THE TEFILLIN

by Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

The following is taken and adapted from THE JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY, a division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Sentences in parentheses are my additions:

The tefillin are two small black boxes with black straps attached to them. All jewish men, from aged 13 on, are required to place one box on their head and tie the other one on their (right) hand or arm each weekday morning. (During a coffee enema is excellent to do this practice, as well).

(Women should do this, too, but in olden times the men were charged with keeping the religious rites in the Hebraic tradition. This is no longer necessary, as people have more leisure time, both men and women.)

The tefillin are biblical in origin, and are commanded within the context of several laws outlining a Jew's relationship to God:

"And you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” (This is one of the most important concepts in all of creation. For more, read The Love Tetra on this website.)

“Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day.

“Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up.

(And here’s the key verse) “Bind them as a sign on your hand, and let them serve as a frontlet between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:5-8).

SOURCES AND FURTHER READINGS: Hayim Donin, To Be a Jew, pp. 144-152; Isaac Klein, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice, pp. 6-9. The quote from Jacques Lipchitz is found in The Reconstructionist, February 1974, p. 20.

Source: Joseph Telushkin. Jewish Literacy. NY: William Morrow and Co., 1991. Reprinted by permission of the author; Photo courtesy of Rabbi Rabbi Yerachmiel Askotzy, STAM

Courses | About Dr. Wilson | The Free Basic Program