Tefillin

Binding mind, heart and deed

The Mitzvah that binds our minds with our hearts and deeds, and allows a daily reunification within ourselves and with G‑d. Tefillin: the what, the why, and the how-to.

Tefillin (תְּפִלִּין) are black leather boxes containing Hebrew parchment scrolls, worn by Jewish men and boys on a daily basis. A set includes two—one for the head and one for the arm. Each consists of three main components: the scrolls, the box and the strap.  Read more about tefillin

The Torah commands Jewish men to bind tefillin onto their head and upper arm every weekday, in fulfillment of the verse (Deut. 6:8), “You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes.”

When you put on tefillin, you’ll be connecting to the Infinite, fulfilling G‑d’s will and reminding yourself to be a better person. But you’ll also be doing something that your great-great-grandfather did in exactly the same way. And when you do it, you’re increasing the chances that your great-great-grandchildren will want to do it too. Those straps don’t connect you just to G‑d; they connect you to your past, to your future, to your people.

So go ahead, give it a try.

The JRCC Tefillin Bank offers one free pair of Tefillin for anyone who commits to using them daily.