Israelcraft

Prayer Shawls of The Book of Numbers

  1. Bamidbar Tallit
  2. Nasso Tallit
  3. Beha’alotcha Tallit
  4. Sh’lach Tallit
  5. Korach Tallit
  6. Chukat-Balak Tallit
  7. Pinchas Tallit
  8. Masei-Matot Tallit

Bamidbar Tallit

Parashat Bamidbar “In The Desert”  פָּרָשַׁת בְּמִדְבַּר Numbers 1:1-4:20 is the first Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 34th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.


Parasha Bamidbar deals with the census, the arrangement of the camp around the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the order of the march, and the duties regarding maintenance and transport of the sacred objects of the Tabernacle and the giving of offerings.

Bamidbar Band I

Tallit Band I
The tribes move out to march in order; the camp of Judah first followed by the camp of Ruben and Ephraim.

Bamidbar Band I

Tallit Band II
The sacred objects of the Tabernacle are being organized for travel.

Translation of Hebrew
(Numbers 3, Verses 30, 31)
ג ל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי, אֱלִיצָפָן, בֶּן-עֻזִּיאֵל
ג ,לא וּמִשְׁמַרְתָּם, הָאָרֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנֹרָה וְהַמִּזְבְּחֹת, וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ

The chieftain of the Kohathite clan, Elizaphan son of Uzziel, his duties are the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the sacred utensils.

Nasso Tallit

Parashat Nasso “Take A Census” פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא Numbers 4:21-7:89, is the second Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible, and the the 35th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year. 


 
Parasha Nasso discusses how and who is responsible for erecting the Tabernacle, for anointing it, sanctifying it, caring for it, and moving it.

Nasso Tallit Band I

Tallit Band I
Haftorah Nasso: God’s angel appears to Manoach and his wife who is barren, to tell them she will have a child whose name is to be Samson.

Nasso Tallit Band I

Tallit Band II
The priestly blessing is being recited.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers 6 , 24, 25, and 66):
“May God bless you and keep watch over you.
May God make His presence enlighten you and grant you grace. May God direct His providence toward you and grant you peace.”

Beha’alotcha Tallit

Parashat Beha’alotcha “When You Raise” פָּרָשַׁת בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Numbers 8:1-12:16 is the third Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 36th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.

Parasha Beha’alotcha begins with commands concerning the Menorah, Sanctuary laws, keeping of the Passover, and the use of silver trumpets. Traveling with the Ark is discussed. The unhappiness of the people with their desert menu, results in God’s bombardment of them with quail followed by plague, and the parasha ends with Miriam and Aaron complaining about Zipporah, Moses’ wife, and Miriam being made leprous temporarily as a result.

Behaalotcha I

Tallit Band I
The Menorah with two olive trees by it, mentioned in the Haftorah of Behaalotecha, Zechariah 4,3.

Behaalotcha II

Tallit Band II
The departure from Sinai, the Ark of the Covenant being set forward in a procession of the tribes of Israel.

Sh’lach Tallit

Parashat  Sh’lach “Send”  פָּרָשַׁת שְׁלַח־לְךָ Numbers 8:1-12:16, is the fourth Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 37th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.

In Parashat  Sh’lach, twelve messengers scout out the land of Canaan and return with exaggerated tales. Also in it, Jews are commanded with the mitzvah of tzitzit, which means they are to say a blessing over the tied threads, which included blue threads. For that reason the tallit is shown with blue threads.
The first band of the Sh’lach tallit is from the Haftorah reading (in the Ashkenazi tradition); Joshua 2, 1-24, which is read after the weekly portion; where Joshua secretly sends two spies from Shittim who stay with Rahab, who hides them and helps them to escape.

Sh’lach Band I

Band II Haftorah Shlach
Joshua 2, 1-24
Two spies are sent by Joshua to Jericho where they are hidden and helped to escape by Rahab.

Sh’lach Band II

Tallit Band II
A great cluster of grapes is being brought back by messengers who have seen the land of Canaan.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers chapter 13, verse 23):
“And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it upon a pole…”

Korach Tallit

Parashat Korach פָּרָשַׁת קוֹרַח Numbers 16:1-18:32, is the fifth Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 38th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.

Unfortunately, as of this time, the photos of the Korah Tallit seem not to have survived. The illustrations of the Korah Tallit can be seen and downloaded in Illustrations of the Book of Numbers, Korach.

Chukat-Balak Tallit

Parashat  Chukat “Law Of” פָּרָשַׁת חֻקַּת Numbers 19:1-25:9, is the sixth Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 39th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.


Parasha Chukat and Parasha Balak are read together on regular years and separately on leap year.
Both have been designed here as one tallit.
Moses’ sister, Miriam, dies in Parasha Chukat and the well which followed the Israelites in their wanderings through the desert as a sign of Miriam’s merit, ceases to flow. Moses strikes a rock with his staff, providing water for the Israelites. However, the way he goes about it is not pleasing to G-d and for this reason, Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land. However, Moses does see it. He dies on Mount Nevo, just East of Canaan and overlooking it.
Parasha Balak tells the story of Balak, the King o Moab, who sends messengers to the Prophet Balaam, to curse the People of Israel. G-d sends an angel to dissuade Balaam. Balaam doesn’t see the angel but his donkey does, and gets beaten by Balaam for trying to avoid it.

Chukat Band

Band I Chukat
Moses strikes a rock with his staff, providing water for the Israelites.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers 20, 11):
“And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.”

Balak Band

Band II Balak
Balaam forces his donkey ahead, whose way is being blocked by an angel that Balaam doesn’t see.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers 22, 31):
“Then [the Lord] opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand…”

Pinhas Tallit

Parashat  Pinchas פָּרָשַׁת פִּינְחָס Numbers 25:10-30:1, is the eighth Torah portion in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 41st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.

Pinhas Tallit

In Parasha Pinhas, a census is taken to ensure that each tribe receives the land it deserves according to its size. The responsibility for the Israelites passes from Moses to Joshua.

Pinhas Band I

Tallit Band I
Moses passes responsibility of the Israelites to Joshua in a ceremony including the high priest, Eleazar.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers 27, 22-23):
“Joshua, the son of Nun, who stands before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage thou him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.”

Pinhas Band II

Tallit Band II
The Zelophad sisters bring their case of inheritance up with Moses, and win a victory, establishing the order of inheritance to include women.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers 27, 4):
“Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.”

Matot-Masei Tallit

Parashat  Matot-Masei “Tribes”-“Travels” פָּרָשַׁת מַּטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי Numbers 30:2-36:13, are the last two Torah portions in Numbers, the the 4th Book of the five Books of the Bible and the 42nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading which begins on Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish New Year.

Matot-Masei Tallit

Parasha Matot and Parasha Masei are read together on regular years and read separately on leap year.

In Parasha Matot, the tribes of Reuben and Gad negotiate with Moses for land on the east side of the Jordan which is suitable for their cattle herds.
Parasha Masei designates cities of refuge in the land which they are about to enter.

Masei Band

Tallit Band I
A fugitive who is being pursued, is entering a city of refuge.

Translation of Hebrew (Numbers chapter 35, verse 12):
“And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment.”

Matot Band

Tallit Band II
The Gadites and Reubenites, their tribal banners flying, come to request of Moses that they receive land on the east side of the Jordan, suitable for their cattle.

Translation of Hebrew (Deuteronomy chapter 32, verse 1-5):
“…The children of Gad and the children of Reuben come [to Moses saying] let this land be given unto your servants, bring us not over the Jordan.”