SPIRITUAL PROPHYLACTIC
בס"ד
11 Cheshvan
After morning prayers in synagogue this morning, we gathered together for our mid-morning study session. One of the threads of conversation that grew out of our learning was on tefilin.
In our discussion, I likened the tefilin shel rosh, the tefilin (or tefillin) worn on the head, to a spelunker's headlamp. It's purpose is to illuminate one's way along life's journey.
In English, we use a Greek word to refer to tefilin. The word is phylacteries. the same word as prophylactic, meaning "protection".
The tefilin shel rosh has 4 compartments each containing a verse from the Torah, while the tefilin shel yad, or arm-tefilin, contains only one. Why?
Because the human mind is divisive. One can think oneself into multiple opposing ideas, plural realities. This serves to confuse & confound us. It can be paralyzing. & the mind tends to cycle faster with fear, with self-preservation. G@d says, "lo tir'ah" - fear not! The fearful mind separates us from our hearts, from G@d. The more you get caught up in your rationalizations, the farther you are from your heart, the seat of G@d within you.
The human heart, the house of the soul which The Hoy One gifted us each with, only requires the tefilin shel yad resting near it to contain a singular verse of Torah, because the heart knows its singular purpose & function.
Thus, when a Jew wraps the stap around the middle finger of the arm bearing the tefilin shel yad, the final step in wrapping oneself in them, the following words are recited:
"Ve-eyrastikh li le-olam, ve-eyrastikh libe-tzedeq u-v'mishpatu-v'chesedu-v'rachamim. Ve-eyrastikh li be-emunah,ve-yada'at et Ha-Shem."
"I will betroth you to Me forever, & I will betroth you to Me with righteousness, justice, kindness & mercy. I will betroth you to Me with fidelity, & you shall know G@d."
The same words a Jewish groom says to his bride under their chuppah.
Ameyn ve-ameyn selah.
posted by Soferet | 12:08:00 p.m.
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3 Comments:
You wrote-
"The tefilin shel rosh has 4 compartments each containing a verse from the Torah, while the tefilin shel yad, or arm-tefilin, contains only one. Why?"
This is incorrect. Both the shel rosh and shel yad contain the exact same verses - the only difference is that the shel yad is written on one piece of klaf.
בס"ד
Yes, I do realise that. Perhaps I wasn't clear in my original post.
Oooooh, this is so cool! I also like the interpretation that the tefillin shel rosh is there to shape our thoughts, and the shel yad to shape our actions in the world -- they work together, in that way, to enfold the totality of who we are.
Maybe because of the verse from Hosea, I think of my tefillin as analagous to a wedding ring. Like my wedding ring, my tefillin are a physical manifestation of an emotional and spiritual connection. When I take off my ring to wash dishes, I'm still married to my beloved; but when I put the ring back on, I always feel a surge of gladness to have the reminder there before me. Just so, tefillin. :-)
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