TzitTzit

I can’t shake off thoughts of Refaat Alawaar’s poem “If I Must Die,” where they wrote: “buy a piece of cloth/and some strings.” Although referencing burial customs and mirrored in their image of a kite flying over Gaza, it also brings to mind a Talis, the prayer shawl Jews wrap themselves in on the Sabbath. Similar to a burial shroud, the Talis is tied at the corner with string, forming four decorative fringes called Tzit Tzit.

Tzit Tzit is braided using double knots separated by spiral wrappings of various quantities. The act of tying Tzit-Tzit is not merely a mechanical task; it is a profound, introspective journey. As I knot and wrap the string in a rhythmic sequence, I feel a connection to generations past and a responsibility to generations yet to come. Each twist and loop carries with it the whispers of my ancestors, urging me to tie with intention, to look beyond the present moment and weave my intentions into the fabric of time.

We are prohibited from using scissors and knives in this process, as they are symbols of war. The metal blades, representing aggression and division, have no place in this act of weaving unity and peace. It is a sacred injunction to keep violence and conflict at bay.  As I refrain from using them, I am reminded to guard not only the physical threads but also the spiritual and emotional threads that bind us all. If we must trim the cords we are implored to use our teeth and nails. 

In a world marred by violence and discord, the Tzit-Tzit serve as a beacon of non-violence. They are a call to introspection, urging us to unravel the knots of hatred and prejudice that threaten to tear apart the fabric of our shared humanity. Each strand, meticulously woven, represents a commitment to dialogue, understanding, and compassion.

Alawaar was murdered by the Jewish state on December 6th, 2023, along with over 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, millions under occupation or in the diaspora are victims of state violence. This state violence claims to represent Jewish tradition and people, yet if it truly did, it would surely set aside its knives and instead use its mouths for prayer, conversation, or trimming Tzit Tzit.

If we are indeed one, we must treat all human life as equal.