The
tallit (Modern Hebrew: טַלִּית)
or tallet(h) (Sephardi Hebrew: טַלֵּית),
also called talles (Yiddish), is a prayer shawl
that is worn during the morning Jewish services
(the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah
service, and on Yom Kippur and other holidays. It
has special twined and knotted fringes known as
tzitzit attached to its four corners. The tallit
is sometimes also referred to as the arba kanfot,
meaning the "four wings" (in the connotation
of four corners).
While some other Jewish garments or objects might
be treated more casually, the tallit is a special
personal effect, generally used for many years or
a lifetime and never discarded. Most Jewish men
(and some women) own very few tallitot in their
lifetimes.
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A threadbare tallit is treated with great
respect, as if it had a mantle of holiness, acquired
from years of use. Although there is no mandatory
tradition, in Conservative, reform, and otherwise
non-religious families a tallit, as well as
tefillin, is likely to be given as a special gift,
from father to son, from father-in-law to
son-in-law, or from teacher to student.
It might be purchased to mark
a special occasion, such as a wedding, a bar/bat
mitzvah, or a trip to Israel. When a man dies, it
is traditional that he be buried dressed only in
his kittel, with his tallit is draped over him.
Otherwise, a religious Jew is required to have his
own tallit (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Chapter
2).
Since wearing a tallit at certain times is considered
an obligation for men, a synagogue will usually
have a rack available with extras, for visitors
and guests, or for those who forgot to bring their
own with them. The extras that a synagogue has available
to lend are usually plain and simple, but sufficient
to fulfill the obligation. Although non-Jewish male
visitors are expected to wear a kippah (head covering)
when visiting a synagogue, it would be frowned upon
for a non-Jew to put on a tallit, unless he is studying
or preparing for conversion to Judaism.
The
tallit (Modern Hebrew: טַלִּית)
or tallet(h) (Sephardi Hebrew: טַלֵּית),
also called talles (Yiddish), is a prayer shawl
that is worn during the morning Jewish services
(the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah
service, and on Yom Kippur and other holidays. It
has special twined and knotted fringes known as
tzitzit attached to its four corners. The tallit
is sometimes also referred to as the arba kanfot,
meaning the "four wings" (in the connotation
of four corners).