Besides writing Torah Scrolls, the scribe also writes several other holy objects, as I shall describe. The first of these that I shall discuss is the Tefillin. The Tefillin are bound on the arm, opposite the heart, and on the head, symbolizing the dedication and subjugation of the heart and the mind to G-d. They are worn in literal fulfillment of the command in the Torah to "bind them as sign upon your hand, and as an ornament between your eyes." This statement appears four times in the Torah. A few authorities (most notably RASHBAM), opine that teifllin are a rabbinic precept. loosely connected to the Biblical words. But the vast majority of authorities understand that the verses are to be taken literally. Numerous details on how to fulfill this commandment have been passed down to us through the generations since Moses. Among these are the requirement to have two leather boxes, perfectly square in length and breadth (like the altar in the Temple), with the four passages containing the verses in which the commandment of tefillin appear, which also speak of the love of G-d, the requirement to obey Him, teaching one's children the ways of G-d, the Exodus, the Passover, and the concept of reward and punishment. In the arm tefillin, all four passages are written on a single scroll. In the head tefillin, there are four separate scrolls, each placed in a separate compartment. Embossed on the head tefillin is the letter Shin. The leather straps with which we bind them are tied with a knot in the shape of the letter Dalet on the head, and the letter Yud on the arm. Together, these spell the Divine Name Shad-dai. We literally wear the Name of G-d! They are sewn with sinews. Each small scroll is wrapped in the hairs of a calf's tail, with some of these hairs protruding from the head tefillin. Non-Jewish sources refer to these as "phylacteries", from the Greek "phulato" (to protect) and saw them as mere amulets. Although some rabbinic sources indicate that there is a concept of protection relating to the tefillin, the emphasis is NOT on this, but rather on connecting with G-d. The word "tefillin" relates to the word "tefillah", meaning "prayer". Originally, they were worn all through the daylight hours. Some still do. Today, most wear tefillin only during the morning prayers. A number of disputes arose as to the correct order of the passages, as well as other features. Although there is a consensus in these matters that is universally accepted, there are people who put on more than one version of the tefilin, for both overcoming the legal doubts, as well as fulfilling the different Kabbalistic intents symbolized by the different forms. Many put on two pair of tefillin (some of these do so at the same time!), some wear three (my custom), while still others, mostly Chassidic Rebbes, wear four.
Why leather? What should one experience while wearing tefillin?What is the mystical significance of more than one pair? How are the boxes made? These topics will be in my coming posts.