Part II: The Punchline and The Luz
Produced from the shiur delivered at Mevakshei Hashem – Elad on י״ח אב תשפ״ד / August 21, 2024.
- Sponsored in merit of a refuah shleima, joy, and happiness for עליזה זעלדא בת אסתר b’toch she’ar cholei Yisrael.
- Sponsored in merit of a refuah shleima for אורלי שירה בת רבקה מלכה b’toch she’ar cholei Yisrael.
- Sponsored in merit of a refuah shleima for בנימין בער בן חנה, a soldier from Toronto wounded in Israel’s North.
Some commentators suggest that the first set of Tefillin worn by Bnei Yisrael were made in Egypt. According to this view, they were written on parchment made from the skins of the Korban Pesach, and the text inscribed on them were the two Parshiot found in Parshat Bo: קַ דֶּ שׁ ־לִי כָל־בְּ כוֹר and וְ הָ יָה כִּ י־יְבִ אֲ ך. At that time, the two Parshiot of Shema, which are included in our Tefillin today, had not yet been revealed to Bnei Yisrael.
Rashi says, the word טוֹטָ פֹת represents Tefillin and its four houses (compartments), as the word טֹ טָ פֹת is a combination of two words: טט, which means the number two in Katpi, and פת, which means the number two in Afriki (Sanhedrin 4b).
I’d like to bring the commentary of the Meshech Chochma, which focuses on a Pasuk reflecting Hakadosh Baruch Hu remaining with us at all times: וְ הָ יוּ עֵ ינַי וְ לִ בִּ י שׁ ָ ם כָּל־הַ יָמִ ים – My eyes and My heart shall ever be there (Melachim I 9:3). The basic understanding of this Pasuk is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu remains at the place of the Beit Hamikdash at all times, even following its destruction. For this reason, many poskim hold it is forbidden to spit on the ground at the site of the Mikdash today. This is based on the Gemara which states (Berachot 62b): כׇּ ל הָ רוֹקֵ ק בְּ הַ ר הַ בַּ יִת בַּ זְּמַ ן הַ זֶּה כְּאִ ילּוּ רוֹקֵק בְּבַת עֵינוֹ – Anyone who spits on the Temple Mount, even today, it is as if he spit in the pupil of G-d’s eye, as it is stated: “And My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually.”
The Meshech Chochma broadens our understanding of this Pasuk, explaining that it refers not only to the Beit Hamikdash but also to the Tefillin Shel Yad and Tefillin Shel Rosh. The words וְ הָ יוּ עֵ ינַי refer to the Tefillin Shel Rosh, and וְ לִ בִּ י refers to the Tefillin Shel Yad which is placed adjacent to the heart. He presents a principle, sourced from the Moreh Nevuchim. The Hashgacha (Divine Providence) of Hakadosh Baruch Hu is divided into four sections, as it is different for four groups of people based on their Torah knowledge and observance. This idea originates from the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:8) addressing the Mitzvah to pick up and unite the Arba Minim on Succot – four species with different levels of smell and taste that represent four segments of Am Yisrael based on their varying levels of Torah knowledge and observance. The Meshech Chochma says, the Tefillin Shel Rosh are similarly divided into four compartments and four Parshiot – each corresponding to another segment of Am Yisrael and level of Divine Providence. וְ הָ יוּ עֵ ינַי, he says, refers to the Eyes of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, which gaze down – Hashgacha – at the different groups differently. When it comes to the love (אַ הֲבָה) of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, however, there is only one category of love. Everyone receives the same unconditional love regardless of Torah knowledge and observance, and therefore the Tefillin Shel Yad is not divided into four compartments. Instead, all four Parshiot are inserted into, and united within, a single compartment. The Meshech Chochma continues to say that Hakadosh Baruch Hu also wears Tefillin Shel Rosh, based on בִּימִ ינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ נ ִ שׁ ְ ב ּ ַ ע ה'. And what is written in His Tefillin? The Gemara answers (Berachot 6a), it is various Pesukim that serve to connect Him, in a sense, to the world, whose essence is Israel, in the same way we connect to Him in our Tefillin.
B’ezrat Hashem, in the Tachanun (Selichot) of Sheini and Chamishi, both Bnei Ashkenaz and Bnei Sepharad recite: בְּיַד צָר בַּשְּׁבִי וְתִפְאַרְ תְּך עַד מָתַי עֻזְּך How long will Your strength be in captivity and Your glory in the hand of the foe?
What are we asking for? For the signs of Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s Divine Providence and love – i.e., the Tefillin Shel Yad and Tefillin Shel Rosh – to be visible once again. Although they are not outwardly visible, those who wish to see them can still perceive them. This week, we witnessed a tremendous miracle when an Arab carrying a backpack filled with 8 kgs. of explosives in Tel Aviv, right beside the Rashb”i shul, was the only one harmed, Baruch Hashem. Even when there is Hester Panim – the concealment of G-d’s presence – His Providence and love are nonetheless present.
Back to the basic idea of the Meshech Chochma, if we are connecting the Tefillin to the Beit Hamikdash, it becomes easy to understand why no Tefillin are worn on the morning of Tisha B’Av. If וְ הָ יוּ עֵ ינַי וְ לִ בִּ י שׁ ָ ם כָּל־הַ יָמִ ים is not accurate, and the eyes of Hakadosh Baruch Hu are not on the Beit Hamikdash at that moment because it was being destroyed, therefore, Tefillin, which are linked to the same Pasuk, are not worn. Furthermore, Rabbeinu Bachya says, the two Keruvim atop the Aron HaBrit represent the Tefillin Shel Yad and Tefillin Shel Rosh.
