The synagogue is obviously the place where the Jewish people gather for their prayers. When you reach the synagogue in time for the Morning Prayer, you will find all the people dressed in similar attire – a white shawl with blue or black stripes with decorative fringes on the corners. It is not that everyone is wearing this prayer shawl only. They just drape it over their clothes when they enter the synagogue. It is an age old tradition that is followed even today. And this prayer shawl is called tallit. Two other religious items that you will also find in the synagogue are tefillin and shofar.
Tefillin and shofar
Tefillin are sets of black leather boxes that contain parchments. The parchments are inscribed with the verses from the Torah. The tefillin can either be tied to one’s forearm or placed just over their forehead. The purpose of wearing the tefillin is to remind the Jewish people that they were liberated from Egypt by God.
The shofar is the traditional trumpet like musical instrument that is made from the horns of a ram or kudu (and some other animals too). It is blown during the Morning Prayer and during other special occasions as well.
Tallit
Tallit or tallis is the prayer shawl worn during the Morning Prayer. Tallitot are mostly made from wool. Other materials are also used except from shatnez, which is a mixture of linen and wool. The traditional tallit is conspicuous by its white base and black or blue borders. The tallit also contains the tzitzit, knotted and twined fringes that are present on all the four corners of the shawl.
So important is the tallit in the Jewish religion that it has to be worn when someone enters the synagogue. When non-Jewish people enter the synagogue, they also need to wear prayer shawls. But being non-Jewish they cannot wear the tallit, but normal prayer shawls.
The tallit has another huge significance in the synagogue. It is presented to those attending their Bar Mitzvah. It is also presented as dowry to the groom just before their marriage.
Points to keep in mind when buying tallit
There are few points to keep in mind when you are about to buy your tallit online.
– you should buy from a website that specializes in selling Jewish religious items.
– Before you make the purchase, you should do some research on the website. This can be done when you go through customer testimonials and blogs.
– You must check that their payment system is secure.
– You must check they have a customer service desk in place.
Keep these four points in mind and you shouldn’t have any trouble buying your tallit. When you visit the synagogue wearing your brand new tallit there will be heads turning your way.