Talit Ha Cumi - The Secrets of the Prayer Shawl by John Francis

An Ancient Tradition That Can Augment Your Prayer Life

In the book "Talit ha Cumi" Bishop John Francis explains how the secrets of the prayer shawl can enhance your prayer life. He begins with the story of one man's disobedience to introduce the historical and scriptural origins of the Jewish prayer shawl, the tallit. It is not the garment itself that makes the tallit special. The real significance of the shawl is found in the tzitzit, the fringes on the four corners which are to remind us of God's commandments.

Tallit

The tallit is a religious symbol, a garment, a shroud, a canopy, a cloak. In Jewish tradition it becomes a cloak which enfolds the celebrant both physically and spiritually. In prayer the shawl signifies being wrapped in the Word of God. The talit is used throughout Jewish life events from circumcision to burial. The traditional use of the tallit in Middle Eastern wedding ceremonies is fascinating.

Francis discusses the tallit as symbolic of the mantle, a little tent, and with wings. These insights gave me a deeper understanding and a new appreciation for many passages from both the Old and New Testament.. Detailed instructions for the proper use of the tallit include suggested scriptures for meditation.

Francis emphasizes how wearing the tallit today can be relevant. If our heart motives are pure we can achieve the full spiritual advantage of this ancient tradition. The shawl provides a private space to separate you from the distractions of the external environment allowing you to focus inwardly. Symbolically the tallit fortifies your commitment to prayer. We can use the tallit to reflect on God's commandments, His constant love, His promises, His protection, and His healing power.

John Francis introduces awesome ancient truths in "Talit ha Cumi." This is a book that can be a tremendous aid for contemporary Christians to pursue a life of consecration and godliness by practicing a deeper more rewarding prayer life.

Creation House, 978-159979-2651

As Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Talit Ha Cumi - The Secrets of the Prayer Shawl by John Francis

Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Book Store Owner

Hem of His Garment

I was given the idea the woman had to reach to the ground or near the Lord's ankles to touch the hem of His robe to be healed of her 12 year ailment. (Mark 5:27-29) What we are talking about here is the Jewish prayer shawl. The shawl is called a Tallit (pronounced tal-eet) which means "little tent".

It has fringes on each end and a techelet (blue) thread interwoven into the tassels on each corner. This is symbolic of the tent Tabernacle Israel had in the wilderness. Anytime someone wanted to pray, they could pull the tallit up over their head and have a symbolic tent Tabernacle to commune with the Lord in privacy.

Tallit

This is the prayer closet the Lord spoke of. (Matt. 6:6) (Luke 12:3) When the head was covered, this would symbolically keep the "spirit of the world" outside and one could pray undistracted without being double-minded. The tassel is called a Tzitzit. The Tzitzit strings are usually tied in knots numbering 613, symbolic of the number of the Laws of Moses (Torah). This is what people from the cities, villages and country touched to be well. (Mark 6:56)

The origin of the tallit seems to follow a harsh lesson. A guy had just been caught gathering firewood on the Sabbath. They did not know what to do with him. God said to stone him to death outside the camp. When they were done, the next thing recorded is God's instruction to make the tallit, to remember the commandments of the Lord and do them. (Num. 15:36-40)

Let's think about this possibility for a minute. They may very well have grown up with this guy, worked with him, been neighbors for years or his kids played with their kids all the time. Now they are wearing a prayer shawl with the memory of throwing at least one of the stones to kill him. If they threw stones hesitantly and reluctantly, would it have been a longer more drawn out execution? What about having to look into the eyes of the surviving widow and kids you just had a BBQ with a week before? Ugh!

This tallit is what the Lord was poking fun at the Pharisees about in when he spoke of them making extra long fringes. (Matt. 23:5) The fringe or tassel on His tallit is what the woman touched for healing. Why did she come trembling? She would have been ritually unclean according to the Torah (Law of Moses). To touch anyone, especially a rabbi would have brought severe reprimand.

When the Lord was in villages, cities or the country the sick besought him that they might touch the fringe or tassels of his garment and were healed. Different translations of the Bible use the terms "hem (or) border of His garment", "edge of His cloak", "fringes" or sometimes even "tassels" for the above verses.

This would be the mantle (ornamental covering) that Elijah passed on to Elisha. This is the same mantle that Elijah and Elisha used to part the Jordan River. The four corners of the Tallit are called "wings". This is associated with us being under the protective wings of the Lord. The same Hebrew word translated "corners" in Numbers 15 is interchangeably translated into "wings" in Malachi 4:2.

Hem of His Garment

Copyright June 2009 by Peter B.

You will be amazed at how much more can be found in the Bible than we are told. Our research and information is contained in the new book "The Bible I Thought I Knew", available at website: http://www.djmercer.com/liestoldme.htm