Other Symbols of Israel – Mezuzah and Tallit

Mezuzah

Other Symbols of Israel – Mezuzah and Tallit

MEZUZAH — A mezuzah is a case that is placed on the doorposts of Jewish homes. Inside the case, there is a small rolled up handwritten scroll with the words of the Prayer Shema.

The key verse of the Prayer Shema is Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Sometimes it is alternately translated as “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.”

Tallit

TALLIT — The Tallit is a Jewish four-cornered shawl that is worn while praying. It has a white background with blue stripes, similar to the Israeli flag. It has tzitzit (fringes) on each of its four corners. The tzitzit is worn as a reminder of the 613 commandments. The tallit is often used in Jewish wedding ceremonies as a wedding canopy (Chuppah). The tallit is usually worn over the shoulders, but some cover their head with it.

A modern Tallit can also come with black stripes, and other colors as well.

Mark 5:25-34 tells of the account of the woman who had suffered with hemorrhaging of blood for twelve years. She spent all she had on doctors, but instead of getting better she only grew worse. Her condition rendered her “unclean” according to the Jewish law and she was not supposed to be out in public. She had lived a very isolated life.

She heard that Jesus was in town, and she said to herself “If I just but touch the hem of His garment I shall be made whole.”

Many Messianic Jewish rabbis believe that the hem of Jesus’ garment was referring to the tzitzit of the prayer shawl that Jesus was wearing.

The woman pressed through the crowd, and when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment (or the fringes of the prayer shawl) instantly virtue went out of Jesus and into her, and she was instantly made whole of her plague.

This was a fulfillment of a prophecy in Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.” The word “wings” in this verse is in reference to the hem or edge of a garment.

There were many others in the Gospels who received their healing and miracle when they touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. If you are in need of healing or a miracle, Jesus still performs miracles today. He is a healing God. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes (scourging) we are healed.”

If you would like prayer for healing or anything else, please contact me at riley3john2@att.net.