Bo
Tefillin and the Exodus
Adapted from Nechama Leibowitz & chabad.org
It shall be to you for a
sign upon your hand, and for a remembrance between your eyes, so that the law
of God shall be in your mouth, for with a strong hand did God bring you out of
Egypt. - Shemot/Exodus 13:9
Parshat Bo introduces the
practice of placing a sign and reminder of the Exodus on one's arm and
forehead. In later rabbinic hands,
this "sign and reminder" will evolve into tefillin: black boxes
containing hand-scribed passages from the Torah that are tied on to the
forehead and left arm during morning prayers.
What connection does the
Torah make between tefillin and the Exodus from Egypt? Ibn Ezra says that the sight and feel
of tefillin should simply remind us of the Exodus. Ramban teaches that tefillin remind us of the Exodus in
order to give us a reason for following God's laws. Ha'emek Davar believes that we need a "strong hand"
in the form of daily tefillin wear in order to reinforce our faith in God.
The Ba'al Shem Tov offers
the mystical teaching that God wears tefillin in order to be bound to the
people - just as people wear tefillin in order to be bound to God. The Exodus, which required the
cooperation of God and human beings, was an exchange of love and faith, the
first act that bound God and the entire people together.
Return to Reb Laura's
"Taste of Torah" list.
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to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.
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