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From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent:	 Friday, August 01, 1997 12:31 AM
To:	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Phylacteries


From:          David Weiner 
To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Cc:            Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject:       Re: Phylacteries


> To:            heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
> From:          Debbie Lockledge 
> Subject:       Phylacteries
> 
> Can you please explain to me what phylacteries (sp?) are, their origin, how they were used in Biblical days and how they are used
> now?   -Deb.
> 
> Deborah L. Lockledge '82
> Academic Advisor
> Bioengineering Program
> Texas A&M University
>

Shalom Deborah,

You have asked a very important question, especially in Orthodox Judiasm. 
The Phylacteries or (Tefillin), as they are called in Hebrew are in two 
parts. One for the head and one for the left arm. The one for the arm is 
put on first. It contains Hebraic Scripture in a small black box, 
attatched to a narrow leather strap. The leather is wrapped around the arm 
seven times and then three coils around the middle finger. When the arm 
in in a down position, the box containing the scripture should be close 
to the heart. The one for the head is also a small black box, containing 
scripture and a leather band that goes around the head. The box should be 
in the center of the forehead, just above the eyes. Most Orthodox Jews 
dorn the Tefillin, when they say their morning prayers. It is a very 
important part of the Orthodox Jew's daily routine. A prayer shawl is 
also worn during the prayer session and when one pulls his shawl over his 
head, he is in his prayer closet.

Boruch Hashem
David Ben Reuben  

************************************************************************     
     

From:          Michael Silver <treelife@zianet.com>
Reply-to:      treelife@zianet.com
Organization:  Etz Chayim - Tree of Life Messianic Jewish Congregation
To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com 
Subject:       Re: Phylacteries

>
> 
> >From Eddie:
> **************
> 
> In Deut 6:4-9, is the SHEMA passage in the Torah.
> 
> In Deut 6:8 it is written:
> 
> "And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes"
> 
> Orthodox Jews take this commandment LITERALLY. The items used to fulfill this commandment are called,  "phylacteries".
> 
> Rabbi Silver, do you have more you want to add ???
> 
> ********************************************************************
>  

REPLY: Your more observant Jews and this applies to Traditional as well as Messianic still follow the custom of "Laying Tefillin" which
is what the phylacteries are called in Hebrew. The Tefillin are worn during morning prayer services except on the Sabbath. One is worn on
the forehead and the other on the left forearm bound with a leather strap. Some would say that this is going to the extreme, but for those
of us who were raised with it, we have no problem. It's the same idea about cooking on the Sabbath. You do as you are called to do as an
individual. We each come to G-d in our own way, as individuals. But G-d accepts us all as one (echad) through His Son Messiah Y'shua. If I
choose to approach G-d in a different way than someone else, who is to say it is wrong? G-d judges. We answer to Him for our actions. I'll
stop there, or else I'll get in trouble.

Rabbi Mordecai
-- 
Rabbi Michael Silver (Rav Mordecai Ben-Baruch)
Etz Chayim - Tree of Life Messianic Jewish Congregation
P.O. Box 364, Organ, NM 88052 (near sunny Las Cruces)
 
***********************************************************************

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