Tallis Repair Project – by David Margulies

On Sunday, March 11,  the Men’s Club began an effort to examine the Tzitzit of the congregation’s Tallitot.  Over the years and with much usage the tallitot wear out.  This began with a brief instructive session, reviewing the scriptural basis for Tzitzit (Numbers 15:38--recited in the Shema; and reiterated Deuteronomy 22:12), as a reminder of the 613 mitzvot.  The Hebrew letters in Tzitzit (Tzadee, 90 + yod, 10 + Tzadee, 90 + yod, 10 + Tov, 400 = 600; plus 5 knots + 8 strings= 613).  There is additional significance of the traditional order of the tying of the tzitzit.  The twists are 7, then 8, then 11, then 13.  Symbolizing 7 + 8 = 15 which is the same as 10 + 5 for the first two letters of the tetragrammaton (yod, heh=15); followed by 11 which equals the third and fourth letters (vav, heh =11), and the final 13 stand for the value of the word echad, one (1 + 8 + 4 = 13).  Thus, the tzitzit also symbolize the unity of God. 

Members of the Men’s club sorted the tallitot into those whose tzitzit required repair or replacement, and proceeded either to retie the fringes, or to replace them.  The job was not completed, but good progress was made, and this will be an ongoing project.  All the tallitot from the Swoff Chapel were checked.  We have repaired about 10 tallitot, however, there are about 20 more that need to be repaired.  Men’s Club members are doing these repairs.  We will schedule another time to check the tallitot from the Bender Sanctuary.

Care and keeping of Tallitot

It is important to emphasize to congregants and visitors of Beth El, that the tzitzit are the important part of the tallit, and that they should be tied appropriately, not untied, or added to (no braiding or adding knots).  Before donning a tallit, one should examine the tzitzit to be sure they are complete and tied properly.  If a tallit does not have four sets of tzitzit properly tied at each of the four corners, then one does not fullfil the mitzvah of tzitzit by wearing such a tallit.  Please alert one of the ushers if you think there is a problem.  If you would like more information, please contact David Margulies at dlv.dhm@verizon.net.