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Is wearing tefillin only a custom of orthodox Jews?

by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

  

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Tefillin is something all Jews have done since the time of Moses. Tefillin have been found in archeological digs from the times of the Maccabees and as early as the times of Ezra the Scribe, closely resembling those of today. Under the influence of 18th century European Rationalism, the early members of the Reform movement rejected this practice. Today, as the social sciences have brought us an appreciation of the value of ritual in human development, tefillin are making a strong comeback.
TAGS: phylacteries

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Life Cycle » Bar/Bat Mitzvah » Tefillin
Tefillin
Black leather boxes containing small scrolls with passages of the Bible written on them. Every day, aside for Sabbath and Jewish holidays, the adult Jewish male is required to wrap the Tefillin--by means of black leather straps--around the weaker arm and atop the forehead.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Ezra
1. A Hebrew priest and scribe, who, together with Nehemiah, revived Judaism in the 4th century BCE. He was instrumental in the building of the 2nd Temple. 2. One of the 24 books of the Bible, which describes the events of Ezra's lifetime.
Maccabees
The Maccabees (Hebrew: Makabim) were a Jewish family who fought against the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty in the story of Chanukah. The Maccabees founded the Hasmonean royal line and established Jewish independence in the land of Israel for about 100 years.