Judaism: Tefillin

Summary

The script describes the religious practice of wearing tefillin, small black leather boxes containing scrolls with verses from Deuteronomy and Exodus. Traditionally worn by Jewish men and boys, tefillin symbolize the heart and mind's devotion to God's words. The process involves placing one tefillin on the bicep and wrapping the strap around the arm, and placing the head tefillin above the hairline with straps going behind the head. The practice is a physical reminder of the importance of God's words in the Torah, with variations in observance across different Jewish communities.

Takeaways

• 📿 Tefillin are small black leather boxes with straps, often referred to as phylacteries.
• 📜 Inside the tefillin are scrolls containing words from the books of Deuteronomy and Exodus, written in Hebrew.
• 🙏 Some Jews wear tefillin on their arm and head during morning prayers at home.
• 🤲 The first tefillin, with a single strap, is traditionally worn on the left arm, close to the heart.
• 🔄 The tefillin strap is wrapped a specific number of times around the arm and hand for ritualistic significance.
• 🧢 The head tefillin, with two straps, is placed above the hairline, with straps going behind the head.
• 🪢 The knot of the head tefillin is positioned just above the base of the skull.
• 👁️ The practice of wearing tefillin is a reminder of the importance of God's words in the Torah.
• 👦 In Orthodox communities, tefillin are primarily used by men and boys, but in Reform Judaism, women can also use them.
• 🤔 Reform Jews are less likely to use tefillin during prayers compared to more traditional communities.
• ❤️ The act of wearing tefillin symbolizes worshiping God with the whole self, including the mind, heart, and actions.

Q & A

What are tefillin also known as?

Tefillin are also known as phylacteries.

What are tefillin made of?

Tefillin are made of small black leather boxes with leather straps, specifically kosher leather.

What is inside the tefillin boxes?

Inside the tefillin boxes are little scrolls containing words from the books of Deuteronomy and Exodus, written in Hebrew.

When and how do some Jews wear tefillin?

Some Jews wear tefillin on their arm and head when they pray at home in the morning.

Which arm is the first tefillin traditionally worn on?

The first tefillin is traditionally worn on the left arm, close to the heart.

What is the significance of wearing the tefillin on the weaker arm?

Wearing the tefillin on the weaker arm is a practice to symbolize that one's actions are guided by the heart, not by physical strength.

How many times should the strap of the first tefillin be wrapped around the upper arm?

The strap of the first tefillin should be wrapped three times around the upper arm.

What is the purpose of the head tefillin with two straps?

The head tefillin with two straps is placed above the hairline, front and center, and is meant to symbolize the importance of God's words in the Torah.

How is the knot of the head tefillin positioned?

The knot of the head tefillin is positioned just above the base of the skull.

What is the significance of the strap's tightness on the arm?

The strap should be tight enough to feel the pulse but not too tight, symbolizing the closeness of God's words to the heart.

In which Jewish communities is the use of tefillin by women more common?

In Reform Judaism, women can also use tefillin, although they are less likely to do so compared to men.

What does the practice of wearing tefillin symbolize?

Wearing tefillin symbolizes the worship of God with one's head and heart, encompassing the entirety of one's being, including intellect, emotions, and actions.

Outlines

00:00

📿 Tefillin: A Symbol of Faith and Prayer

The script introduces tefillin, also known as phylacteries, as small black leather boxes containing scrolls with verses from Deuteronomy and Exodus. These are worn by some Jews during morning prayers, symbolizing the presence of God's words. The first tefillin is placed on the left arm, close to the heart, and wrapped in a specific manner to ensure it is tight enough to feel the pulse but not constricting. The head tefillin, with two straps, is positioned above the hairline with straps going behind the head. The entire process is a physical reminder of the importance of God's words in the Torah, with the scripture indicating that these words should be on one's heart and as a sign on the hand. The practice varies among communities, with Orthodox Judaism traditionally reserving it for men and boys, while Reform Judaism allows women to participate as well, although they are less likely to do so.

Keywords

💡Tefillin

Tefillin are small black leather boxes, traditionally used in Jewish religious practice, containing scrolls with verses from the Torah. They symbolize the binding of God's commandments to one's heart and mind. In the script, the speaker describes the process of wearing tefillin as a way to physically manifest the spiritual connection to God's words during prayer.

💡Phylacteries

Phylacteries is an alternative term for tefillin, highlighting their function as a physical reminder of religious obligations and beliefs. The script mentions tefillin sometimes being called phylacteries, indicating the historical and cultural depth of the practice.

💡Kosher leather

Kosher leather refers to leather that is prepared according to Jewish dietary laws, ensuring that it is suitable for use in religious artifacts like tefillin. The script specifies that the tefillin are made from kosher leather, emphasizing the importance of ritual purity in Jewish observance.

💡Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy is one of the books of the Torah and contains the verse that instructs the wearing of tefillin. The script mentions that the scrolls inside the tefillin contain words from Deuteronomy, connecting the physical act of wearing them to the source of the commandment.

💡Exodus

Exodus is another book of the Torah from which the scrolls inside the tefillin are written. It provides additional context to the religious significance of the tefillin, as the script notes that the verses from Exodus are also included.

💡Blessing

A blessing in this context is a form of prayer or acknowledgment of God's presence before performing a religious act. The script describes saying a blessing before wrapping the tefillin, which is a crucial part of the ritual to show reverence.

💡Bicep

The bicep is the muscle on the upper part of the arm. In the script, the speaker places the first tefillin on the bicep, aligning it with the heart level, which is significant in the ritual as it symbolizes the closeness of God's words to the heart.

💡Orthodox

Orthodox refers to a traditional and strict adherence to religious beliefs and practices. The script mentions that in more orthodox communities, tefillin are only worn by men and boys, indicating the gender-specific customs within different branches of Judaism.

💡Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism is a more liberal branch of the Jewish faith that allows for greater adaptation to modern practices, including the use of tefillin by women. The script notes that while women can use tefillin in Reform Judaism, they are less likely to do so, showing the diversity of practices within the faith.

💡Torah

The Torah is the central reference of Jewish religious law and narrative, which includes the Five Books of Moses. The script emphasizes the importance of God's words in the Torah, which are symbolized by the tefillin during prayer.

💡Pulse

Pulse refers to the beating of the heart, which is used in the script to describe the tightness of the tefillin strap. It should be tight enough to feel the pulse but not constricting, symbolizing the vital and living connection to God's commandments.

Highlights

Tefillin are small black leather boxes on leather straps containing Hebrew scrolls from Deuteronomy and Exodus.

Some Jews wear tefillin on their arm and head during morning prayers at home.

The first tefillin, with one strap, is traditionally worn on the left arm, close to the heart.

Some traditions allow wearing the tefillin on the weaker arm, meaning left for right-handed people and right for left-handed people.

The arm tefillin is placed on the bicep, about halfway down the upper arm and level with the heart.

A blessing is recited before wrapping the strap of the arm tefillin three times around the upper arm.

The strap is then wrapped seven times around the forearm and a few more times around the hand.

The head tefillin, with two straps, is placed just above the hairline, front and center.

The straps of the head tefillin go behind the head, with the knot just above the base of the skull.

The strap on the arm is finished by wrapping it three times around the middle finger.

The remaining strap is wrapped around the hand to prevent it from flapping.

The strap should be tight enough to feel the pulse but not too tight.

This practice is based on a verse in Deuteronomy where God says His words should be on the heart, hand, and forehead.

In orthodox communities, this practice is usually done by men and boys, but in Reform Judaism, women can also use tefillin.

Reform Jews are less likely to use tefillin during prayer compared to orthodox Jews.

Wearing tefillin symbolizes worshiping God with the head and heart, encompassing intellect, emotions, and actions.

Transcripts

These are tefillin sometimes called phylacteries,

which are small black leather boxes on leather straps.

Kosher leather, of course.

Inside these boxes, there are little scrolls containing words

from the books of Deuteronomy and Exodus, written in Hebrew.

Some Jews wear these on their arm and head

when they pray at home in the morning.

There are different ways to put them on,

but this is how I do it.

The first tefillin, with just one strap,

traditionally goes on my left arm, so it's close to my heart.

Some Jews say that you can use your weaker arm.

So it's the left if your right handed, or the right if your left handed.

I roll up my sleeve so I can wear that to fill in against my skin

and place the box on my bicep.

So it's about halfway down my upper arm and level with my heart.

Then I say a blessing and wrap the strap three times around my upper arm.

And then seven times around my forearm,

then a few more times around my hand so I can hold it.

The head tefillin - the one with two straps

is placed just above my hairline, front and center.

And the straps go behind my head.

So the knot is just above the base of my skull.

Now I can finish off tying the strap on my arm by wrapping it

three times around my middle finger.

The rest I can just wrap around my hand so it doesn't flap all over the place.

The strap should be just tight enough that I can feel my pulse,

but not too tight.

This all goes back to a verse in the book of Deuteronomy,

in which God says that his words are to be on your heart.

Tie them on your hand as a sign.

Put them at the front of a headband around your forehead.

So many Jews do just that, while they pray to remind themselves

of the importance of God's words in the Torah.

In more orthodox communities,

this is only done by men and boys;

But in Reform Judaism, women can use them too.

Although actually Reform Jews are less likely to use them when they pray.

This is to symbolize that I worship God with my head and my heart,

with all of me, my brains, my feelings and my actions.