In this last week’s Torah portion we are introduced to B’stalel the expert artisan who built the Mishkan. God explains the importance of fulfilling the mitzvoth in the most beautiful way. To enhance worship with what we wear or how we adorn it, is a very Jewish concept. I thought it would be interesting tonight to discuss the ritual garb that is most prevalent amongst Jewish worshippers. I will be speaking about, what are a tallit, kippah and t’fillin.

The kippah in Hebrew or yarmulke in Yiddish is a skull cap. It is most often worn in Temple or at other ritual settings, such as a festive meal, wedding, brit millah or funeral. In some Jewish communities it is customary to wear the kippah all the time.

It is unclear where the origin of covering one’s head comes from. There is no blessing associated with it and there are some communities that do not wear kippot at all. It is not halachah or Jewish law it is a custom to wear a kippah. Traditionally men wore kippot and women wore other head coverings. In our sacred books there is mention of showing one’s piety by covering one’s head to show respect for God. Ultimately in our time it is a custom that is followed by those who find it meaningful.

The next ritual garb is the tallit. It says in the Torah “Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves Tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout the ages’

The Rabbis took this to mean that the tzitztit should be put on any four cornered garment. A tallit is to be worn at the morning services. The first time one wears a tallit is at the Bar /Bat Mitzvah service.
In addition to the fact that the wearing of the tzitzit (which is attached to the tallit) is found in the Torah, many people wear tallitote because they feel wrapped in prayer or find it as a way to create sacred space for themselves.

The tefillin or phylacteries consist of two leather boxes containing a hand written parchment of the sh’ma and its blessings. It is wrapped around the forehead and the forearm. The tradition comes from a literal reading of Deuteronomy 6:8 “bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead. ” Rather than take these words as a metaphor rabbinic tradition chose to make it a mitzvah to literally bind these words on the forehead and the arm.

All these ritual objects have the power to transform our religious experience, allowing our external appearance remind us of our internal intentions and attitudes. All of these costumes or uniforms can aid us in our journey to experience the Divine.