Bo – Importance of Tefillin

Perashat Bo – Importance of Tefillin

Why is the Mitzvah of putting on Tefillin viewed as being so important? During a Bar Mitzvah
it is a central part of the celebration. What is the purpose of donning Tefillin?

At the end of this weeks Perasha we find two of the four paragraphs which we write on
parchment and put into sturdy leather boxes which we call Tefillin. In its Tefillin oriented
commandment the first of these paragraphs uses a different syntax than the others.

 

It should a be sign for you on your hand and a remembrance between your eyes,
so that the teachings of G-d will be in your mouth since with a mighty hand
G-d took you out of Egypt.

Our rabbis of blessed memory have said that the Mitzvah of Tefilin is equal to the entire
Torah. (Torah Shelema) I believe that this Mitzvah is similar to tying a thread around your finger to remember
something. By donning Tefillin we should remember the concepts which we learn from the
Torah. A person who wears Tefillin should find it difficult to steal, yell at his mother, or think
licentious thoughts all of which are forbidden and are especially mentioned with regards to
wearing Tefillin.

In the Torah is a story about the first man who violated Shabat. There e is a Midrash
which remarks that Moshe Rabbienu said to G-d that the man sinned because it was Shabbat
when it is forbidden to wear Tefillin. He had no reminder of G-d’s presence. Under an Ideal situation
which has not yet occurred in Jewish History it is best to wear Tefillin all day. Some have said that
this applies more to those who are working than those who are immersed in Torah Study.

Some might say that it is childish to require a constant reminder but for busy people like ourselves we need secretaries
and all types of electronic gadgetry to remind us of what we need to do.

The concepts which are written on the parchments of the Tefillin discuss many topics
which are central to a Torah lifestyle. A central theme in the first two paragraphs (in our Perashsa)
is the final plague of the death of all of the firstborn which included man and beast. It is pointed
out that since the Jewish firstborn were spared they must be redeemed from the sanctity which
was then given to them. This demonstrates to us the greatness of G-d who differentiated between
Jewish households and Egyptians, he knew which of a set of twins was firstborn and which
animal was a firstborn. We use this to demonstrate G-d’s providence. G-d can guide us and
intervene in any of our plans. Additionally, we see this providence in the Tefillin with a mention
of G-d’s removing us from slavery in Egypt.

Concepts involving Passover and education of children are also mentioned several times.
On Passover we have a special Mitzvoth to tell our children how we were released from bondage
in Egypt. Indeed, the subject of education, both for us and our children is recurrent many times
in all four paragraphs. Knowledge of the Mitzvoth and all of the concepts in the Torah should be
a fundamental part of all of our lives. I have been known to say that Judaism does not thrive
on ignorance.

The other two paragraphs inside the Tefillin are from the Shemah Yisrael. In these paragraphs
we meet up with concepts of monotheism, love of G-d, education for all, writing Mezuzot, the
tremendous rewards in store for us if we love G-d and follow the Torah, the punishment if we
don’t, and many more.

For those who don Tefillin and think about these concepts it is considered that he was
busy studying Torah. (Mechilta)

Inside Tefilin

A Homily About Bar Mitzvah and Tefilin

Parents teach their children central concepts of Judaism on Passover during the Seder as well as every other day of the year. These concepts include the exodus from Egypt, that The Holy One Blessed Be He has the power and governance above and below to do as he pleases, the Unity of G-d and reward and punishment and more. After many years of Jewish Education when a lad reaches the age to follow Mitzvot the father symbolically ties these concepts on the child’s arm so that the concepts go into his heart and on his head so that these concepts permeate into his mind.

1.In the Mechilta what Pasuk teaches us that a father should get Tefillin for a son who knows how to care for them?
Mechilta – “You will keep this decree at its set time” why is this stated? Since it says “You will have a frontlet on your forehead” I would think that even children need to be included in the mitzvah to don Tefillin. Additionally, Mezuzah is a positive commandment just like Tefillin is a positive commandment. Children as well as adults perform the mitzvah of Mezuzah, therefore, one would think that Tefillin also needs to be donned by children just like adults. That is why the pasuk states “You will keep this decree” it only refers to a person who is responsible enough to keep Tefillin. From this they have stated, a child who is responsible enough to keep Tefillin should have a pair of Tefillin made for him.

2.According to Rashi, why does the pasuk state both with all your soul בכל נפשך and with all your might בכל מאדך ?

3.According to Ibn Shu’ib how do we follow the commandment of serving G-d with all of our might?

Rashi Devarim 6 – 5 -With all your heart, with you two inclinations, Yetzer Hatov and Yetzer Harah. Another explanation of “With all your heart,” that your heart should not be at variance with G-d. “With all your soul,” even if he takes your life. “With all your might,” with all of your property. There are people whose property is dearer than their lives therefore the pasuk states with all your might to include your property….
Ibn Shu’ib – This is paragraph [of Shma Yisrael] needs to be written and posted to the doorposts of ones home . This is because the home represents a persons property. Through posting the Mezuzah one follows the command to love G-d with all of his might. R. Joshua ibn Shu’ib was a student of R. Shlomo ibn Aderet (Rashba), a colleague of R. Yom Tov ibn Abraham Ishbili (Ritva), and the teacher of R. Menachem ben Zerach. R. Joshua lived in Spain ca. 1280-1340. His homilies (Derashot) were arranged according to the weekly Torah portions and the Torah readings for the Jewish holidays.

4.According to Shulcha Aruch what does one need to think about when accepting the yoke of heaven when donning Tefilin or saying Shema Yisrael? How does this reduce his pleasures?

Shulchan Aruch 25 – When donning Tefillin one should contemplate on the four paragraphs in the Tefillin that discuss 1 the unity of the Name of G-d 2 the Exodus from Egypt tied to the arm facing the heart and on the head near the brain so that we will 3 remember miracles and great events that He did for us that demonstrate his Unity, 4 That He has the power of strength and rule in the heavens above and below to totally do as he pleases. 5 He should dedicate all of the capabilities of his soul, which is in the brain and facing the heart, which contains the desires and thoughts. Through this he will remember his creator and reduce his pleasures (Rabienu Yona on Brachot 14 “Harotzeh Lekabel Alav”(

5.What kind of pen is used to write Sifrey Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot? What moral lesson do we learn from this?

Kalah rabati 7 –1 also Taanit 19 . Always be dignified on entering and leaving. Be submissive to the members of your household; engage but little in worldly affairs and occupy yourself with the study of the Torah. It is reported’ of R. Shimon ben Eleazar that once, on returning from the house of his teacher in Migdal Gedor,’ he was riding on an ass along the sea-shore when he met an ugly man. He said to him, `How ugly you are! Maybe all your fellow-citizens are as ugly as you are’. Whereupon the man replied, `Go [and tell this] to the Craftsman Who made me’. When R. Shimon realized that he had done wrong, he got off of his ass and prostrated himself before him saying, `I beg your pardon, forgive me’. `By the Temple Service,” the man replied, `I will not forgive you until you go and tell the Crafts­man Who made me, “How ugly is the vessel which You have made!”‘ R. Shimon followed him for three mil; his fellow townsmen met him, having gone out to meet him, and exclaimed, `Peace be upon you, master’. The man turned back to them and asked, `Who is he [whom you call] Rabbi?’ They replied, `He who is following behind you’. Whereupon he remarked, `If he is a Rabbi, may there be no more like him in Israel’. His disciples by whom he was beloved rebuked the man and asked him, `What has he done to you?’ He replied, `Thus has he done to me’. They said to him, `Nevertheless forgive him’. That day R. Shimon ben Eleazar sat in his big study hall and discussed: Be tender like the reed and do not be hard like the cedar. When the four winds of heaven blow, the reed bends with them, and when they subside, the reed remains standing in its place. Therefore the reed merited that Kulmus Pens should be made with them in order to write words of Torah. Not so the cedar: when the South / North wind blows, it overturns and uproots it. And what is the end of the cedar? Woodcutters come and cut it tile houses with it, and its cuttings they burn in the fire.