- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Apr 27, 2015 10:36:46 GMT -8
Also, do you still pray/daven with tefillin? I would like to have phylacteries but have no idea how I could ever afford them in the near future.
Yes, since these tefillin have not been used for centuries, they are very different to what Jews are accustomed to. They look different, and are bound differently. All contemporary Jewish sects use boxlike tefillin, and they bind them on the biceps and top of the head just above the forehead. Ours are packet-like and bound on the palm of the hand and forehead just above and between the eyes. We believe ours to be more Biblical, and since based on a set found at Qumram they are more like the ones used by first cen. believers, who we immulate as much as possible.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Because of medical conditions, I am not always up in time to use them. When I am, like today, I'll use them once at noon and just pray at 3:00. I/we usually only use tefillin in the morning prayer. The most important thing is to pray the Amidah, and to engage your mind when you do so. Think about and understand what you are saying. I insert specific prayers as I say it, which helps keep me engaged and focused. When using tefillin I do dav whenever I say bless the Lord. Most Jews have a more formal form of daving as well as steps, and changeups to the prayer depending on season and other factors. I'm doing good to just get in the prayer once a day usually, and I like to focus more on the prayer than the form. So for now at least I don't do it as the more orthodox. If using tefillin, I wear my tallit and kipah as well. I always at least try to wear a kippah when reciting it without tefillin- often using a shortened version like this. The Lords Prayer works well in this case. . This is more custom than commandment, but I think of myself in battle against the enemy whenever I pray.
Psalm 140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Dan C
