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This Guide is published in memory of Jacob and Esther Safra kWz by Moise and Chella Safra A How-To Guide The Kushner International Tefillin Bank The Seryl & Charles Kushner Famliy Foundation 816 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213 USA 1-888-4-TEFILLIN t: 718-221-0500 f: 718-221-0985 [email protected] www.Tefillinbank.com A project of The Shul of Bal Harbor In conjunction with The Shluchim Office www.shluchim.org A How-To Guide By Rabbi DovBer Pinson www.TefillinBank.com contents Basics . 6 Quotes . 8 A Story . 10 Tefillin Explored . 11 Kabbalistic Insights . 14 How To put on Tefillin . 18 A Story . 21 The Shema . 22 Shema Yisroel . 23 Veahavta . 23 Vehaya . 24 Va’yomer . 25 Removing And Replacing The Tefillin . 26 Tefillin Upkeep . 27 Basic Laws Of Tefillin . 28 Frequently Asked Questions . 29 Quick Reference Chart . 31 basics What are Tefillin? Tefillin consist of two cube-shaped leather boxes — the Tefillin shel rosh “You shall love G-d your G-d, with all (Tefillin of the head) and the Tefillin your heart, with all your soul, and shel yad (Tefillin of the hand) — each with all your might. These words, with straps attached to hold them in which I command you today, shall be their respective places. Each of these upon your heart. Teach them thor- boxes contains the four paragraphs oughly to your children, and speak of of the Torah that mention the com- them when you sit in your house and mand to wear the Tefillin: Exodus when you walk on the road, when you 13:1–10 and 13:11–16, and lie down and when you rise. Bind Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21. them as an os — a sign — upon your These are carefully hand-written on hand, and they shall be for totafos — small parchments by a professional a reminder — between your eyes.” sofer (scribe), and inserted in the (Deuteronomy 6:5–8) boxes. By these words we are commanded Here, however, there is a basic differ- not only figuratively but literally to ence between the two boxes. When keep the Torah close to our heads the Torah describes the hand Tefillin, and hearts. We take inscriptions of it uses a singular term, os (sign); but chapters of Torah, and place one on for the head Tefillin, it uses a plural, the head as a “reminder between the totafos (remember). Thus, each of eyes,” and the other as a “sign on the the four Torah paragraphs in the arm” situated against the heart. head Tefillin is written on its own These are the powerful spiritual scroll and inserted in one of four tools we call Tefillin. small compartments. These four basics 6 The Seryl & Charles Kushner International Tefillin Bank basics compartments are carefully pressed together to maintain the cube-like shape of the Tefillin. By con- trast, in the hand Tefillin, all four sections are inscribed on a single scroll which is placed in one compartment. We place the hand Tefillin upon the left arm so that it rests near the heart, and the head Tefillin above the forehead, “between (and above) the eyes,” so it 1 2 rests against the skull near the brain. Thus, one’s mind, heart, and actions are all aligned and unified toward Heaven. Tefillin Images 1. Tefillin Shel Rosh 5. Retzuos Straps Head Tefillin (Batim) 6. Shin 345 2. Tefillin Shel Yad the letter Shin Hand Tefillin (Batim) (On the Head Tefillin) 3. Titura 7. Kesher - knot The wider base The head knot as the image of a Dalet 4. Ma’abarta The opening through 8. Kesher - knot which the straps The hand knot as the pass through image of a Yud 678 Tefillin How-To Guide 7 quotes Quotes from the Talmud, said: Is it not written, “Rejoice with trembling”?6 Replied Abbaye, “I am Midrash, and Classic wearing Tefillin.” 7 Torah sources “We deeply desire to toil in Torah day Tefillin are the strength of Israel,1 and night, but we simply do not have and they are called “the glory of the time,” say the people of Israel. Israel.”2 G-d’s response is: “Keep the mitzvah of Tefillin, and I will consider it as if you “All of the people of the world shall have studied Torah day and night.” 8 see that the name of G-d is called upon you, and they shall be afraid of That which G-d commands, He you.” 3 This, says R. Eliezer the Great, Himself does as well; [thus, just as refers to the Tefillin of the head.4 He commands that we put on Tefillin, so too] G-d puts on Tefillin. When asked in what merit he was And what is written in G-d’s Tefillin? worthy to have lived a long life, Rav “Who9 is like Your people Israel, a Adda replied, “I have always worn nation unique on earth.”10 Tefillin.” 5 The commentators explain: Just as Once, the celebrated sage Abbaye our donning Tefillin displays our was sitting [in study] before his continuous desire to cleave to G-d teacher Rabbah, who observed that and to come closer to Him, so too he seemed very merry. [Rabbah] the image of G-d putting on Tefillin 1. Talmud, Berachos 6a. 5. Talmud, Taanis 20b. 9. Chronicles I 17:21. 2. Sukkah 25a. 6. Psalms 2:11. 10. Talmud, Berachos 6a. quotes 3. Deuteronomy 28:10. 7. Talmud, Berachos 30b. 4. Talmud, Berachos 6a. 8. Midrash Tehillim 1. 8 The Seryl & Charles Kushner International Tefillin Bank quotes reflects His deep desire to be one not allow such forces to attach that protects the Jew from all with us, in keeping with the verse,11 themselves to him.17 harm. Just as the Torah is divided “I am my beloved’s and my beloved into written and oral components, When our forefather Yaakov (Jacob) is mine.”12 so too there are the head Tefillin, was wrestling with the angelic spir- corresponding to the written Once a person puts on Tefillin, the it of Esav (Esau), and the angel dimension of the Torah, and the status of his physical body is forev- became aware of Yaakov’s Tefillin, hand Tefillin, which are analogous er changed.13 he became afraid and backed off.18 to its oral aspect.21 Tefillin are strapped to the body as One who puts on Tefillin, wears One who leaves home wrapped in a precious jewel is held near to tzitzit, reads the Shema, and prays, a tallis, with Tefillin upon his head oneself.14 is guaranteed a portion in the and on his arm — the Divine pres- World to Come; lives a long life; all Moshe (Moses) was shown the knot ence rests upon his head, and two his untoward actions will be forgiv- of G-d’s Tefillin.15 This means that angels come to accompany him, en; and he will be protected from Moshe was shown (as a visual one to his right and one to his all cleansing punishment in the image the procedure and method left.22 afterlife.19 of) how to put on Tefillin.16 If one is careful in putting on All destructive forces disperse When one has committed negative Tefillin each day, it is as if he has before a person who is crowned acts which should (by the spiritual fulfilled all six hundred and thir- with Tefillin, and lack the strength laws of cause and effect) result in teen mitzvot. 23 to approach him.20 negative consequences, the mitz- A person who walks about holding vah of Tefillin can protect him, and Tefillin, like the Torah, is the sword something precious in his hands is 11. Song of Songs 6:3. 14. Commentary of Rashba to Menachos, loc. cit. 20. Reishis Chochmah. 12. Commentary of Maharsha to Berachos loc. cit. 17. Zohar, Tikkunim. 21. Haamek Davar, Bo. Berachos loc. cit. 15. Talmud, Menachos 35b. 18. Meam Loez, Ekev. 22. Zohar III:301a. 13. See Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 17a. 16. Commentary of Rav Hai Gaon to 19. Tur, Orach Chaim 37. 23. Reishis Chochmah. Tefillin How-To Guide 9 quotes constantly watchful and afraid of the positive is to draw down Divine being robbed; however, one who light into our actions, and the pur- a story wears Tefillin has nothing to fear, as pose of the negative is to allow for On a wing and a prayer 24 the seal of the King is upon him. an elevation of even the dense lev- Under the heel of the ruthless els of the seemingly unholy. When Roman Empire, the wearing of The holiness of Tefillin is magnifi- we proactively put on Tefillin, Tefillin was banned on pain of cent, for a person wearing Tefillin is doing the positive mitzvah of plac- death. Rabbi Elisha, a leader in awakened to humility and awe of ing the hand Tefillin on the weak- ancient Israel, ignored the threat, G-d. He will not be persuaded est arm (a man’s weakest side, usu- even wearing them in the street toward callousness or to idle talk. as was done in that age. ally the left, symbolizes negativity), His mind will not drift to negative and placing the head Tefillin open- Turning a corner, he suddenly thoughts, but rather his heart will ly on the head for all to see, we ele- came face-to-face with a Roman be oriented toward words of truth vate even the ‘left’ and the ‘outside’ soldier, who cried, “Halt! What and righteousness.25 to G-d.” do you wear upon your head?” The rabbi spun and fled, whisk- When one is garbed in tallis and —The Rebbe28 ing the Tefillin from his head and Tefillin, a heavenly voice rings out, concealing them in his hands.
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