Back to the Future and Foward to the Past

[Jewish Highlander]

Shalom Y'all,

My background is varied and my interest is deep. I am a man in search of my historical roots and driven to bring them practically into the present.
For starters as you may have guessed, I am of Jewish descent through my mother (Sephardic - Spanish) and Scottish (Banes - Mac Bain) through my father. I am also Jewish by religious belief following the Temani nusach (Yemenite Jewish rite and liturgy).

I have many questions particularly concerning kilts and how they may relate to tallits which are a similar garment of the Jewish faith. Other related MUGs are also of interest to me. Please let me know if there are anyone else out there that might be a few steps up the road from me in relation to similar issues.

My main goal is to be able to be true to my heritage and religious convictions while trying to be at peace with the rest of the world especially my wife and family as I undergo this avenue of exploration.

[FatherWilliam57]

Welcome. Sounds like a fascinating journey you are undertaking. I hope you will keep us well informed of its progress. Again, welcome! Shalom.

[Bugbear]

You might eventually want to discuss these subjects with our member, Rabbi_Pazo.
Here is his profile:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/members/rabbi_pazo/

[Jewish Highlander]

Thanks WBHenry. Topics of special interest to me relating to kilts are functional history (i.e. belted plaids), wearing one daily on a regular basis, outdoor kilts.

[Jewish Highlander]

Thanks Bugbear for the referral of Rabbi_Pazo. He sounds like a person of great interest.

[Chirs]

This is an interesting connection you have made between tallitot and kilts. Because the (modern, "small") kilt is a garment for the lower body it may be difficult to reconcile that with the tallit, but the fly plaide is worn on the upper body and is, for all intents and purposes, a shawl. Although different from the "small" tallit because of the tallit's centre hole, it is physically the same as the "large" tallit - the prayer shawl. The material is correct and there are no Biblical colour restrictions but you would probably stand out at a synagogue.

This is an interesting pursuit you have undertaken and I would be interested in hearing how it progresses.

[Jewish Highlander]

Shalom Chris,

The Tallit originally was a wool blanket that was worn throughout the day and slept with at night by both men and women. Many cultures have and still retain something similar even today that relates with this concept at some level. My current research involves trying to see if actually two garments are needed in a typical outfit since the top over the shoulder is a blanket/kilt/tallit and the bottom one wrapped around the waist is more like the bedding, mattress or prayer rug. Yes, originally to my understanding Jews originally prayed on the ground very much like the Muslim do but also prostrated themselves in the process. You can still find that some Orthodox Jews still prostrate themselves on Yom Kippur. The main idea is that you should not allow your face to touch stone (except for the Temple Stones in Jerusalem) when you pray and therefore have to have something as a barrier. You have to either use your tallit or another garment to provide this clean non stone surface. Here is a video of a friend of mine praying at the Kotel (Wailing Wall) at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem minus the full prostration usually reserved for private prayer at the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Uyg...el_video_title
He also has some other videos relating to prayer.

[Chas]

Hello Jewish Highlander,

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England. I can be of no assistance, but wish you well on your quest.

Regards

Chas

[Sammac]

Welcome from Michigan

[flyrod6057]

Welcome! I'm a Celtic Jew as well. Descended from Irish, Scots (MacFadden, MacDonnell, and Bruce) and Sephardic Jews from France. I am also religiously Jewish, following mostly Ashkenazi tradition due to the makeup of the local Jewish community. I'm not sure I have anything to add to your research, other than friendship. Still, feel free to ask! I've spent some time pondering the similarities between kilts and tallitot, and the potential issues with a Jew wearing a kilt (shatnez? tzitzit?) I'm no torah scholar, so my conclusions might not square with talmudic authorities...

Cheers!

מיהודי ליהודי: מבקש הטוב