Having visited Israel or watched Israeli TV, you can see people who have a small black box on their forehead. What is this item and why should it be worn on the forehead?
Special spiritual connection
This little box has many names. Probably the most common - tefillin and totapot. Actually there are two boxes. Both must be black, with straps of the same color for fastening. One, as you can immediately notice, is tied on the forehead, the other - on the left hand at the level of the heart.
Tefillin are made exclusively from the skin of a kosher animal (this, according to Jewish tradition, is a ruminant with cloven hooves).
Tefillin or totapot in ancient books is also called a phylactery, which translated from ancient Greek means “amulet” or “amulet”. In fact, this term is not entirely accurate. Tefillin is not a talisman, but a symbol of man’s connection with the Creator and speaks of absolute unity with the Creator. This is an item of prayer clothing, like, to some extent, a crucifix among Christians.
This is a sign that distinguishes the Jews from other nations.Jews believe that the totapot has very great power, serving for spiritual connection with God.
What does tefillin consist of?
There are several parts in it and each has its own name, it is endowed with its own sacred meaning:
- byte - “house” literally translated. The cavity inside which scrolls from the Torah are placed (plural - batim);
- title - the lower part of the “house”, where the byte is expanded;
- maabarta — loop for attaching straps;
- ritsuot - straps;
- lousy - parchment scrolls with passages from the Torah.
The scrolls included in the byte must be tied with the hair of a kosher animal.
Why are there two boxes?
Collectively they They talk about two ways to serve God in this world: in thought and deed. In serving the Creator, the two forces that move a person (the actions of the heart and thoughts) must be harmonious. A person uses his mind to see a goal, and then takes actions to achieve this goal. It is no coincidence that tefillin is located on the hand next to the heart. If there is no harmony of heart and mind, then there will be discord and falsehood in a person’s actions and decisions.
Casting Totapot
According to Jewish custom, only men use it. Every male teenager over the age of 13 must wear tefillin during prayer. This is very important for Jewish identification. It is considered if a man does not put on tefillin at least once during the day — then he committed a serious sin. The first time in a day when you can put it on is the time of morning prayer. It is possible later, but only during daylight hours.
Wearing tefillin at night is prohibited.
The order in which it is applied is important. First of all, tefillin is placed on the hand. The strap must be wrapped around your hand seven times.. The head tefillin is considered more holy and is applied last.
What historians say
This element of the Jewish prayer attire has been known for thousands of years. Archaeologists, during excavations of ancient Jerusalem, destroyed two thousand years ago, find a lot of tefillin.
The customs of imposing the sacred mark by the Jews are mentioned in the writings of Josephus, in the New Testament and even in more ancient texts. In the scrolls from the reign of the Hasmonean dynasty in ancient Israel (second century BC), certain sacred writings are already indicated, which are applied to the forehead and arm. In the pages of many ancient books written thousands of years ago, there were discussions about what kind of tefillin should be worn - size and shape. Some authors of ancient texts condemn those who place sacred marks made of precious stones and metals on themselves.
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