Understanding Your Tallit God instructed the Israelites to attach fringes (called tzitzit in Hebrew) to each of the four corners of their garments so that when they saw them, they would remember all of Gods commandments and do them (Numbers 15:38-40; Deuteronomy 22:12). Centuries later when fashions changed and garments no longer had four corners, the Jewish people created the prayer shawl (Tallit) so that they could fulfill Gods command to wear tzitzit. The prayer shawl has become the time-honored Jewish tradition of submission to Gods will revealed in his Word (the Torah).