Emanuel Tallit
Many say that the tallit or the prayer shawl should be plain and simple. This is why many talit have very simple designs, with only a spare stripe design to add character to the iconic Jewish garment. However, contrary to the belief of some, there are no actual laws prohibiting people from using talit with various designs. After all, it is not the use of the tallit that is stated on the Bible, but the use of the tzitzit. So as long as the tzitzit is properly tied, there are no issues with regards to the use of any type of talit. Despite the opposition of some, designer talits are actually already popular. And one of the most famous designer talits is the emanuel talit.
The emanuel talit is actually a type of design tallit made by Yair Emanuel. Yair Emanuel is a very popular tallit maker, an artist from Jerusalem who studied at the Bezalel Art School in Israel. His designs are very Jewish in them, most of them with very distinctive Jerusalem motifs. Most of his tallits or tallilot mix the old and new, making it the appropriate prayer shawl due to its contemporary yet traditional appeal. His designs reflect Jerusalem itself, which is said to be a city of fusuion, easily mixing new and old traditions.
So what are the uses of the popular emanuel talit?
Of course, the appeal of the emanuel talit mostly relies on its aesthetic value. A number of these tallits are hand-painted, giving them the old-school feel many want their prayer shawls to have. Again, this is because they believe the tallits should be simple, mostly white in color with minimal decorative value. But one can still fulfill the use of the tallit or the prayer shawl despite using such colorful and skillfully done shawls. A proper tallit need not be bland; it can still have character.
Emanuel tallits also have a more important usage. The existence of Emanuel’s creations has indirectly made the use of tallit for women more acceptable. Many Jewish authorities say that women cannot wear tallit because it is a male garment, and women should not wear any garment associated to men (and vice versa, of course). The normal tallits have masculine designs; or at least, the blandness of the tallits in terms of designs and character has been associated to men. So the designed tallits by Emanuel and other tallit makers made it easier for women to have prayer shawls specifically and especially for them.
Of course, this is not to say that emanuel tallits are only for the use of women. Men can use emanuel talits too, as well as other tallits from other tallit makers. However, the varied designs of the prayer shawls now gave them the choice. They are no longer limited to the simple, character-less shawls. Today, they have tallits they can call their own.
Again, the essence of the tallit is not in design. However, since one can add character to the iconic prayer shawl, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a little personal touch. This is perhaps the most important use of the emanuel tallit.
