About the Prayer Shawl

There is much to learn of the Jewishness of our Lord. He was a Rabbi and while here on earth adhered to the tenets of Judaism according to the “law.”

The book of Matthew, chapter 6 speaks of going into one’s “Prayer Closet.” By referring to our Jewish history, we find that this refers to the prayer shawl. The Hebrew name for the prayer shawl is “Tallith.” Numbers 15:38

No Rabbi would ever be in public without his shawl on his shoulders. In fact, all male Jews were and still are required to wear it whenever they travel outdoors.

At the top of this shawl is written a simple prayer: “Blessed are you O Lord, King of the universe. You have sanctified us according to your commandments and have given us the law of Tzitith.”

The “Tzitith” are the fringes that hang from the Prayer Shaw. They consist of a series of neatly arranged strings on each of the 4 corners. The numerical value of the word Tzitith is 600. The 5 knots and 8 strings on the corner total 13. Together, these numbers speak to the 613 commandments of the oral law which came to the Jewish people at Sinai.

Going into one’s “Prayer Closet,” implies bringing the Shawl over the head, locking out the atmosphere of the world and enclosing oneself into the realm of the Almighty God. Psalm 91:1 says, “He that dwells in the secret place [Tallith] of the most high shall abide [find comfort, peace] under the shadow of his wings.”

The woman with the issue of blood cried, “If I may touch the hem [Tzitith] of his garment, I will be made whole.” This woman was considered unclean because of her illness, yet she defied the tradition of the law and risked being stoned in order to touch the totality of God’s word and be healed Matthew 9:21. As we grab hold of God’s word, we too will be healed.