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28 | OHCC LIVING | JULY 2024 | Yiddish Club (In an east side, New York grammar school:) "And now, children, can you tell us some names of objects that begin with the letter 'T?" Patrick; "Tigers and trains," Elizabeth: "Tables and typewriters," Izzy: "Tallis and tzimmes." For the uninitiated, Tzimmes is a side dish of mixed cooked vegetables and fruits, lightly sweetened. Simply, a dessert of stewed fruits. What is a tallis? (Modern pronunciation "Tallit.") A tallit is worn by men at Jewish religious services. My grandfather gave me my first and only tallit on the occasion of my bar mitzvah 78 years ago. I cherish it and still use it at religious services. I received my tallit and many other gifts in honor of my bar mitzvah. I loved my Schwinn bicycle, a portable radio, a chess set and even an aquarium with four fish. The only gift which still exists after all these years is the tallit which was given to me by my elderly grandparents! The tallit is worn as a reminder to observe all God's laws and thereby achieve holiness. Originally the word meant "gown" or "cloak." The source of the law requiring the wearing of "Tallitot" (plural) is the Bible. The Bible tells Jewish men to wear a four fringed garment with one fringe at each corner of the vestment. The Biblical notion is that seeing them will lead to remembering the commandments. It reminds me of when I was a child and had an errand to perform, my mother would tie a string around my finger as a reminder! The "Tzitzit" (fringes) are attached to two different kinds of prayer shawls. During the day Orthodox Jews wear the tallit under their clothing. This is called "Tallit Katan" (little tallit). Because the Bible instructed that the fringes (tzitzit) be seen, the four fringes hang out of their clothing to be visible. You may recall seeing Tevya the milkman from Fiddler on the Roof wearing the "Tallit Katan" with the tzitzit hanging out of his shirt. Refer to photograph. Most Jews wear the scarf-type tallit at all weekday morning services except for certain holidays. There are numerous explanations for the blue stripes on the tallit. Blue is a reminder of the blue thread that was once added to the fringe. The blue thread is no longer added to each fringe because the source of the blue dye is no longer known. Therefore, blue has become the color of the tallit stripes. Some tallitot have black stripes to memorialize the destruction of the Sacred Temple. Of all the ritualistic garments associated with Jewish life, none is more important than the Tallit! Note: We enjoyed another very successful deli luncheon with entertainment on June 23. Please check your emails and publicity for the Yiddish Club General Meeting to be held Aug. 12 at 7 pm in AB Hall. If you are not receiving emails, contact Carole Silverman at (818) 613-1306 or Dorothy Ganz at (518) 859-6780. Written by Don Kent, Past Vice President Ask about our OHCC discount!