The facts, history and tradition behind the color of the tallit. Choose green tallit from Galilee Silks
One of the most religious and treasured items in the Jewish faith is the tallit (the prayer shawl). The tallit has become a significant part of Jewish life over time, and this significance has increased more and more after the tradition of wearing tallits has been developed by women as well. An individual usually selects or receives his/her first tallit or prayer shawl during the process of preparation for the bar/bat mitzvah ceremony.
Traditionally, the tallitot had only white backgrounds with blue or black stripes, but one can be overwhelmed by the fantastic selection of colors available today on the market. It should be noted that there are no specific rules regarding what color a tallit must be, and therefore you can choose a color scheme that suits your needs, preference and lifestyle. But remember, the colors of this religious garment are not made on a random basis. Whether it is green tallit, white tallit or blue tallit, every aspect of a tallit holds some meaning in the life of the jews.
A tallit is a very individual item meant to help you build a tight connection with God during prayer, so it has to feel right when you drape it on your shoulders. Obviously, a part of finding the right tallit means the right colors for you that would suit your personality and needs, but if your preferred color is green, finding the right tallit may be a bit challenging for you. But at Galilee Silks, you can find ready-made green tallit by custom order or make one on your own by choosing a favorite color, fabric, style and texture of your choice.
The History
God's garment is described as “white as snow” in the book of Daniel 7:9 and based on that there is a Sephardic tradition to wear fully white tallitot without any stripes. In the middle ages, Ashkenazi jews wore colorful ones, as there are no rules regarding what color a particular tallit should be. In the Bible, God commands the Jewish males to wear fringes or tassels on the corners of their garments so as to have a visual reminder of Him and His commandments at all times. Part of God’s commandment is to wear a blue fringe among the white fringes.
The traditional white with blue stripes design of the tallit, seen mostly today in Ashkenazi communities, is a blend of the white of God's garment and a commemoration of the Tchelet dye, which was used in the tzitzit strings. But the Tchelet dye is no longer used today because no one knows how to make that specific dye. But as per tradition, the Jews mostly have blue stripes on their tallitot, representing the blue they are commanded to wear on their fringes. Today, the white tallit with blue stripes has an additional meaning since these colors are also the colors of the Israeli flag too.
Handmade Green Tallit at Galilee Silks
Nowadays, picking a tallit can be an extremely personal experience, with each person choosing the color scheme to suit their personality. For those looking for a less conventional tallit, Galilee Silks offers a wide selection of spectacular green tallitot with a gorgeous combination of other colors around it. Handwoven in Israel, the tallitot come with a combination of striking colors and a unique look that will help you stand out among the crowd. Like most of the tallit prayer shawls, the green tallit can also be custom-made in other sizes by request.
Finally, Galilee Silks makes a handmade silk tallit with Emerald Green Tree of Life Tallit for women. The tallit has the classic look of a traditional tallit, but all of the decorative work is done by hand.