The Biblical command to "bind them upon your arm as a sign and as frontlets between your eyes" refers to the Jewish practice of wearing tefilin (phylacteries) on all days except Sabbath and holidays. Tefilin consists of two perfectly square black leather boxes that contain within them parchments upon which are written four of the basic passages regarding the faith of Israel as they appear in the Bible. One of the boxes is attached to the left arm of the person (the right arm, if the person is left-handed) by means of a single black leather winding strap. The other box is held in place on the head of the person by a pair of black straps that then run down the front of the person's body to below the waist. The position of the box on the head is centered between the eyes, but the front of the box should only descend to where the beginning of the person's hairline is, or once was. The box on the arm has smooth sides and all four passages from the Torah that it contains are written on one piece of parchment that is rolled into a tube to fit the box. The head box is divided into four separate compartments, into which each one of the four Biblical passages is inserted separately. The two sides of the head box contain the Hebrew letter shin emblazoned in relief from the leather box itself. On one side the shin has three legs and on the other side the shin has four legs. The head box also has a hair from the leather hide that protrudes slightly at the front of the box. All of this is in accordance with accepted Jewish tradition from Sinai, since the Torah itself contains no description or explanation of the commandment to "bind them upon your arms... and as frontlets between your eyes." It is the oral tradition from Sinai that explains all Biblical commandments to us.
Tefilin are treated with special respect and accorded unique holiness in Jewish practice. One's mind should be concentrated and aware of their presence on one's arm and head during all the time that they are on the person's body. In addition, one's body should be cleansed and one's appearance in order when wearing tefilin. One is forbidden to relieve one's self while wearing tefilin. The tefilin are worn during the weekday morning prayers. Because of the stringent standards for behavior and concentration, the present custom is to wear tefilin only during the period of the morning prayers. However, in Talmudic times and earlier, Jews wore tefilin the entire day, removing them when necessary, and then putting them on again later. Even in more modern times there were special Jews who insisted on wearing tefilin during as much of the entire day as circumstances would allow. Though there have been famous women in Jewish life who wore tefilin, the prevailing custom is that women do not wear tefilin. They are not commanded to do so by the Torah; whereas, men are so commanded, and the household duties of women may often preclude them from observing the standards for wearing tefilin as outlined above. The Talmud placed special emphasis on the observance of wearing tefilin and under the most dire of circumstances and greatest of dangers, Jews always struggled to observe this commandment.
Tefilin were always treated as an heirloom in Jewish life. A grandfather's tefilin would be refurbished and then worn by a grandson. "My grandfather's tefilin" is mentioned in the Talmud as a description of Jewish continuity and sustained spiritual and physical survival and rebirth. Jewish boys begin their experience with tefilin just before their Bar Mitzvah. In fact, tefilin has become the symbol of coming of age, of Bar Mitzvah, in the Jewish world. The tefilin are kept in a special bag, usually embroidered with the name of the owner of the tefilin and/or a design or picture. The prices for tefilin vary according to size and quality of the parchment, and the leather and the workmanship of the artisans that produce the tefilin. But tefilin are an eternal investment and therefore the cost is easily amortized over such a span of time. Tefilin are the sign, the symbol, of a Jew's attachment to the God and Torah of Israel. They speak to our past, to the Exodus and to Sinai. They also speak to our future, to our children and grandchildren and their descendants who will also "bind them to their arms as a sign and wear them as frontlets to their eyes."
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Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage.
Tefilin are treated with special respect and accorded unique holiness in Jewish practice. One's mind should be concentrated and aware of their presence on one's arm and head during all the time that they are on the person's body. In addition, one's body should be cleansed and one's appearance in order when wearing tefilin. One is forbidden to relieve one's self while wearing tefilin. The tefilin are worn during the weekday morning prayers. Because of the stringent standards for behavior and concentration, the present custom is to wear tefilin only during the period of the morning prayers. However, in Talmudic times and earlier, Jews wore tefilin the entire day, removing them when necessary, and then putting them on again later. Even in more modern times there were special Jews who insisted on wearing tefilin during as much of the entire day as circumstances would allow. Though there have been famous women in Jewish life who wore tefilin, the prevailing custom is that women do not wear tefilin. They are not commanded to do so by the Torah; whereas, men are so commanded, and the household duties of women may often preclude them from observing the standards for wearing tefilin as outlined above. The Talmud placed special emphasis on the observance of wearing tefilin and under the most dire of circumstances and greatest of dangers, Jews always struggled to observe this commandment.
Tefilin were always treated as an heirloom in Jewish life. A grandfather's tefilin would be refurbished and then worn by a grandson. "My grandfather's tefilin" is mentioned in the Talmud as a description of Jewish continuity and sustained spiritual and physical survival and rebirth. Jewish boys begin their experience with tefilin just before their Bar Mitzvah. In fact, tefilin has become the symbol of coming of age, of Bar Mitzvah, in the Jewish world. The tefilin are kept in a special bag, usually embroidered with the name of the owner of the tefilin and/or a design or picture. The prices for tefilin vary according to size and quality of the parchment, and the leather and the workmanship of the artisans that produce the tefilin. But tefilin are an eternal investment and therefore the cost is easily amortized over such a span of time. Tefilin are the sign, the symbol, of a Jew's attachment to the God and Torah of Israel. They speak to our past, to the Exodus and to Sinai. They also speak to our future, to our children and grandchildren and their descendants who will also "bind them to their arms as a sign and wear them as frontlets to their eyes."
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Rabbi Berel Wein, noted author and lecturer, is founder of the Destiny Foundation, dedicated to educating Jews about their historical and ethical heritage.