Product Overview
Gartel
The gartel is a belt used by Jewish males, predominantly (but not exclusively) Hasidim, during prayer. "Gartel" is Yiddish for "belt". The word comes from the same source as German "Gürtel", which is also cognate with the English "girdle", and "girt".
Gartels are generally very modest in appearance. Most are black. Gartels are composed of multiple strings, anywhere from four to over forty in number.
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Jewish tradition requires that there be a physical divide between the heart and the genitalia during any mention of God's name. It is commonly explained that separating the upper and lower parts of the body manifests a control of the animal instincts of the person by the distinctly human intellect.
Additionally, donning a gartel is a preparation for prayer, in accordance with the Biblical verse "Prepare to meet your G-d, O Israel". (Amos 4:12)
