The tallit is a garment used for prayer and remembrance of the commandments of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There are two types; the tallit gadol, used as a prayer garment, and the tallit katan used as the garment of daily reminder for following G-d’s commandments.
The tallit katan consists of a simple rectangle of cloth, with a hole for the neck. It is worn every day to remember the commandments of the L-rd G-d. (Mishnah Brurah Siman 24)
The length of the tallit gadol was to be a handbreadth shorter than the garment under it. The Tallit katan is a smaller garment worn each day. Some choose to wear them on top of their clothing; others under their shirt or vest. In either case the reminder is there for following G-d’s commandments at all times.
The tallit originated as a standard rectangular mantel worn by the peoples of the land to which tassels were added at the four corners as commanded in Numbers 15: 38-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. After the exile of the Jews from the land of Israel the Jews came to accept the fashions of the lands in which they were living and the tallit was mostly discarded from daily wear and became reserved as a prayer shawl.
The word tallit is a Hebrew word and doesn’t have a synonym in any other language. You will find the word translated as tabernacle, mantle, over-garment, or even napkin in some translations of the Bible.
The camel hair mantle of Elijah was likely a tallit and passing his tallit to Elisha conveyed to all that his role of prophet was being conveyed upon Elisha. That John the Immerser (Baptist) wore a camel hairs garment (tallit?) showed he had come in the anointing of Elijah, thus the questions he received.
Tallit contains two Hebrew words. “Tall” meaning tent and “it” meaning little, thus each man had his own little tent of worship. There is no way the six million Jews who left Egypt could fit in the tabernacle or the meeting tent to pray, however each man could pull up his tallit to create a prayer tent where they could meet with G-d. Tallit means “tent small” in Hebrew. These tabernacles were placed over each man as he would
pray in the wilderness as seen by Balaam from the mountains around the encamped Israel.
When Jesus was buried some translations say a napkin was wrapped around his head. It was a normal custom of the day to wrap the head of a dead man in his tallit for burial. This custom continues to this day.
The Biblical account of Ruth and Boaz shows Ruth asking Boaz to spread the skirt of his garment over her. She was asking him to take her under his wings of protection and accepting her into his household. In modern Jewish weddings the groom still spreads out his tallit over his bride.
In the corners of the tallit are four squares of fabric to which the tzit tzit are tied called arba kanfot. “Arba” means four, and “kanfot” means ings. That the woman who was hemorrhaging sought to touch the hem, the tzit tzit of Jesus garment shows she knew of the prophecy there would be healing in the “wings” of the Messiah. Jesus’ response was that her faith had healed
her; her knowledge of the word and willingness to put it into use. (Luke). (Also see Mark 6:56 for the healing in the wings of the messiah.)
One is dwelling in the secret place of the Most-High while
under His Tallit, in the shadow of His wings.
