When
you think of a prayer shawl, what comes to mind? Is it the
tallis, the fringed, four-cornered shawl worn by
Jewish men and some women during services? Or is it the
hajib, a prayer shawl from Islamic tradition that
modestly covers a woman from her head to her waist? For
many knitters in America, the term prayer shawl brings
another image to mind: A shawl that is lovingly hand knit or
crocheted out of a soft, comforting yarn, blessed by the one
who has made it, and wrapped around the shoulders of someone
who needs the sort of comfort only the love and generosity
of a caring friend can provide.
Prayer shawls become tangible symbols of love when words
can’t be found to adequately express one’s feelings. They
can be warm hugs of happiness, empathy, and support; a
private place of escape in which to rest, relax, and renew;
something to hold on to when all else seems to be slipping
away. Wrapping another in a shawl knit of your own prayers
and loving thoughts is a gift not only for the one receiving
the shawl, but for yourself as well.
