What are the ritual fringes on a Jewish prayer shawl called?

The ritual fringes on a Jewish prayer shawl are called tzitzit. They are attached to the corners of a four-cornered garment in fulfillment of a commandment in the Torah.

A tallit, commonly called a prayer shawl, has four corners with fringes made from specially prepared strands. The wearer may look at the tzitzit during the Shema, connecting the physical garment with remembering and observing the commandments. The Torah passage appears in Numbers 15:38–39.

Tzitzit are also worn on a smaller garment called a tallit katan, which some observant Jews wear under their clothing. Knotting patterns and the number of windings can vary among Jewish traditions.

Tzitzit are sometimes confused with tefillin. Tefillin are small leather boxes containing biblical passages, worn on the arm and head during weekday morning prayer. Tzitzit, by contrast, are fringes attached to garments and do not consist of boxes or scrolls.