The Nations of the World Fear the Tefillin shel Rosh because They Are Detached from the Realm of Kedushah
Continuing on this sublime path, we will proceed to explain the elucidation of Rabbi Eliezer the Great:
“And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of Hashem is called upon you, and they will fear you.” This is a reference to the tefillin worn on the head. We will refer to the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim hakadosh (Bechukosai). In his eighth interpretation of the passuk "אם בחוקותי תלכו", he writes that Torah-study possesses the auspicious ability to eliminate the yetzer hara; however, this is only on the condition that the study was l’shma. So long as a person studies Torah “lo l’shma,” he is incapable of subduing the yetzer hara, because the yetzer hara possesses a portion of his Torah.
All those who study Torah should take to heart the powerful, stern words of the Yitav Lev in his sefer Rav Tuv (Devarim), where he explains with profound clarity the passuk (Devarim 2, 3): "רב לכם סוב את ההר הזה"—enough of your going around this mountain:
I heard someone who was celebrating on Simchas Torah and was circling the ark as is customary. He noticed that the yetzer hara was also going around and circling with him. He said to the yetzer hara, “What are you doing here at this joyous celebration?” The yetzer hara responded to him, “Did you learn anything without me? In fact, everything you think you have is mine. Everything was because of me—all the ulterior motives and the like. Hence, I am going around in circles like you.” This is the implication of His statement: “Enough of your going around (the ark) this mountain” with the yetzer hara, who is referred to as a mountain, because to tzaddikim, it resembles a mountain (Succah 52a).
In this light, we can better appreciate the exposition of Rabbi Eliezer the Great: “And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of Hashem is called upon you, and they will fear you.” This is a reference to the tefillin worn on the head. When the goyim see that we don the shel-rosh opposite the brain, immediately after donning the shel-yad on the left arm, they are overwhelmed with fear. Because now even the mitzvos that were originally performed “lo l’shma” have been elevated to the status of l’shma, and the goyim receive no benefit or influence from Torah learned l’shma.
