Am Yisrael Chai Tartan
Designed on
29 July 2010
By Tartan Designer
Gary J.M. Berreth
The Official Jewish Tartan
This incredibly complex and remarkable tartan
was designed by Mr. Gary J.M. Berreth of Oregon, U.S.A.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: THE SCOTTISH REGISTER OF TARTANS (http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index.aspx) is the ONLY executive agency of the Scottish Government that has the legal authority to register newly designed tartans and serves as an archival repository of Tartans in Scotland. No other organization, guild or group has that legal governmental authority. Any entity claiming to have the authority to register newly designed tartans is fraudulent and any contact or commerce with it should be avoided.
Knesset (Israeli Parliament Building)
Kotel - Men with prayer shawls at the Western Wall of the Temple of Jerusalem
Dead Sea - end of the River Jordan
Western wall at night
A Sephardic (Spanish-Mediterranean) encased Sefer Torah
Eastern European Jews lifting up a Sefer Torah
Hermon Falls on the River Jordan
Masada
The Western Wall
Kotel Tunnels
Prayers in the Western Wall
The Western Wall
Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. at the Western Wall when he was a soldier
Long Live the People of Israel
The name of the tartan "Am Yisrael Chai" literally means "long live the People of Israel". Although the architecture of the tartan employs Gematria (the mystic art and ancient science that deals with the meaning of the numerical values of Hebrew letters), Kabalistic meanings and other religious symbols, the Am Yisrael Chai tartan was designed for general use, both religious and secular, of any person that has a love and affinity for the People and State of Israel, regardless of faith, religious persuasion or religion.
As many of the previous works of Master Tartan Designer, Mr. Gary J.M. Berreth, he utilizes many techniques for designing such a complex, yet perfectly symmetrical tartan. Before he begins the design process, he often has a mental visualization of the appearance of the final product. Then using the mathematical Fibonacci number sequencing, he embarks on bringing the design from a mental ideas to an actual and real design. The number of threads used, and the colours employed all have a deliberate significance, leaving nothing to chance.
The colours of the Am Yisrael Tartan are:
Light Purple — The Light Purple represents the transitional period when the day begins, as the Jewish days begins at sunset. In addition to the infinite palette of colours when see on glorious sunset, it is the Light Purple, which definitely marks the transition from day to night, marking the beginning of a new day. The Light Purple, Royal Blue and Black represent that natural transition from light to darkness, each represented by two threads of the aforementioned colours. Such sequence is repeated six consecutive times, representing the six common days of the week (excluding the Sabbath). In Gematria the number two represents wisdom, and as the physical light is replaced by natural darkness, the number two represents "wisdom" by which we should "enlighten our lives", bringing spiritual light into the world.
|
|
Israeli Flag |
Royal Blue — The Royal Blue is emblematic of the Priesthood (Rabbinate), who presided over the Most Holy of Ordinances in the Temple at Jerusalem, on behalf of the People of Israel also known as the "Chosen People".
Although the Royal Blue if often associated with royalty (in Israel the tribe associated with royalty is the tribe of Judah) the Levite Priests adopted the Royal Blue and used that colour in main for their sacred vestments.
That colour also was employed in the coverings of the Tabernacle (Mishkan in Hebrew) and later in the First Temple at Jerusalem (Beit HaKadosh in Hebrew), also known as the Temple of Solomon.
This colour is represented in the tartan, by bands containing the the following number of threads:
-
Two threads in a set of Light Purple, Royal Blue and Black representing the passage from day to night and the transition from physical illumination to spiritual enlightenment. The sum of those consecutive series total is twelve. The twelfth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet is "Lamed" and it is emblematic of the heart, as well as Love and Unity, inculcating that Great Commandment of loving our Creator with all of our heart, with all our soul and all our might (see Deuteronomy 6:4), the famous declaration of faith in Judaism called the "The Shemah". It also represents that as children of one creator our aim should always be filial love.
- Fifty-Four threads that cleverly form, both vertically and horizontally, one of the blue band of the Flag of the State of Israel. In Gematria, the number Fifty-Four represent two magnificent attributes of the Almighty; one that should be emulated and practiced always and the other meant to be self-applied: Goodness and Judgment. We are to be good and kind to strangers, those in need without ever expecting anything in return. Judgment is reserved for those duly Ordained as Judges, and to self-judging of one's own conduct, in order to prevent the Perversion of Justice.
Black — The Black threads are emblematic of the ashes left after a sacrifice was fully burned. The priests would employ the ashes for purification rites and cleaning, hence the two-fold purpose of the ashes are represented by two threads of Black in six consecutive sequences. They are emblematic of the beginning of the day at the end of sunset, when we supplant physical light for spiritual perfection and illumination (enlightenment). The colour black also appears twice more in groups of six threads, emblematic of self-confession and humility, as its sum of twelve threads is emblematic of the Infinite Goodness of the Creator.
Grey — The colour Grey represents that middle ground in life, were we must recall our best judgment and faculties to decide what course to follow in life. It requires the use of good manners, humility, compromise and discerning what is the most right course to take when making a decision. It is then when we are called to cleave to The Omnipotent and seek Divine counsel for direction in our lives. The colour GRAY is represented twice in the Tartan in groups of four threads, invoking us to use our best judgment.
|
|
Star of David |
White — The colour White is emblematic of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and is also symbolic of the purity of soul and spirit required and demanded of the "Chosen People" before gaining entrance and inheriting the "Promised Land".
Remarkably in this design, the intersection of the vertical and horizontal White lines form the modern Flag of Israel without the Star of David, ("Mogen David" means "Shield of David" in Hebrew).
The White appears on this tartan in 54 threads, at its meaning in Gematria is identical to the meaning of the number Fifty-Four on the Royal Blue.
Dark Red — The colour Dark Red is emblematic of the blood of the animals that where sacrificed for the atonement of sins of humanity. The number of Dark Red threads is represented by the number Eighteen, meaning "Life", in stark contrast between Life and Death. The number eighteen is represented in Hebrew letters spells "Chai" (or Life), lending to the name of the Tartan.
Dark Gold and Light Yellow — The High Priest's (Cohen Gadol) Vestments, having a Golden Breast Plate containing a setting of twelve stones, representative of each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
|
|
Menorah |
When the Dark Gold and the Light Yellow are combined, they represent the flickering light of the Menorah, one of Judaisms most definite symbols. The Menorah is represented in the Tartan by a combination of four and two, adding to 24, emblematic of Wisdoms and Judgment of the Almighty, under whose protective shelter of Peace we dwell.
Disclaimer
Any one wising to obtain The Am Yisrael Chai Tartan must contact the Designer, Gary JM Berreth, or his duly authorized agent by placing an initial enquiry through this website. Click here to contact Gary JM Berreth.
The Am Yisrael Chai Tartan is made of 100% virgin wool from Scotland, and its colours are made with vegetable or synthetic dyes only. No dye of any animal origin is employed.
The Am Yisrael Chai Tartan is NEVER woven on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), on Jewish Holy Days or during Jewish Festivals. So this tartan could also be used for a tallit and/or alter drapings.
The ONLY authorised weaver of the Am Yisrael Chai Tartan is:
D.C. Dalgliesh, Ltd.,Dunsdale Mill,
Selkirk, TD7 5EB
Scotland, United Kingdom
A Thoughtful Gift
What an unique and perfect life time gift to present to a young man at his Bar Mitzvah, or a young woman at her Bat Mitzvah then a personalized Tallit (prayer shawl woven) in their own tartan. The coming of age brings one very close to the Almighty, the Maker of Us All at Temple, particularly during Shabbat where such a gift can bring one closer spiritually. This gift can be shared with the recipient's family and handed down though time to an heir of their choosing as well. Using the individual's special numbers and colours along with other information about the recipient will make this a one of a kind gift.
Jewish Prayer Groups worldwide can also commemorate or adopt their own authenticate tartan, own the rights to weave the cloth to sell to its members or there congratulations as a fund raiser to fund their serious projects.
These special tartans can be made in the finest virgin wool or purest silk and under strict Rabbinical Supervision, following the strictest Jewish laws for sacred cloth currently available worldwide. Registration and full documentation is included to show ownership and full rights to reproduce the cloth.
Shalom U B'rachot (Peace and Blessings)
Click here to contact Gary JM Berreth
Tribute to Raphael Pazo
With thoughtful Tribute to my Little Brother... Dr. Raphael Pazo Jr. has been many things to many people. In his personal life he is husband, lover and confidant to his wife, the beautiful Susan of 25 years. The both of them together have four wonderful children who are well educated in music, the sciences and philosophy of life. Best of all they are thinkers with strong beliefs and many friends from all over the world.
My personal journey with the Rabbi started a few years ago as his Kiltmaker and soon changed to a close personal friend because we share so many things, even at the very start. Yes, 26 April is our birth day, but I do have a few years on him, and that is about all...
I wish to thank Raphael for all the hard work, time and love he put into creating this web page with me. Only his great wisdom and understanding of the true nature of this tartan has allowed it to become one of my finest efforts. Yes, yet another gift we share is that of working together in perfect harmony.
He, is more then my mentor, he is my spirit brother and teacher, always there for me without conditions. We think alike, but do not always agree. Each has a point of view and the respect that goes with trust that has been tested and forged with the bond of understanding.
Even with many miles between use, we have grown closer and share passions and compactions for each other's gifts and talents, and are willing to give 100% to each without invitation. It is with a BIG HEART, and JOYFUL Peace of Mind, I Thank You My Comrade of the Tartan.
Namaste
Your Big Brother,
Gary JM Berreth