corresponds to the 613 commandments contained in the Torah.

These fringes not only remind the 613 divine commandments, but present the central doctrine of Judaism, that the Lord is One.

What are the ways to wear a tallit?

There are two ways in general which observant Jewish prayer shawls boys and men keep the commandment to wear the tzitzit.
The 1st way is wearing the Tallit Gadol.  Worshipers wrap themselves up in this large prayer shawl while offering the morning prayers. Linen is the primary fiber for the Tallit Gadol.

The 2nd way is wearing the Tallit Katan. It takes the form of a small poncho and worn under the shirt. Worn often over an undergarment, the Tallit Katan must not touch the skin.




What are the Features of a Jewish Prayer Shawl?


Traditional tallitot are made of wool. They have black or blue stripes on a white or natural background. Nowadays you can find a rainbow of colors in the synagogue. These designs are common among younger men and women.

 Fabric you can choose from:

• Wool
• Silk
• Rayon or
• Cotton

A solid color for the body will be perfect. On it, patterned fabric reinforcing at the corners and the atarah will suit the best. You can also embroider decorations onto the fabric.

Cutting

Traditional tallitot measures:

• 72” or 80” long (Customize as per your need) and
• Width 36” for a small bar or bat mitzvah child to 72” for a tall man.

Your tallit should not be wider than the distance from your neck to the back of your knees. Also hem the sides so that your fabric doesn’t ravel.

Due to the laws of shaatnez (mixed cloth of linen and wool), a tallit must not include wool and linen together if it is not for fashion purposes.






Where Can I find the best Tallits?

There are many Judaica Stores in the market. But if you are searching something that is authentic, Galilee Silks is the best. They have designers who are artists and hand-paint the prayer shawl. Further the best part is, Galilee Silks not only offers tallits but also has various other items like scarves chuppahs and so on.

If you are looking for something unique, connect today. With excellent designs, the wholesale section of Galilee Silks allows you to make purchases on bulk. Further you can always ask for a free quote.

So what are the things that you would like to add about tallits? Share them with us in the comment section.

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