# What are those strings that hang from the pants of Jewish men and boys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615 "2005-07-01T00:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/1 "2005-07-01T00:32:14Z")
I see it’s nearing to Friday, and yet, my curiosity can’t wait. While riding through a Jewish neighborhood, I saw several boys walking together, and all of them had strings hanging from (what I would assume are) the belt loops of the pants. The strings were a light brown color. What was this I saw? What does it mean? Sorry for asking so close to Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/2 "2005-07-01T00:38:42Z")
IANA ;j , but if I recall correctly, those tassels are trailing from a small garment worn underneath the shirt, which is something akin to a poncho. I think it’s only worn by Hasidic Jews, but I could be wrong. On preview and a minute of research, I’m [pretty close](http://www.pinenet.com/~rooster/hasid2.html#HASID2-Q6) [scroll about halfway down]. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/3 "2005-07-01T00:39:41Z")
They are the fringes of [tallit](http://www.judaism.com/search.asp?nt=CKblAc&tsub=Traditional&esct=aF). ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/4 "2005-07-01T01:11:38Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > They are the fringes of [tallit](http://www.judaism.com/search.asp?nt=CKblAc&tsub=Traditional&esct=aF). The fringes are called _tzitzit_, and they are attached to a _tallit_ (actually, to a _tallit katan_, which refers to a little shawl. A _tallit_ is a four-cornered garment worn during prayer services with fringes tied to it, as a reminder of the _mitzvot_, the commandments. A _tallit katan_ is a small, four-cornered shawl with fringes at the corners worn under clothing all day, as an opportunity to exemplify this commandment during the whole day. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/5 "2005-07-01T01:13:31Z")
The tallit, or prayer shawl, is worn by conservative and orthodox Jewish males at morning prayer services. (I think it’s optional or varies with Reform.) It’s like a shawl, although some can be quite large, with tassels/fringes at each corner, based on Numbers 15:37-41 (and other biblical references) Many orthodox and most hasidic Jews also wear a smaller such shawl (sort of like a poncho) underneath their outer garments, called a _tallit katan_ (small tallit), and the fringes of this tallit katan are what you might see dangling out from under their shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-strings-that-hang-from-the-pants-of-jewish-men-and-boys/310615/6 "2005-07-01T01:18:09Z")
Thanks.