With this understanding, we can now explain with the utmost reverence and love the matter of HKB”H’s tefillin. Every morning, in tefilas Shacharis (Birkas Yotzer Ohr), we say: "המחדש בטובו בכל יום תמיד מעשה בראשית"—He renews in His goodness, every day, continuously, the work of creation. We find the following explanation in the writings of the Arizal: The klipah serves a vital purpose, so that there will be reward and punishment in Olam HaZeh . . . It is absolutely necessary that even the klipos take their portion for sustenance. That is the case until the time of the final geulah. Then, HKB”H will come and slaughter the yetzer hara and all its evil constituents.
Accordingly, it turns out that HKB”H renews and replenishes the life-force of every human being on a daily basis—of Yisrael from the side of kedushah and of the nations of the world and those who oppose the side of kedushah. This is the implication of the passuk (Yeshayah 45, 7): "יוצר אור ובורא חושך עשה שלום ובורא רע, אני ה' עושה כל אלה"—the One Who forms light and creates darkness, Who makes peace and creates evil. I am Hashem Who makes all these. There is a distinct difference, however. Yisrael, whose neshamos stem from the right, HKB”H extends their existence from the right. Conversely, the nations of the world, who stem from the left, HKB”H renews their existence from the left.
Understood in this light, we can begin to comprehend to some small degree the mystery of the mitzvah of tefillin shel yad and shel rosh that HKB”H dons every day, so to speak. As we know, HKB”H provides the remedy prior to the ailment. Hence, He initially dons and wraps the tefillin shel yad on His left arm, since the virtues of Yisrael are inscribed on them. This procedure binds the forces of evil and the nations of the world, who derive their sustenance and existence from the left, in iron chains. This prevents them from carrying out their malicious plans to harm Yisrael beyond what they have been allowed to do. Afterwards, HKB”H dons the tefillin shel rosh, so to speak, opposite the source of intellect and thought in the brain. From there, renewed sustenance and existence is extended to both the powers of the right and the left.
Now, it is written (Vayikra 20, 26): "ואבדיל אתכם מן העמים להיות לי"—and I have separated you from among the nations to be Mine. Therefore, HKB”H creates a separation and distinction between the two forces and provides them sustenance from both the right and the left. It is for this reason that two straps emerge from the tefillin shel rosh, from the location of intellect and thought. The strap on the right represents a conduit providing abundant good sustenance and influence from the realm of kedushah to Yisrael, who are nourished by the right side. The left strap represents a conduit that provides the nations of the world sustenance as long as they are deemed necessary, until the time of their termination.
Indeed, the abundance and influence from the two sides are distinct and separate. For, there is a huge difference between that which is holy and goes out to Yisrael from the right and that which goes out to the nations of the world from the left. But as we learned in the Mishnah: "כל מה שברא הקב"ה בעולמו לא בראו אלא לכבודו". Therefore, the two straps, the right and the left, ultimately join together to compel the nations of the world against their will to help Yisrael study Torah.
At this point, we can shed some light on the mystical conversation that ensued between Moshe Rabeinu and HKB”H. Moshe requested of HKB”H: "הראיני נא את כבודך". He requested the privilege of seeing and perceiving HKB”H, so to speak, in His full glory and essence. Moshe wanted to see and comprehend how the glory of HKB”H is manifested in everything that He created in the world. Therefore, HKB”H first responded to Moshe’s request to see His essence, which is impossible: "כי לא יראני האדם וחי"—for no human can see My face and live.
Nevertheless, with regards to the other part of Moshe’s request: "הראיני נא את כבודך"—please show me Your glory—to see how the glory of Hashem is revealed by all creatures—HKB”H responded: "וראית את אחורי ופני לא יראו"—and you will see My back, but My face may not be seen. The Gemara explains that HKB”H showed Moshe the knot of the tefillin. That is where the left strap connects with the right strap. There, it is revealed that the purpose of the conduit of life and sustenance to the nations of the world, extending from the left strap, is to assist Yisrael, who receive their sustenance and influence from the right strap. There it is revealed that the wicked Haman, who intended to exterminate all the Jews, actually caused them to perform teshuvah. It was such a meaningful teshuvah that they finally accepted the Torah out of love. In this manner, it was revealed to Moshe Rabeinu how all the galuyos help and encourage Yisrael to pursue their Torah studies—just as it will be revealed to everyone at the time of the future geulah—swiftly, in our times! Amen.
