טלית

טלית is a higher garment (לבוש העליון), symbolizing the sublime encompassing light (האור המקיף הגדול) that surrounds and transcends the individual.

Definition

The idea of the טלית reflects the verse, "עוטה אור כשלמה" — “He enwraps Himself with light as with a garment.” In Chassidus, this is understood as Hashem cloaking Himself in a טלית — white and pure.

This garment embodies an אור מקיף — a light that surrounds rather than enters. It is not internalized by the soul, but rather encompasses it from beyond. The function of the לבוש is not merely to conceal, but to allow a glimmer of that light to shine forth — albeit in a veiled way, through the modality of contraction (צמצום). This revelation comes through what the Zohar terms "hairs" (שערות) — the threads of the ציצית.

The 32 threads (ל"ב חוטין) of the ציצית represent sublime lights (אורות עליונים) that extend from this higher light. Just as the divine light of Torah flows through the 32 pathways of wisdom (ל"ב נתיבות חכמה) to become enclothed in the mitzvos, so too these threads channel the transcendent light into expression. They are spun from wool (צמר), alluding to the verse, "ושער רישי' כעמר נקא" — “the hair of His head was like pure wool.”

The טלית thus stands as the higher garment (לבוש העליון), representing an encompassing light (אור מקיף) not absorbed inwardly but nevertheless manifest through the צמצום of the ציצית — those threadlike hairs (שערות) that extend from it.

Ultimately, the essence of the טלית is the אור מקיף העליון — the supernal encompassing light that originates from the very inwardness of the Infinite (בפנימית אא"ס דוקא). The 32 strands of the ציצית channel this light, much like the Torah becomes invested within the mitzvos. This is the inner meaning of the verse, "וזכרתם את כל מצות ה'" — "and you shall remember all the commandments of Hashem" — for the mitzvah of ציצית serves as a gateway to all the mitzvos.