הציציות הפסולות
An Unfit Talit
Acrylic on fabric
Itan, 23 | Orshina Center
A talit katan* is a holy, intimate article of clothing. The tzitzit on its corners are meant to guard and protect us. But what happens when someone rips the garment? What happens when someone pulls the threads? Does the protection still remain?
This artistic interpretation of a talit katan provides a glimpse into the hidden world of religious men who experience sexual abuse—a world that is hidden under the clothes.
The white of the talit katan represents purity and innocence; here, the garments are each corrupted by colors, with stains simulating physical injury, or a representational drawing of the innocent, inner child. The hints of blues on some of the garments, whether the face of the child or splatters across the fabric, play on the Talmudic phrase, “a talit that is all tchelet,” the ancient color required to accompany tzitzit.
The threads of the tiztit on each garment are as tangled as the soul of the victim, whose clothes and protection were torn from him like the rips on each garment: Can I be perfect after what happened? Have I sinned? Am I, too, invalid?
The hangers on which the group of talit katan hangs evokes skeletons in the closet; the impetus to hide: I have to hide. It’s not something you show. If you don’t see it, maybe it didn’t really happen.
The hanger’s hook represents a question mark: Did it really happen? Was it forbidden? Is it my fault?
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* The term ‘invalid’ (pasul) in Hebrew is associated with the religious designation of a ritual item as unfit for use in the fulfilment of a commandment or obligation. The use of the word invalid (pasul) here plays with the close relationship between experiencing abuse, and its culturally specific impacts on a sense of self and community.
* A tallit katan (small tallit) is an everyday garment worn mostly by Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox religious men, with four sets of tzitzit, or ritual strings.
Learn more about Orshina, or explore the Survivors’ Hope Campaign for all ELEM’s work with survivors of human trafficking, exploitation, and sexual abuse.
