A Short Lesson on the Tallit and Tzitzit

The Torah (the first Five Books of the Hebrew Bible) instruct the Children of Israel to wear tzitzit (fringes) at the corners of their garments as a reminder of the commandments. (See Numbers. 15:37-41. )

The mitzvah (commandment) to wear fringes applies to four-cornered garments which were common during the biblical era.

Today one way of fulfilling this commandment is to wear a four-cornered shawl called a tallit (prayer shawl) during morning prayer services (and in the afternoon prayer service in certain communities).

In  Orthodox synagogues, only men wear a tallit. In some Orthodox communities only married men wear one while in others, both married and unmarried men wear one.

In Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, and Jewish Renewal synagogues, both men and women may wear a tallit, though men are often more likely to do so.

A bracha (blessing) is recited when putting on the tallit.The blessing for the tallit can be seen at Blessing for the Tallit. The area where the bracha is located is is referred to the atarah (crown).

Most traditional tallitot (prayer shawls) are white with navy or black stripes. More ornate designs have become increasingly common place however and reflect a variety of colors,  décor, and stylistic differences.