DOING the mitzvah of making tzitzit
Yeshua says to DO the mitzvah, and we'll experience WHY do to them. Yochanan [John]8:31-32
on DOING the mitzvah of making tzitzit and wearing them:
BeMidbar [Numbers] 15:37-41 and D'varim [Deuteronomy] 22:12
I'm not clear on all of it yet, still studying and praying and experimenting with this, because I WANT to walk in the blessings, not the curses. [D'varim (Deuteronomy) 30:19-20]... and suddenly adding blue tassels to everything I was wearing did generate questions.
Hebrew words are based in physical reality: Things we do, things we can see, touch, experience. The root for tzitzit means "blossom". Some Hebrew words are rooted in what something DOES. Some are rooted in what something LOOKS like. In this case it could be a pun on both: they look like blossoms, and remind us that the result of trusting the teachings and instructions of יהוה Torah brings the fruit of the Spirit (Ruach haKodesh the Spirit of God's Holiness being allowed to be in control of myself, Torah leading me, not my feelings, thoughts, opinions etc) [Galatians 5:22-23]
Based upon my more recent study of the Torah passages in Hebrew: the text does not specify that there be ONE blue thread. Echad אחד is the Hebrew word when ONE is specified. [D'varim 6:4]
the other option that is rarely seen [Bereshit 22:2] is "only" means "united" יחיד yachid It means "Unity" A child as the product of a union. The soul as a unity of body, soul and breath.
Neither of these words appear in the passages for tzitzit... so it looks to me like it's supposed to be BLUE. All blue. Not some other color[s] with a blue thread. [I'm a little disappointed, I made LOTS of beautiful colorful varieties trying to figure this out.]
My first attempts at a single blue thread (one piece tied to a corner all by itself) looks awkward, wrong. And IF I was making the garment, either weaving or knitting, it would have made more sense to incorporate a blue thread all across the fabric either near the edge or as the edge. I like the idea of it being a border with the tails on each end hanging down. A kind of fringe that COULD be embellished with more thread to make a tassel that's noticeable. But not really right either of these ways...
I'm a knitter. a little crafty. I've made tassels for decorations all my life. So I've been experimenting with making tzitzit. Adding one blue thread doesn't work, or at best looks like 2 blue threads because there's a "tail" either sticking up or hanging down. The one short tail sticking up looks bad, doesn't look right. So I'm thinking that can't BE right. When I make a tassel (or a pom-pom) for decoration, I wrap a continuous piece of thread or yarn round and round and then tie it off across the center of the loops with another piece. ONE piece of blue! I like the concept of the continuum, too.
I've looked at options for ready made tzitzit for ladies and I'm NOT comfortable wearing something that accentuates that area of my body. Feels horribly immodest to me: "HERE! HERE! LOOK AT ME HERE!!" ick <shudder>. So I'm looking for something along my hemline, floor length, or at least much lower down the leg.
I've been praying about this for MONTHS. Considering it for years. Trusting the promises of יהוה that He will show me what He means. Matthew 7:7-12
My next phase of experimentation was using blue yarn. More like loosely wrapped pom-poms that look like bows or flower blossoms, with the 2 tails from the one blue piece that ties it together hanging down. yeah. kinda. sorta could be like it, but still doesn't seem to be right. (these turned out very pretty too.) I've tried putting these on the "four corners" of my tunics or dresses that have corners. But those aren't going to get interpreted accidentally into "fringe" when somebody who's clueless is looking at them. Unless I made a whole row of them.... ?? nope... so
off all the places I WASN'T looking for answers: the pilot episode of the original Wonder Woman TV series (Lynda Carter). One of Cloris Leachman's costumes had a fringe of very short tassels on the lower edge of the fabric. Kind of looked like little thread bells all swaying as she moved.
And in my head it suddenly ALL clicked. They DO kind of look like fruit blossoms, hanging down. But for somebody just looking at it, it's also a kind of fringe, and they're made out of tassels. When they become grossly elongated (beyond the original intent) they can look very long, like the graduation tassels on our mortar boards [caps]. Or even longer, as alluded to in some Rabbinic traditions as a sign of extremism [from the waist to the knees].
these also remind me of the priestly garment, Exodus [Sh'mot] 28:33 “And on its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around..."
WE ARE His nation of priests. 1 Peter 2:9 based upon Exodus [Sh'mot]19:6
these COULD be related concepts?
the color blue is significant here too: the root for the Hebrew word blue means "whole" and "full". It's also related to the Hebrew word for "bride". Of course We ARE the Bride of Yeshua. (Revelation 21:9, 22:17)
this is NOT "purple or violet" as in some translations. That Hebrew root is associated with the meanings of "rug" and "trample." halleluYAH!!
I have NOT yet figured out how to make these. And how to attach them. Along with everything else that I want, but can't find to buy, I'm going to have to invest in a sewing machine.
I've always LOVE fringe. I feel so beautiful wearing fringe. halleluYAH, thank You for the mitzvah to wear tzitzit!
on DOING the mitzvah of making tzitzit and wearing them:
BeMidbar [Numbers] 15:37-41 and D'varim [Deuteronomy] 22:12
I'm not clear on all of it yet, still studying and praying and experimenting with this, because I WANT to walk in the blessings, not the curses. [D'varim (Deuteronomy) 30:19-20]... and suddenly adding blue tassels to everything I was wearing did generate questions.
Hebrew words are based in physical reality: Things we do, things we can see, touch, experience. The root for tzitzit means "blossom". Some Hebrew words are rooted in what something DOES. Some are rooted in what something LOOKS like. In this case it could be a pun on both: they look like blossoms, and remind us that the result of trusting the teachings and instructions of יהוה Torah brings the fruit of the Spirit (Ruach haKodesh the Spirit of God's Holiness being allowed to be in control of myself, Torah leading me, not my feelings, thoughts, opinions etc) [Galatians 5:22-23]
Based upon my more recent study of the Torah passages in Hebrew: the text does not specify that there be ONE blue thread. Echad אחד is the Hebrew word when ONE is specified. [D'varim 6:4]
the other option that is rarely seen [Bereshit 22:2] is "only" means "united" יחיד yachid It means "Unity" A child as the product of a union. The soul as a unity of body, soul and breath.
Neither of these words appear in the passages for tzitzit... so it looks to me like it's supposed to be BLUE. All blue. Not some other color[s] with a blue thread. [I'm a little disappointed, I made LOTS of beautiful colorful varieties trying to figure this out.]
My first attempts at a single blue thread (one piece tied to a corner all by itself) looks awkward, wrong. And IF I was making the garment, either weaving or knitting, it would have made more sense to incorporate a blue thread all across the fabric either near the edge or as the edge. I like the idea of it being a border with the tails on each end hanging down. A kind of fringe that COULD be embellished with more thread to make a tassel that's noticeable. But not really right either of these ways...
I'm a knitter. a little crafty. I've made tassels for decorations all my life. So I've been experimenting with making tzitzit. Adding one blue thread doesn't work, or at best looks like 2 blue threads because there's a "tail" either sticking up or hanging down. The one short tail sticking up looks bad, doesn't look right. So I'm thinking that can't BE right. When I make a tassel (or a pom-pom) for decoration, I wrap a continuous piece of thread or yarn round and round and then tie it off across the center of the loops with another piece. ONE piece of blue! I like the concept of the continuum, too.
I've looked at options for ready made tzitzit for ladies and I'm NOT comfortable wearing something that accentuates that area of my body. Feels horribly immodest to me: "HERE! HERE! LOOK AT ME HERE!!" ick <shudder>. So I'm looking for something along my hemline, floor length, or at least much lower down the leg.
I've been praying about this for MONTHS. Considering it for years. Trusting the promises of יהוה that He will show me what He means. Matthew 7:7-12
My next phase of experimentation was using blue yarn. More like loosely wrapped pom-poms that look like bows or flower blossoms, with the 2 tails from the one blue piece that ties it together hanging down. yeah. kinda. sorta could be like it, but still doesn't seem to be right. (these turned out very pretty too.) I've tried putting these on the "four corners" of my tunics or dresses that have corners. But those aren't going to get interpreted accidentally into "fringe" when somebody who's clueless is looking at them. Unless I made a whole row of them.... ?? nope... so
off all the places I WASN'T looking for answers: the pilot episode of the original Wonder Woman TV series (Lynda Carter). One of Cloris Leachman's costumes had a fringe of very short tassels on the lower edge of the fabric. Kind of looked like little thread bells all swaying as she moved.
And in my head it suddenly ALL clicked. They DO kind of look like fruit blossoms, hanging down. But for somebody just looking at it, it's also a kind of fringe, and they're made out of tassels. When they become grossly elongated (beyond the original intent) they can look very long, like the graduation tassels on our mortar boards [caps]. Or even longer, as alluded to in some Rabbinic traditions as a sign of extremism [from the waist to the knees].
these also remind me of the priestly garment, Exodus [Sh'mot] 28:33 “And on its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around..."
WE ARE His nation of priests. 1 Peter 2:9 based upon Exodus [Sh'mot]19:6
these COULD be related concepts?
the color blue is significant here too: the root for the Hebrew word blue means "whole" and "full". It's also related to the Hebrew word for "bride". Of course We ARE the Bride of Yeshua. (Revelation 21:9, 22:17)
this is NOT "purple or violet" as in some translations. That Hebrew root is associated with the meanings of "rug" and "trample." halleluYAH!!
I have NOT yet figured out how to make these. And how to attach them. Along with everything else that I want, but can't find to buy, I'm going to have to invest in a sewing machine.
I've always LOVE fringe. I feel so beautiful wearing fringe. halleluYAH, thank You for the mitzvah to wear tzitzit!
ADD A COMMENT
Latest Activity
© 2012 Created by Pastor Greg.
You need to be a member of LIBAW Christian Social Network to add comments!
Join LIBAW Christian Social Network