Today’s daf TB Eruvin 97 continues to discuss different aspects of tefillin. One of the distinctions between tefillin and an amulet is in the nature of the knot that binds them. The tefillin’s knot is more intricate; consequently, people didn’t bother tying such a knot for an amulet. The idea that a bow is an acceptable not to tie tefillin is rejected.
“Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, say in the name of Rav: The form of the permanent knot of phylacteries is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai; and Rav Naḥman said: And their decorative side, the side of the knot where the shape of the letter appears, must face outward. Apparently, a bow does not suffice for phylacteries, as an actual knot is required.
The knot under discussion connects the straps to the shel rosh, the tefillin one wears on the head. This knot is part of the great symbolism of the tefillin. The knot forms the letter daled (ד). There is an Askenazi tradition of a double daled knot where the two daleds form a square. Rashi in his commentary reminds us that we form the letter shin (ש) using the straps around the back of our hand and the letter yod (י) when we wrap the strap around her middle finger. Putting all three letters together ש-ד- י we spell one of God’s name, Shedai. By creating God’s name using the tefillin, we are reminded before whom we stand.
Inside the boxes written on parchment with a quill and the special ink are four selections from the Torah speaking about the mitzvah of tefillin. We all know that the Torah is the holiest object in Judaism. During Shabbat services when the Torah is marched around the sanctuary, people try to get as close as possible to it and even kiss the mantle. You can’t get any closer to the Torah then putting it on and wearing it. Human beings are the holiest of all of God’s creation because we are created in God’s image. When God’s holiest creation wraps the holiest object, Torah inside the tefillin, around his arm and around his head, we become a living breathing Torah. By becoming a living breathing Torah, instinctually without a moments hesitation we should know how to behave in any situation. Automatically we shall love our neighbor as our self; we shall be honest in all our dealings; and we shall speak appropriately to one another. Putting on tefillin reminds us to strive to be the people we truly want to become. What a powerful daily symbolic reminder of our purpose here on earth as we go through our life!
I love this mitzvah of putting on tefillin every weekday morning because it reminds me to strive to be the person I truly want to become and be God’s partner in perfecting this world.
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