WHAT ON EARTH IS TEFILIN?
You might have seen them make a star appearance at a Bar Mitzvah, they're those leather boxes and straps that Jewish men from the age of 13 and up don during prayer. The Tefillin are placed on the arm, facing the heart, and on the upper forehead. Inside the Tefillin boxes are the Shema prayer, which is the thesis of Judaism. Shema is the prayer that declares G-d's ONENESS. By putting the Teffilin on the forehead and near the heart, we reveal our love of
G-d within our intellect and emotions.
Reciting the Shema prayer is better than any anti-anxiety pill on the market. When expressing out loud how "G-d in His Infinite Goodness is ONE, there is NOTHING that exists outside of G-d He is all-encompassing, and He LOVES you!" If a person were to meditate on the words of the Shema prayer truly, they would find themselves come to an instantaneous calm feeling and true joy knowing that there is NOTHING else besides G-d and all worries and anxieties are just mere illusions that plague our psyche.
TEFILIN:
The mitzvah of tefilin, also known as the "phylacteries," is a commandment in Judaism that requires men to wear tefilin, or small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah, on their head and arm during the morning prayers. The tefilin are worn as a reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish people and as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to "bind them [the words of the Torah] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:8).
The mitzvah of tefilin is considered to be a personal and intimate expression of faith and commitment to God. It is typically observed by Jewish men who have reached the age of majority (13 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls). The tefilin are worn every day from the age of majority until the age of 70, except on the Sabbath and holidays when the wearing of tefilin is not allowed.
The tefilin consist of two boxes, one for the head and one for the arm. The box for the head is called the "head tefilin," or "shel yad," and is placed on the forehead with a strap that extends down the back of the head. The box for the arm is called the "arm tefilin," or "shel rosh," and is placed on the bicep with a strap that wraps around the arm and hand. The boxes contain parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah written on them, and are made from black leather.
The mitzvah of tefilin is an important and meaningful ritual in Judaism and is seen as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to bind the words of the Torah as a
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Tefilin, also known as phylacteries, are small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah that are worn by Jewish men during the morning prayers as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to "bind them [the words of the Torah] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:8). The tefilin are worn as a reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish people and as a way to express personal commitment to God.
The tefilin consist of two boxes, one for the head and one for the arm. The box for the head is called the "head tefilin," or "shel yad," and is placed on the forehead with a strap that extends down the back of the head. The box for the arm is called the "arm tefilin," or "shel rosh," and is placed on the bicep with a strap that wraps around the arm and hand. The boxes contain parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah written on them, and are made from black leather.
The tefilin are typically worn by Jewish men who have reached the age of majority (13 years old for boys and 12 years old for girls). The tefilin are worn every day from the age of majority until the age of 70, except on the Sabbath and holidays when the wearing of tefilin is not allowed.
The mitzvah of tefilin is an important and meaningful ritual in Judaism and is seen as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to bind the words of the Torah as a sign upon the hand and as frontlets between the eyes.
Why shoudlo you put on tefillin:
The mitzvah of tefilin, also known as phylacteries, is a commandment in Judaism that requires men to wear tefilin, or small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah, on their head and arm during the morning prayers. The tefilin are worn as a reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish people and as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to "bind them [the words of the Torah] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:8).
There are several reasons why someone might put on tefilin:
To fulfill a commandment: The mitzvah of tefilin is considered to be a commandment from God, and wearing tefilin is seen as a way to fulfill this commandment and to express commitment to the Jewish faith.
To deepen one's connection with God: Wearing tefilin is seen as a way to deepen one's connection with God and to focus on one's relationship with the divine. It is a time to reflect on the meaning and significance of the Torah and to reaffirm one's commitment to living a life guided by the principles of Judaism.
To remind oneself of the covenant between God and the Jewish people: The tefilin are a reminder of the special covenant between God and the Jewish people, and wearing them is a way to reaffirm this covenant and to express loyalty to God.
Overall, the mitzvah of tefilin is an important and meaningful ritual in Judaism that is seen as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to bind the words of the Torah as a sign upon the hand and as frontlets between the eyes, and to deepen one's connection with God and commitment to the Jewish faith.
HOW TO PUT ON TEFILIN:
The mitzvah of tefilin, also known as phylacteries, is a commandment in Judaism that requires men to wear tefilin, or small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah, on their head and arm during the morning prayers. Here is a general guide on how to put on tefilin:
Gather the materials you will need: You will need two tefilin, one for the head and one for the arm. You will also need a tallit (prayer shawl) and a siddur (prayer book).
Find a quiet and peaceful place to put on the tefilin: It is helpful to find a place where you can be free from distractions and where you can focus on your prayer.
Take a few deep breaths and calm your mind: It can be helpful to close your eyes and focus on your breath as you prepare to put on the tefilin.
Put on the head tefilin: The head tefilin, or "shel yad," consists of a box containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah and a strap. To put on the head tefilin, place the box on the top of your head, with the front of the box facing forward. The strap should be wrapped around your head and down the back of your neck.
Put on the arm tefilin: The arm tefilin, or "shel rosh," consists of a box containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah and a strap. To put on the arm tefilin, place the box on the inside of your upper left arm, with the front of the box facing your body. The strap should be wrapped around your arm and hand.
Put on the tallit and siddur: After putting on the tefilin, put on the tallit (prayer shawl) and pick up the siddur (prayer book).
Recite the blessings: As you put on the tefilin, recite the blessings for donning tefilin. The blessings are
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The mitzvah of tefilin, also known as phylacteries, is a commandment in Judaism that requires men to wear tefilin, or small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah, on their head and arm during the morning prayers. As part of the ritual of putting on tefilin, it is customary to recite blessings before and after donning the tefilin. Here are the blessings for donning tefilin:
Before putting on the head tefilin:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefilin."
Before putting on the arm tefilin:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefilin."
After putting on both the head and arm tefilin:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and with all our souls."
It is also customary to recite a prayer called "Shema Yisrael" after putting on the tefilin. This prayer is considered to be the central statement of Jewish faith and is a declaration of the unity of God.
Overall, the blessings for donning tefilin are an important part of the ritual of putting on tefilin and are a way to express gratitude to God and to reaffirm commitment to the Jewish faith
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Why do people ask others to put on tefillin:
It is common for some Jewish men to go around asking other men to put on tefilin as part of an effort to encourage more people to observe the mitzvah, or commandment, of tefilin. The mitzvah of tefilin is a commandment in Judaism that requires men to wear tefilin, or small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah, on their head and arm during the morning prayers. The tefilin are worn as a reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish people and as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to "bind them [the words of the Torah] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:8).
In some Jewish communities, it is common for men to go around asking other men to put on tefilin as a way to encourage more people to observe this mitzvah and to strengthen the sense of community and connection among Jews. This practice is often associated with the Chabad Chasidic movement, which is known for its emphasis on outreach and education.
Going around asking other men to put on tefilin is also seen as a way to honor the commandment of tefilin and to demonstrate the importance of this mitzvah within Judaism. It is a way to encourage others to observe this mitzvah and to deepen their connection with God and the Jewish faith.
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COST:
The cost of tefilin, also known as phylacteries, can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the quality and craftsmanship of the tefilin, the materials used, and the seller. Tefilin are small boxes containing parchment scrolls with verses from the Torah that are worn by Jewish men during the morning prayers as a way to fulfill the biblical commandment to "bind them [the words of the Torah] as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy 6:8).
In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for a set of tefilin. High-quality tefilin made with premium materials and expert craftsmanship may cost more, while lower-quality tefilin may cost less.
It is important to note that the cost of tefilin should not be a barrier to observing this mitzvah, or commandment. Many Jewish organizations and synagogues have programs that provide tefilin to those who cannot afford to purchase them. Additionally, some individuals choose to borrow tefilin or use a pair that has been passed down from previous generations.
Overall, the cost of tefilin can vary widely, but it is important to find a set that meets your needs and budget and that allows you to fulfill this important mitzvah in a meaningful and dignified way.