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 Mishna 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 mitzvos.” 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.
Transcribed and edited by Shelley Zeitlin.
