Mind, Body, and Heart (adapted from Rabbi A. Moss)
Thiis week in synagogues across the world we will about a very powerful mitzvah (divine instruction). So special is this mitzvah that it is repeated four times in the five books of the Torah. I’m referring to tefillin; the pair of leather boxes that Jewish men wear daily (aside from Shabbat). These boxes contain the fundamentals of the Jewish faith.
Perhaps you already know by now that one of the first questions I (and for that matter, all Chabad rabbis) ask a Jewish man when at any meeting is “would you like to put on tefillin?” This is because of all the mitzvahs, tefillin have a unique ability. They help us become more sensitive and receptive to Judaism’s eternal truths and our G‑d given mission and purpose.
Allow me to briefly explain:
Our personality has three layers to it - intellect, emotion and action; what we think, what we feel and what we do.
Intellect: My opinions on issues, philosophies on life and attitudes to myself and others.
Emotion: My moods, desires and passions; what I love and what I hate, what I am scared of and what attracts me.
Action: Not my beliefs or feelings, but what I actually do, how I live my life, and how I spend my time and energy.
Ideally, these three faculties should be in synch. My beliefs and ideals should direct my passions and ambitions, which should in turn be translated into my lifestyle. But so often we find this is not the case. What I know is right doesn't always feel right, and what I feel like doing is not necessarily what I do.
For example: I know I should go and help my mother bring in the shopping, but I feel like staying on the couch eating chips. Then I hear my phone ring, and jump up to answer it. Or: I know I shouldn't lie to cover up my mistakes, and I feel guilty about it, but I do it anyway. Or: My mind tells me that I am in a damaging relationship, but my heart is too scared to leave. I act as if everything's fine.
One of the greatest challenges in life is to try to overcome this mind-heart-body disconnect - to develop the right attitude in the mind, positive desires in the heart and to then live up to it and do the right thing. This isn't easy.
That's where tefillin come in. Tefillin help to achieve a spiritual alignment of mind, heart and body; uniting our thoughts, feelings and actions towards a power higher than all three.
These black boxes are holy objects, tiny treasure chests charged with immense divine power. We place one box on the head - the home of intellect, with its straps dangling down over the heart - the seat of emotion. Then the other box rests on the forearm next to the heart, with its straps wrapped around the arm and hand - the tools of action.
The head tefillin binds our minds to the truth; to know right and wrong. The straps dangle down so that this knowledge flow into our hearts and thus we develop passion and excitement for this truth. And finally the passion translates into action; that we actually live a life of meaning and purpose, based on clear morals and pure passions.
If you are a little rusty on your on tefillin skills, have never had the opportunity to put them on, or would like to order a pair don’t hesitate to let me know. It would be my pleasure to get together with you for some BLT - bagels, lox & tefillin!
(Gain more insight CLICK HERE)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
