The History and Origins of the Tallit
As with most of the practices of the Jews, the origin and the use of the tallit are largely based on texts written on their holy scripture. While considered mainly as a prayer shawl, the tallit represents a large facet of their faith and their religion. Nonetheless, the origin of the tallit is a well-debated issue. However, the reason why it is worn today is very clear, making the tallit one of the most authentic Jewish garments and the use of the tallit one of the most iconic Jewish practices.
The history of the practice of using tallit came from the book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible. In this verse, God was talking to Moses, saying that he should inform the Israelites to wear fringes on the corners of their clothes. Note that the clothes then had four corners, typically worn above the shoulder. These fringes, called the tzitzit, represent the practice of the mitzvah, or the 613 commandments. The Torah itself said this, saying the tzitzit should be worn so the Jews will remember that should practice the commandments. Besides the verses in Numbers, the use of the tzitzit was also stated in the book of Deuteronomy. Numbers and Deuteronomy are part of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (the first three are Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus).
So because the use of the tallis, the tzitzit was placed in ordinary everyday clothes, since the clothes then included a sheet-like item which they use to wrap around their bodies. So the tzitzit were placed on the corners of these items to symbolize the practice of the mitzvah.
Later on, however, the tzitzit were placed in other pieces of clothing. For example, the tzitzit were placed on the inner garments instead of the outer garments. This inner garment, called the Arba Kanfos, was rectangular in shape, with three feet by five feet dimensions. The Arba Kanfos also had a hole in its center for the head. Obviously, this type of clothing went out of fashion; after all, most modern clothing does not have four corners. This would have made the rule of wearing the tzitzit obsolete if not changed. So the Jewish men, as a replacement for the use of the tzitzit in Arba Kanfos, used small tallitot or tallits in everyday life, so they can continue to practice the commandment of wearing the tzitzit. So from the use of Arba Kanfos with tzitzit, the Jews used the small tallits instead. Again, due to changes in culture and everyday life, this practice was replaced by the use of prayer shawls, what everyone now knows as the tallilot.
While one might say that the use of the tallitot today largely differs from the use of the tallits before, the change or the supposed transgression in the rule is necessary in order to fit the commandment in everyday life. Nonetheless, while the practice has already largely differed from its original use, the intention of the use of the tallit (or the talis or tallis) remains the same. The tallits are used as a remainder of the mitzvah, a way to become closer to God.
