What is the meaning of the prayer shawl?
The meaning of the prayer shawl (talit, Ashkenazic pronunciation: talis) is embodied in the four fringes at the corners of the shawl, which act as reminders to the commandments (mitsvot) of Judaism.SignificanceThe combination of the numerical value of the knots and circular twists add up to the number 613, which corresponds to the traditional count of commandments in the Torah.TypesAs the saying goes, “two Jews, three opinions”–there are varying customs regarding how to tie the tsitsit and how to attach them to the garment. Most Ashkenazic Jews, for example, poke one hole in each corner and loop all the strings through, whereas Hasidic Jews of the Lubavitch movement poke two holes and loop the strings back to front, with both ends coming out the same side of the prayer shawl.GeographyVariations in the method of tying the strings are loosely connected to geography, with Jews following their ancestral customs from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.InsightThe Bible refers specific
