A Tallit is a prayer shawl, which is rectangular in shape and has fringes attached to the four corners of the garment. This is based on a verse in the Bible (Numbers 15.37). It is worn at daytime services – whether conducted at home or in synagogue. It is obligatory for all males over the age of 13 years, but in Reform synagogues women have the option of wearing a tallit too. The texture and look of a tallit can vary according to the different traditions from which people come eg Ashkenazi Jews (originally from Eastern and Central Europe) often have a woollen tallit with black stripes on white background, while Sephardi Jews (originally from Spain and the Mediterranean) often have a silk tallit with blue stripes on a white background.