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I thought this was an interesting parallel:
In the Jewish tradition, there are these fringes or bundles of strings that men wear on the four corners of their garment. These are called tzitzit. They consist of bundles of strings tied, knotted, and twisted in a pattern and then the rest sort of dangles down.
(I love when my husband wears his outside rather than tucking them inside. He also wears techeilus -the blue string)
In Hebrew, tzitzit is spelled: צִיצִת
Anyway, in Ezekiel 8,3 we find:
...and I was taken by a lock of my head...
The Hebrew version says: ...and I was taken by בְּצִיצִת of my head.."
Here, tzitzit is synonymous to hair. Thank you Likutey Moharan II for pointing that out.
I just thought it was interesting that tzitzit is used in reference to hair because its hair that we tend to put in knots, twists, etc. Now, I know that back in the time of the Songhai Empire around the 1400s, according to Ehav from Hochma and Mussar, there was a Jewish presence in Africa. (Also, I find it quite impossible that -as folks would have people believing- that there was no Jewish influence in the continent of Africa, especially subsahara Africa). Well, isn't it interesting that if these influence were removed, banned or whatever, that maybe, just maybe the people found a way to "maintain" by substituting the knots and twists onto the hair!
I can dream, can't I? lol
4 comments:
Hey Miriam,
Thanks for the shout out. You may want to use the article I wrote about the Jews of Songhai. It is on Wikipedia at the following link for English here. The Hebrew article is here.
Miriam, you may indeed dream.
What I find fascinating is the connection between tzitzit and hair.
I thought of the Nazarite, and that Samson was a Nazarite from his birth--a command from God, because he would be groomed (pun intended) to be his people's deliverer.
I thought, too, about the significance of hair (Samson had seven locks) as a kind of receptacle of God's Spirit.
In the story of Samson, the Spirit of God deserted Samson once his locks were shorn.
And just as Eve was responsible for the fall of Adam by offering him the good and evil fruit, a woman, Delilah, contributed to the fall of Samson by conspiring in the removal of his crown and glory (his locks), representing the fruit of God's Spirit and God's authority.
The Lord to Moses on the vow of separation, speaking of he who takes the vow: the "consecration of his God is upon his head...."
[As an aside let me say: Not for one minute do I believe that women are the accursed sex. I believe that Adam, as well as Eve, are aspects of our human consciousness--as well as the serpent that seduces Eve and, by extension, Adam.]
Miriam, is there some mention in Jewish lore of the significance of the head in such vows?
Now, back to the "tzitzit." Does in relate in anyway to the Nazarite tradition?
I'm well aware that perhaps very few would so dedicate themselves to this restricted life style (a life of purity for a specified time, or for a lifetime, and no strong drink) that such a vow would surely bring.
Could the tzitzit be worn, then, in recognition of those who chose to live such a spartan life?
I guess what I'm asking is this: are there other reasons for the men to wear the tzitzit on their garments, other than to remember to do the commandments, or as a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt?
And do you know if women wear something comparable to this as a remembrance of their duty toward God?
Hi Ehav - Thanks for these links.
Domino - re: nazarrite and tzitzit, I haven't seen anything written about it.
re: Other reasons for wearing tzitzit. It is suppose to be a protective shield.
It definitely alludes to alot of things. According to certain rabbis, the number four has lots of associations: the four lettered name of God, the four corners of the earth, The four elements (wind, fire, water, earth), the four wind directions (north:wealth, south:wisdom, east:spirituality, and west: sorry I forgot!), and the four fringes on the garment.
(These are from the teachings of Rebbi Nachman: wind can be synonymous to breath -as in, God breathed life- life force- into man. Thus, the four fringes can also allude to life-force.
Thus, we sigh when we are lacking something. Sort of like us breathing life into that which we lack. Makes me wonder if the four fringes is alluded to as protection from lackings.
The four fringes can also be matched with the four corners of the earth as in (Job's) grabbing the four corners of the earth and shaking out the wicked. The four fringes is alluded to as a protection from wickedness.
As a shield, its also interesting WHERE this shield is located. Yep, right by the place of circumcision. According to Rb. Nachman guarding against lust, lustful thoughts, etc is essential for purifying the mind.)
Having said all that, I must add in the end people have free will.
re: woman
Well, women cover their hair once they are married. But I don't think its the equivalent to tzitzit.
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