Imparting The Blessing

June 15, 2008

Held at Power Centre Church International 16650 Sumpter Road, Belleville, MI. 48111 Apostle Rita J. Johnson, Pastor

The tallit (also spelled tallis or talith) is a garment one can wear to create a sense of personal space during prayer - the name comes from two Hebrew words: TAL meaning tent and ITH meaning little. Thus, you have an etymology of LITTLE TENT. By wrapping yourself in it, or by covering your head with it, the intention and direction of your prayers can be enhanced.

The tradition is that the tallit is worn only during the morning prayers, except for the Kol Nidre service during Yom Kippur.

The garment can be made out of linen, wool, silk or synthetics, so long as the biblical prohibition against the wearing of clothing combining linen and wool is observed.

It is not the garment itself, whether beautiful and adorned or plain and simple, that makes the prayer shawl special. What transforms a piece of cloth into a tallit are the tzitzit, the fringes on its four corners. The Torah instructs us to wear these fringes on the corners of our garments as a way of remembering and doing all God's commandments (Numbers 15:37-41).

The mitzvah is to remember God, to further holiness in our lives, and to keep the commandments, assisted by the visual reminder of the tzitzit. The tallit is therefore not worn at night because we are supposed to see the tzitzit by daylight.

What is a tallit?

The tallit (also pronounced tallis) is a prayer shawl, the most authentic Jewish garment. It is a rectangularshaped piece of linen or wool (and sometimes, now, polyester or silk) with special fringes called Tzitzit on each of the four corners. The purpose of the garment is to hold the Tzitzit.

Most tallitot (alternative plural: talleisim) have a neckband, called an Atarah, which most often has the blessing one recites when donning the tallit, embroidered across it.

Why wear a tallit?

The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the Israelites 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. Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I, the Lord your God. [Numbers 15:37-41] The purpose of the tallit, then, is to hold the Tzitzit, and the purpose of the Tzitzit (according to the Torah) is to remind us of God's commandments.

The tallit is worn for morning prayer, during the week as well as on Shabbat and other holy days. It is not worn for afternoon and evening prayers because of the commandment that one should see the Tzitzit, which has been interpreted as meaning to be seen by the light of the day. The Shaliach Tzibur (who leads the prayer) usually wears a tallit, as well, even in the afternoon and evening.

Who wears a tallit?

Generally, a Jew who has reached the age of majority (in most communities, this is 13, though in some communities, girls reach the age of majority at 12) wear a tallit. There exists a custom, not widely practiced, of not wearing a tallit prior to marriage: This custom was explained by the Maharil (Rabbi Yaacov Mollen, 1356-1427) based on the juxtaposition of two verses in the Torah. The first, Deuteronomy 22:12 articulates the commandment concerning the wearing of tzitzit. It is followed by Deuteronomy 22:13, which says, "If a man takes a wife..." This custom is not widely practiced, however, in large measure because it prevents one from fulfilling a commandment between the age of 13 and the time one marries.

In congregations where a tallit is generally worn, you will find a rack of tallitot available for use by visitors near the entrance to the sanctuary.

Why do tallit have blue or black stripes?

The reason why the tallis is striped is simply because that was the fashion in Greece and Rome. But this doesn't answer the question of why blue or black? Tzitzis are supposed to include a thread of blue wool in each tassle. The stripes on the tallit remind us of the 'strand of techelet' once worn as part of the tzitzit. The Torah commands that tzitzis contain a thread of Tichales (blue). The reason for this is contained in Sotah 17b.

Blue is like sea, Sea is like sky Sky is like the Throne of the Lord.

Techelet is sky-blue wool. The dye used for this color came from an animal called the Chilazone. The Talmud recounts that the Chilazone appears only once in seventy years (Menachot 44a). Over the centuries, the exact identity of the Chilazone became forgotten.

Hence, the 'strand of techelet' became a mitzvah we are unable to fulfill (according to most authorities).

Two groups claim to have rediscovered the dye - one claims it is from the Squid and the other from a type of snail. A fascinating analysis refuting the snail theory may be read here . A 19th century Chassidic Rebbe claimed, after much scientific research, to have properly identified the Chilazone as the Squid - read his treatise here. This translation is provided as a public service by Beged Ivri and we are grateful for their allowing us to post this content on our website.

In memory of this dye, some adopted a custom to place a blue stripe on the garment itself. Others decided to add a black stripe of mourning for the lost element of the mitzvah. The black stripe gained popularity in Europe of the 15th through 19th centuries, when black-and-white clothing was more common for Jews in general. The blue stripe is now seeing a revival in the 20th and 21st centuries, but it's actually the older of the two customs. It just seems to us to be more modern.

How are the Tzitzit tied?

Tying Tzitzit is a Jewish art, a form of macrame. A hole is carefully made and reinforced in each corner of the tallit. Through each hole, four strands are inserted: three short strands and one long strand. The longer stranded is called the shammash and this is the one which is used for winding around the others. To tie the Tzitzit, line up the four stands so that the three of equal length are doubled evenly, and the four strand is lined up at one end with the other seven ends. With four strands in one hand, and the other four in the other, make a double knot at the edge of the fabric.

Then take the shammash and wind it around the other seven strands seven times in a spiral motion. Make a second double knot, with four strands in one hand and four strands in the other. Then wind the shammash around the seven strands eight times and make another double knot. Wind the shammash around eleven times and make a double knot. Finally, wind the shammash thirteen times around the remaining seven strands and make one final double knot. When done correctly, the Tzitzit will have 7-8-11-13 winds between the double knots.

How to put on a Tallit

1. Open tallit and hold in both hands so you can see atarah (the collar band on which the blessing is often embroidered.

2.

Recite the berachah

3.

4.

5.

Kiss the end of atarah where the last word of the blessing is embroidered, and then and beginning where the first word is.

Wrap the tallit around your shoulders, holding it over your head for a moment of private meditation.

Adjust the tallit on your shoulders comfortably.

Kissing the tzitzit There are several times during the service when people kiss the tzitzit symbolically. First is during the recitation of the third paragraph of the Shema (Numbers 15:37-41) which mentions the tzitzit three times. As the worshiper reads the word "tzitzit," it is customary to kiss the tzitzit, which were gathered together in one hand prior to reciting the Shema.

When the Torah is removed from the Ark and carried around the synagogue in a Hakafah (procession), those within reach touch the Torah mantle with tzitzit (if they are wearing a tallit) or a siddur (prayerbook) if they are not. They then kiss the tzitzit or siddur which touched the Torah scroll. This is an expression of love and affection for the great gift which Torah is to our people.

One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple. The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Exodus 25:31-40.

It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit."

Genesis 11: 1818-21 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Today I Impart My Blessing to you, one that only a Father can give.

It is my desire to walk upright and blameless before you and our Heavenly Father. Before I move forward I must openly confess my faults and ask for your forgiveness in areas that I have fallen short or been negligent in. I ask you to forgive me if I have not been sensitive to your needs and if I have not provided you with the love, care and tenderness to become whole emotionally and spiritually. I ask you to forgive me if I have not spent time with you, or affirmed you or if I have not spoken positively into your life. I ask you to forgive me if I have caused pain and hurt in your life. Will you forgive me?

I am now able to provide a protective spiritual covering over you that will ward off the devil and all of his plans to trap, trick and stop you from reaching your destiny in Christ. Right now, I cancel every negative word spoken over you and every deed or action done to you.

I cover you with the blood of Jesus.

Today I release in you all spiritual, emotional, financial, physically & natural gifts, knowing that all good and perfect gifts come from God. I bless you with health, wealth and prosperity. I bless you with everything that pertains to Godliness, Righteousness and Holiness!

You are blessed and highly favored! The head and not the tail, above and not beneath. You are my child and I love, support and encourage you to go forth in the power, fear and admonition of the Lord.

May you always seek the Lord! May you love the Lord with all of your heart and serve Him and only Him all of your days.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Number 6:23-24 ŠAndrea L. Dudley

Leader:

Apostle Michael T. Dudley Gerald Edwards Morris Mann Jimmie Mitchell William Castleman Sr. William Castleman Jr. Arthur Johnson Earnest Cooper David Huguley Craig Sawyer Anthony Fletcher Wade Hooks Kelvin Madison Grant Sleet Will Simmons

Created by Andrea L. Dudley ŠŽ For copies please call 734.772.2079 Or email Habakkuk Publishing habakkuk stories@yahoo.com