15 Elul – 1 September 2023
“And all the nations of the earth will see that the Name of Hashem is called upon you and they will revere you”
According to the Talmud, the Name of Hashem that is called upon you is referring to the tefillin (phylacteries) of the head (Berachos 6a). Of course, if this is the case, why isn’t the world in awe of every Jew who wears tefillin today?
R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev explained that we have to pay very careful attention to the actual wording of the Talmudic passage. In point of fact, it doesn’t speak merely of tefillin on the head – it refers to tefillin in the head.
Simply having the tefillin lying on top of one’s head is not what the Talmud is speaking of. The tefillin contains parchments of scripture that speak of Hashem’s unity and the importance of serving Him with all of one’s heart. These messages must be deeply absorbed within our consciousness. Only then will the one who wears them be revered, because G-d’s will has been integrated into his persona.
By Rabbi Michael Skobac
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