Step 1: Open the Tallit carefuly and hold with both hands so you can see the blessing on the collar in front of you.
Step 2: Recite the blessing (bellow) before wearing the Prayer Shawl. (Some people also hold the Prayer Shawl over their head first, to create a private space for a quiet moment of reflection or meditation for prayer.)
"Blessed are You, Lord, our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with commandments, and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in the Tzitzit".
Step 3: Hold the Prayer Shawl over your head with both hands like a cape and bring your hands together in front of your face briefly, (some practices: Kiss the end of the collar where the last word of the blessing is embroidered and then kiss the first word that is embroidered on the collar).
Step 4: Wrap the Tallit over your shoulders and adjust the garment so is sits comfortably on your shoulders. The Tallit should be draped over the shoulders like a shawl or a cape, not around the neck like a scarf). Make sure that the tallit's corner threads are visible, as they are meant to remind us of the Torah's commandments.
What is a Talit (Tallit)? It is a prayer shawl, the most authentic Jewish garment. It is a piece of linen or wool with special fringes on each of the four corners. Why wear a Tallit? The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to the Israelites and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach 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 do not follow your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God" [Numbers 15:37-41].
The Talit is worn for morning prayer, during the week as well as on Shabbat and other Holy Days.
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