18 Feb THE WONDROUS MITZVAH OF TEFILLIN – PART TWO

Last week, we
elaborated from the
Tzror Hamor regarding
the verse which says that
tefillin are totafos bein
einecha, frontlets between
our eyes. He informs
us that in Egyptian the
word totafos refers to the
ancient eyeglasses that enabled people to see
better. Likewise, the purpose of the tefillin is
to aid us to see the world more clearly from
a Torah perspective. We also mentioned that
the Torah specifically says that tefillin are to
help us with a daily reminder to remember the
Exodus from Egypt.
The Chakal Yitzchak, zt”l, zy”a, (the late
Spinka Rebbe) wonders why the miracle of
the Exodus from Egypt is so exclusive that we
have to recall it daily. After all, the miracle
of Purim was also stupendous, yet we only
make an effort to remember it one day a year
on Purim. Numerous other incredible miracles
we don’t even mention at all during the year.
For example, in one-night Chizkiyahu, who
didn’t even have his own army, destroyed
with the help of singing angels Sancherev’s
massive army. So, regarding the persistent
self-reminders about the Exodus, the Chakal
Yitzchak answers that we know at the time
of the Exodus we had descended to the 49th
degree of tumah, of spiritual defilement. If we
wouldn’t have gone out from Egypt exactly at

midnight, we would have plummeted to the
50th degree of tumah and we would have been
doomed forever. Yet, says the great Spinka
Rebbe, a mere fifty days later we did such a
spiritual turnaround that we were worthy to see
Hashem and receive the Torah on Har Sinai.
This message of hope – that all is not lost and
that one can always climb back from a spiritual
morass without needing years to do so – is a
vital lesson that is important to remember every
day of our lives. This is one of the reminders
of the tefillin.
Reb Leibel Katz, zt”l, zy”a, points out that we
put on the tefillin of the hand before the tefillin
of the head. This is to teach us that actions are
more important than thoughts. It’s nice to have
all kinds of rosy ideas and exciting plans, but
action is more important. As the Mishnah in
Pirkei Avos teaches us, “Emor m’at va’asei
harbeih – Speak little and do much.”
We know that we have to be very careful not
to speak in between the putting on the tefillin
of the hand and the tefillin of the head. Doing
this is considered such a crime that the Jewish
soldier was deemed unworthy to go to battle
if he made such an interruption. The idea of
attaching with immediacy the tefillin of the
head to the tefillin of the hand is to convey
the important message that our actions should
always be accompanied by the thoughts of our
head. Actions should be done meaningfully
and not in a robotic state, out of force of habit.

To this end, we ask Hashem, “V’dabeik libeinu
b’mitzvosecha – Attach our minds to your
mitzvahs.” We are also taught the fundamental
principle, “Rachmana liba ba-ie – The Merciful
One wants our mind and our hearts.”
The Vilna Gaon, zt”l, zy”a, gives another
reason that there is no pause between putting
on the tefillin of the head and the tefillin of
the heart. He explains that it is to convey
that one must make an effort to bring what
he intellectually knows down to his heart so
that he should feel it instinctively. This is the
mission that we proclaim every day in Aleinu:
“V’yadata hayom vahasheivasa el l’vavecha –
You should know it today and allow it to settle
in your heart.” To understand what this means,
let me give you an example. Every day we
say in our prayers, “Baruch Attah, Hashem,
Shomei’a tefillah – Blessed are You, Hashem,
Who listens to our prayers.” If I would ask
you, “Do you believe that Hashem hears your
davening?” you would likely be insulted. And
you would answer, “Of course. I believe in
G-d.” But, if we’re honest with ourselves,
do we feel it? If we really did, how could we
zip through our davening without even paying
attention?
Reb Yisroel Salanter, zt”l, zy”a, famously said
that the greatest distance in the world between
one point and another is the distance between
the mind and the heart. In the merit of our
tefillin and its messages, may Hashem bless

us with long life, good health, and everything
wonderful.