Prayer shawls have their origin in the tallit (Modern Hebrew: טַלִּית) or tallet(h) (Sephardi Hebrew: טַלֵּית), also called tallis (Yiddish). A prayer shawl that is worn during the morning Jewish services (the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah service, and on Yom Kippur and other holidays. It has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. The tallit is sometimes also referred to as the arba kanfot, meaning the "four wings" (with the connotation of four corners).

While some other Jewish garments or objects might be treated more casually, the tallit is a special personal effect, generally used for many years or a lifetime and never discarded. Most Jewish men (and some women) own very few tallitot in their lifetimes. A threadbare tallit is treated with great respect, as if it had a mantle of holiness, acquired from years of use.

Faithful women in Rocky Mount District churches knit prayer shawls, remembering those who will receive them and praying for God's healing, promise and strength for the one who will receive it.  At Englewood, the focus of the ministry has been expanded to include graduating seniors going off to college.  They may place the shawl at the end of their dorm bed to remind them there is a faithful community remembering them in prayer as they face the challenges of college life.

For more information on prayer shawls in general, go to www.shawlministry.com.

Churches Participating

First UMC, Wilson, First UMC, Rocky Mount, First UMC Roanoke Rapids, Englewood, Eden Enfield, Whitakers,White Oak, Gibson, St. Paul.