Tales from the Geniza: the minyan embraces torah

2022

For information about the geniza and this series . . .

A traditional Jew will pray 3 times a day, wearing his/her tallit. This amount of use, which includes frequently repositioning the garment during prayer, throwing it hastily into a bag etc, places considerable strain on the fabric. Not to mention wearing the tallit as one dances ecstatically with the Torah, which often has sharp-edged adornments. And then rushing off to be the first at the kiddush of schnapps, herring, and sweet “nothings”.

I borrowed from the geniza a Torah mantle in disrepair and 10 prayer shawls = 40 tzitzit = a minyan.  Many corners were torn from grabbing all four tzitzit / corner fringes for the Shema; and collars were discoloured from perspiration (never having been laundered). There was also much evidence of moth damage in the wool tallitot, likely a result spilling food.

And yet the fabrics maintained the essence of their holy purpose and I felt they deserved to be rescued from the trash – being a practice that too few supplicants consider.

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