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Tefillin (phylacteries) play a vital role in Jewish morning prayer services. Worn daily with the exception of the Sabbath and Jewish Holidays, the leather objects contain Biblical verses. The basis for wearing Tefillin originated in the Hebrew Bible. In Deuteronomy 6:8 it states..."Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them down on the doorposts of your house and your gates." In accord with Judaic traditions, Tefillin consisted of two black, square leather boxes made from the skins of kosher animals. The boxes were fastened with threads made from the veins of kosher animals. One of the Tefillin called the "shel rosh" was worn the head, the other Tefillin called the "shel yad" was worn on the arm. The letters formed by the knots of the two Tefillin straps corresponded to the Hebrew word Shaddai (Almighty). Each Tefillin box contains Biblical passages from Exodus (13:1-10) and Deuteronomy (6:4-9; 11:13-21). The Biblical passages are written on parchment made from the skin of a kosher animal in black ink in Hebrew in Assyrian font. The parchment pieces on which the Biblical passages were written were encircled with narrow strips of parchment and tied together with the clean hair of a calf or one from other any kosher animal. In the single compartment of the hand Tefillin, the four Biblical passages were written in four parallel columns on a single piece of parchment. The head Tefillin had four compartments made from one piece of kosher animal skin. Each of the Biblical passages, written on separate pieces of parchment, was placed perpendicularly in one of these compartments.
One of the Biblical passages
was Exodus 13:1-10 ..."The Lord said Moses: Consecrate to me all the firstborn;
whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites of human beings and
animals, is mine. Moses said to the people...When the Lord brings you into the
land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites, which he swore to you ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk
and honey, you shall keep this observance...".
Traditionally Tefillin were worn by males who were thirteen years old plus one day. Although women were exempt from this obligation, early Jewish law codes allowed women to assume the obligation of wearing Tefillin. Later on, they were discouraged and then forbidden to wear Tefillin. Today Orthodox Judaism allows but discourages women from wearing Tefillin, Reform Judaism allows women to wear Tefillin; while, Conservative Judaism allows and encourages women to wear Tefillin. A Mezuzah (Mezuzot) is a small case affixed to the doorpost of Jewish businesses, home, and synagogues. The upper exterior of the mezuzah case is inscribed with a Hebrew letter which protects the klaf, a small piece of parchment inscribed with several Hebrew Bible verses. Written in Hebrew, the verses are Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21. Halacha details the manner in which the mezuzah case should be permanently affixed to the doorpost within three inches of the doorways opening. Generally, the mezuzah must be placed on the right side of the door (from the viewpoint of a person entering the building). Before affixing the mezuzah a Jewish blessing is recited. Observant Jews affix mezuzah on all the doors of their homes except bathrooms and tiny closets. The verses on the scrolls are written in Hebrew with great care in a single column on twenty-two scored lines, usually by a sofer (scribe) to ensure their validity. On the reverse side of the parchment one of the names of G-d is written that of Shaddai. Then like a Torah scroll, the parchment is rolled into a scroll. The tightly wound scroll must be checked by a sofer (scribe) twice every seven years to make sure that none of the Hebrew letters are cracked, flaked off or missing entirely which would invalidate the mezuzah.
According to Jewish custom,
as an expression to their devotion to the Torah, Jews touch the mezuzah and then
kiss their fingers everytime they pass through a doorway with a mezuzah.
Artistic external mezuzah cases are often given as gifts on special occasions,
especially at weddings.
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