By Tom Thomas
It’s really interesting to see how words from the Holy Bible have found themselves in our everyday vocabulary. The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Tassel” “as a tuft of loosely hanging threads or cords knotted at one end and attached for decoration to soft furnishings, clothing, or other items.”
The word Tassel (in Hebrew “Tzitzit”) first appears in the Book of Numbers 15:37-41. The Lord tells the Chosen people through his servant Moses, “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a blue cord on the fringe of each corner. You have the fringe so that, when you see it, you will remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and not follow the lust of your own heart and your own eyes. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and you shall be holy to your God.”
This is an interesting practice that the Jews follow to this day. The word, Tekhlet, in Hebrew describes the unique shade of blue dye (it is almost like blue-violet or turquoise) used to colour the tassel. The dye source was in existence from the Biblical times .
This passage from Numbers set me thinking what are the tassels in my life today? As a married person, it could be my wedding ring, and for the wife it is the mangala sutra or thaali (holy thread) and for the religious, it could be their religious habit, for a student it could be the rosary around their necks, or in their pockets. The tassel is the most important thing to keep us grounded in life and to be in harmony with the Lord’s commandments always.
The tassel has power, too, as the woman who was healed of the flow of blood found out when she touched the fringes (or tassels) of Jesus’ cloak in Mathew 9: 20-22. And in Mathew 14:36, the people were healed when they touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, in other words, the tassel! In Mathew 23:5, Jesus cautions us not to wear these tassels for external show of piety. Then there is no use, as it defeats the purpose of the Lord who is asking us to wear it as a reminder of his commandments.
The one thing that everyone has with them these days is the smartphone. It has become the sine qua non (a thing that is absolutely essential) of our human existence. I am wondering has it not taken such an important place in our personal lives that this human invention is controlling our life and inter-personal relationships. We see how much unhappiness can occur if we let that become a tassel in our life, as it has become for many people nowadays! The first thing we reach for while waking up is this tassel and it is the last thing we put down at night! At least for a great majority of us!
The smartphones of today are loaded with all the notifications and distractions that can take our mind away from the Lord and our unique purpose here on earth, if we are not careful.
Rather than the smartphones, let us proudly hold on to our God-given tassels (The Commandments which are the paternal teachings of our Heavenly Father) based on our unique state in life to stay true to His plans for us always..