Category: Tefillin תפילין

Super Charge Your Tefillin: The Secret’s in the Wrap

Posted on by Gindi

Introduction

By: Steven Schram Ph.D., D.C., L.Ac

Excerpt from: http://drstevenschram.com/TefillinWeb.pdf

It is the Torah that commands us to perform the Mitzvah of donning Tefillin. And for over 3300 years since receiving the Torah at Sinai, Jewish males age 13 and older have been diligently laying Tefillin virtually every day of their lives. While it is not known why we were commanded to do this ritual, a recently published article in the Journal of Chinese Medicine provides evidence that donning T’fillin activates a powerful acupuncture point formula with significant mental and spiritual benefits. This concept potentially opens a window into one of the secrets behind this mysterious Mitzvah……

Read More from the original:   http://drstevenschram.com/TefillinWeb.pdf

Tiny Rambam Tefilin

Tiny Rambam Tefillin Mehudarim

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Rambam Tefillin: Tiny Tefillin Mehudarim According to Rambam

Perashiot written on Klaf Me’ubad by Rabbi Steve (Yishayahu) Bar Yakov Gindi like in the picture. All Perashiot are checked by computer and a Rav Magia.  Each letter takes about 5 seconds to form. I write them with natural Kulmus pens. For Ashkenazi tefillin I use a feather quill kulmus, for Sepharadi I use a Bamboo kulmus, both of which I form myself.  Klaf Me’ubad explained below.

Perashiot written on Klaf Me'ubad by Rabbi Steve Bar yakov Gindi
Perashiot written on Klaf Me’ubad by Rabbi Steve Bar yakov Gindi
Perashiot written on Klaf Me'ubad by Rabbi Steve Bar yakov Gindi
Perashiot written on Klaf Me’ubad by Rabbi Steve Bar yakov Gindi

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Extremely beautiful Tiny Gassot Batim Boxes with Hut Hisoni 23-24 mm square, Shin Meshucha, Hand Made Straps

Tiny Gassot Tefillin For Traveling Businessmen
Tiny Gassot Tefillin For Traveling Businessmen

These Tefillin are also ideal for Yeshiva students who like to wear Tefillin while they study.

Hand made Straps

For those who travel often I can include a cloth glasses case

Klaf Meubad made according to Rambam

The method of making klaf parchment using “Afatzim” Oak Galls is the method that the Talmud (Megila 19a top of page) says that parchments need to be made for Sefer Torah’s, Tefillin, Mezuzot and Megilot. Today the standard method is to use Lime.

Ramba”m Maimonides states very clearly that klaf parchment must to be completed using “Afatzim” Oak Galls. He says

If they take the skin, after the fur has been removed and divide its thickness in half like the Leather tanners do, [dividing it] until they become tow skins. One [skin] is thin is the part closer to the fur, and one thick [skin] that is closer to the meat, They work salt into it, followed by Flour and afterwards with “Oak Gall” (Afatzim in Hebrew) and the like…. (Rambam halachot Tefilin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah Ch 1 Halacha 7)

Today, many people have decided to follow the Rambam always, even if most Torah following Jews don’t. They feel that Klaf made with Sid – Lime is little better than paper, or just like writing on a raw, unprocessed piece of leather.

Mara”n Rabbi Yosef Karo in the Shulchan Aruch (O”H 32 – 8) states that you can use klaf parchment whether made with Lime (Sid) or “Afatzim” Oak Galls. He usually decided the halacha law according to Rambam, yet here he differs by Accepting the opinion of Rabenu Tam in the Tosafot ( Megila 19a)

Even those who believe that Klaf may be tanned with Lime accept that Afatzim – Oak Gall is Kosher.

 

 

 

Ashkenaz Knot for Tefilin Shel Yad Tefillin

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 Ashkenaz Knot Shel Yad

Below is a link to picture directions in Hebrew for tying Ashkenaz Shel Yad knot

[dciframe]http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/multi/tfilin/tfilin8.htm ,500,1300,0,auto,border:1px solid blue;align:left;[/dciframe]

http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/multi/tfilin/tfilin8.htm 

How to do Ashkenaz Shel Yad

Vaetchanan Teaching Your Kids To Be Sharp – Inside Tefillin

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Inside Tefillin – Teaching Your Kids To Be Sharp

The Shemah Yisrael prayer we place inside Mezuzot hung on our doorframes and repeat it several times a day. This prayer contains the words “Veshinantam Lebanecha – Teach them to your children” These two Hebrew words are very powerful. Tons of discussion can be based on them. The literal and accepted translation of the word “Veshinantam” is to teach. However, the word also contains the best method of teaching them. Its root “Shenen” mean to sharpen. The Halachic Midrash Sifrey (34) points this out, it sites the Pasuk (Tehilim 45-6) Your Arrows are sharpened – “Hitzecha Shenunim”.

You Children Should be Sharp
You Children Should be Sharp

The Sifrey says that you should know the Torah so that it will be sharp in your mouth. If anyone asks you a question you shouldn’t stammer when answering instead you should answer right away. (See Rashi) Rashbam builds on this concept by stating “Veshinantam” is a usage of the root “to sharpen”, you should know how to explain them clearly as “They sharpened their tongue like a sword” (Tehilim 64 – 4) Interestingly enough the sharpened tongue in that chapter of Tehilim does not refer to those who sharpen themselves with Torah but to the evil enemy politicians who were ministers that entrapped and destroyed people with their evil tongues. We can see that one can use the human mind’s sharpness to clearly understand many concepts starting with Torah knowledge through knowing all about sports or politics to memorizing evil methods like torture, murder, theft and rape.

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Perashat Bo – Tefilin

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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  Perashat Bo 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 Tefillin 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.

Tefilin Helps to Prevent Transgression
Tefillin Helps to Prevent Transgression

In the Torah is a story about the first man who violated Shabat. There  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.

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