Tallit Exploratory Quiz


The purpose of the Tzitzit is: To serve as a reminder of God's commandments.

The Torah tells us that we are commanded to tie tzitzit on any four-cornered garment we wear:

God said to Moses: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments in every generation; let them bind 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 are not seduced by your heart or led away by your eyes. In this way shall you be reminded to observe all My commandments and 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, am your God. [Numbers 15:37-41]

This paragraph is part of the Shema (the third paragraph) and is recited morning and night.

The tzitzit remind us of our connection to, and obligations toward, God. It is a visual reminder of our responsibilities as Jews. In this regard, the tzitzit are like a the mezuzah: a reminder.

Some Jews wear a tallit katan (small tallit) at all times as an undergarment, so that they can fulfill the mitzvah of wearing tzitzit at all times. Others wear the tzitzit on a tallit when they say morning prayers.

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