The
cotton lining serves the following purposes:
Cotton against your neck and/or face is much more
comfortable than wool. Cotton partial lining absorbs body
oils keeping them off the
wool of the Tallis.
It is easy to change the lining after a few years. Cotton
partial lining adds much strength to the tallis and stabilizes the wool, thereby
increasing the Tallis's lifespan.
The Side Bands are pieces of cotton that "extend"
from the partial lining to the corners pieces. Like the
lining, these strips are sewn on the inside of the tallis.
This add much strength to the tallis and stabilizes it
also. Most men have a tendency to hold onto their tallis's
front edge, and sometimes unknowingly hanging the weight
of their arms and hands from the tallis front edge. These
side bands prevent this weight from pulling the wool
apart.
The middle band is touted by some as helping with a
first-fold protection. It is sewn onto the outside of the
tallis. I make no such claims, but just say that the
middle band is a nice "decorative" effect.
 The Echt Turkish Tallis (Echt meaning "genuine") is
the heaviest-weight Tallis of all. It is made of Genuine
Turkish wool, and manufactured in Israel in the Original
Turkish stripe pattern with the original double side
fringe style. This is the heaviest wool tallis, and it by
far the favorite tallis in most Chassidic groups. The Echt
Turkish tallis comes with double-knotted side fringes,
where two groups of strings and knotted together, leaving
a long amount free, then the resulting free ends and again
knotted to an adjacent group. This ends up a richer, and
fancier side fringe. This is the traditional Turkish side
fringes.
 The KMO Turkish
Tallis (kmo meaning "similar to")
is a compromise.
It is made of Israeli wool, but
manufactured in Israel with the Turkish stripe pattern. It
is made heavier than any of the other Israeli Talleisim
except the Echt Turkish. While it is lighter in weight
than the Echt Turkish, it is heavier than all the other
Talleisim. It is a heavier than the regular Tallis
Hameshubach, but lighter than the Echt Turkish. The KMO
Turkish Tallis does NOT have the traditional Turkish side
fringes.
Both the Echt Turkish and the KMO Turkish tallis
come with NO ATARA at all. This is because many people who
purchase the Turkish-style talleisim purchase the silver
ataras, and there is no need for them to pay for the
included cloth atara. A cloth atara, similar to the Prime
AA, can be added for $12
 The "Echt Turkish Tallis HaMeshubach" has the
stain-resistant treatment, and other minor upgrades and
adds $20 to the cost of the Echt Turkish tallis.
Both the Echt Turkish and the KMO Turkish talleisim
come automatically with lining and side bands included.
Middle band can still be added, etc.
Tzitzit (Ashkenazi
pronunciation: tzitzis) are fringes or tassles (Hebrew:
ציצת (Biblical), ציצית (Mishnaic) found on a tallit worn
by observant Jews as part of practicing Judaism. In
Orthodox Judaism it is only worn by males.
The Torah states in
Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the children of Israel and you
shall say to them that they shall make for themselves
fringes on the corners of their garments, throughout their
generations, and they shall affix a thread of blue
(Hebrew: תכלת - tekhelet) on the fringe of each corner."
Tzitzit are also commanded in Deuteronomy 22:12, which
says: "You shall make yourself twisted threads, on the
four corners of your garment with which you cover
yourself."
Tzitzit are attached today only to Jewish religious
garments, such as a tallit gadol (large prayer shawl).
This is due in part to the fact that today's typical
garment does not have the required 4 corners, and thus the
fringes are not necessary. Traditional Jews wear a tallit
katan (small prayer shawl) in order to fulfill this
commandment at their own volition (although some consider
it a transgression to miss a commandment that one has the
ability to fulfill).
Various reasons are given for the commandment. The Torah
itself states: "So that you will remember to do the
commandments". In addition, it serves as a reminder of the
Exodus from Egypt (Numbers 15:40). The Talmud equates its
observance with that of all the mitzvot. Rambam (Comm.
Pirkei Avot 2:1) includes it as a major mitzvah along with
Brit Milah and Korban Pesah. |
