Phylactery
Phylactery or Tefillin
The so-called phylacteries but in the Hebrew text we see towphaphah[1] was a box often containing a scripture written on something like a mezuzah[2] that is placed on the forehead with a leather thong that is wrapped around the arm down to the hand. The ritual stems from references in the Bible detailed rituals and ceremonies which are created surrounding meditation and prayer.
We see it mentioned in Matthew 23:5, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,".
These words like borders or fringes, or breeches are like the word phylacteries and are symbols of ideas. The Greek word “phulakterion"[3].
This phylactery is also called the Tefillin was supposed to be an article worn between the eyes, but the etymology: of Tefillin is related to the Hebrew word for prayer – t'phillah תְּפִלָּה[4]. There is another word for pray and prayer in Hebrew, which is [5]
This Tefillin was said to be a meditation tool for relationships, according to Rabbi Goldie Milgram.
The Meme of Meditation
A meme[6] is a unit of cultural information spread by imitation and there are many forms and forms of meditation by imitation. Meme or memetic theory explains the development of culture through the imitation of things: ideas, behaviors, and styles that are encoded as memes, so they can be easily imitated and there are thousands of ways to "meditate".
Jewish Meditation and the Kabbalah had a rich tradition of meditation with unique characteristics, but over a long history there has been the unmooring of the purpose until the practice produced a mental state that made the word of God to none effect.
In Deuteronomy 6:8 "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets[7] between[8] thine eyes[9]."
Some have divided these ritual and ceremonial practices into four categories. Most techniques that promote focused concentration bring in elements of our willful intent. Original separation from the pure mind of our creator was due to willful intent on our part.
- ↑ Deuteronomy 6:8(4-9), Deuteronomy 11:18(13-21) and Exodus 13:9(1-10), Exodus 11, Exodus 16.
- ↑ 04201 מְזוּזָה mëzuwzah [mez-oo-zaw’] or מזזה mëzuzah [mez-oo-zaw’] from the same as 02123; n f; [BDB-265a] [{See TWOT on 535 @@ "535b" }] AV-post 19; 19
- 1) doorpost, gatepost
- ↑ 5440 φυλακτήριον phulakterion [foo-lak-tay’-ree-on] neuter of a derivative of 5442; n n; AV-phylactery 1; 1
- 1) a fortified place provided with a garrison, a station for a guard or garrison
- 2) a preservative or safeguard, an amulet. The Jews used this word to describe small strips of parchment on which were written the following passages of the law of Moses, #Ex 13:1-10, 11-16; #De 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and which, enclosed in small cases, they were accustomed when engaged in prayer to wear fastened by a leather strap to the forehead and to the left arm over against the heart, in order that they might thus be solemnly reminded of the duty of keeping the commands of God in the head and in the heart, according to the directions given in #Ex 13:16, De 6:8, 11:18. These scrolls were thought to have the power, like amulets, to avert various evils and to drive away demons. The Pharisees were accustomed to widen, make broad, their phylacteries, that they might render them more conspicuous and show themselves to be more eager than the majority to be reminded of the law of God.
- ↑ 08605 תְּפִלָּה tëphillah [tef-il-law’] from 06419; n f; [BDB-813b] [{See TWOT on 1776 @@ "1776a" }] AV-prayer 77; 77
- 1) prayer
- 1a) prayer
- 1b) pray a prayer
- 1c) house of prayer
- 1d) hear prayer
- 1e) in Ps titles (of poetic or liturgical prayer)
- 1) prayer
- ↑ 06419 פָלַל palal [paw-lal’] a primitive root PieLamedLamed; v; [BDB-813a] [{See TWOT on 1776 }] AV-pray 74, made 3, judge 2, intreat 1, judgment 1, prayer 1, supplication 1, thought 1; 84
- 1) to intervene, interpose, pray
- 1a) (Piel) to mediate, judge
- 1b) (Hithpael)
- 1b1) to intercede
- 1b2) to pray
- 1) to intervene, interpose, pray
- ↑ The term meme is from the Greek mimema, meaning “imitated”.
- ↑ 02903 טוֹפָפָה towphaphah [to-faw-faw’] TetVavPeiPeiHey or (plural) טוטפת TetVavTetPeiTav from an unused root meaning to go around or bind; n f; [BDB-377b] [{See TWOT on 804 @@ "804a" }] AV-frontlet 3; 3
- 1) bands, phylacteries, frontlets, marks
- ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
- ו Vav Connection, Connecting realms and worlds or the dividing veil between them. [nail... And, Add, secure, hook] (Numeric value: 6)
- פ ף Pei Communication: The Oral Torah The mouth, blow, edge. [Mouth speak open word] (Numeric value: 80)
- ה Hey Expression--Thought, Speech, Action. Manifest seeds of thought and life. [Emphasize, jubilation, window, fence] (Numeric value: 5)
- ת Tav is a Seal of a Higher kingdom or realm through faith. The paradigm keter–malchut “The Crown of Sovereignty” from the Tree of Life spiritually linking worlds through an unseen doorway of faith. The Aleph & Tav are the first and last letters. [door sign cross seal] (Numeric value: 400)
- ↑ 0996 בֵּין beyn [bane] BeitYodNun (sometimes in the pl. masc. or fem.) properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 0995, subst m (always used as a prep); prep; [BDB-107a, BDB-108a] [{See TWOT on 239 @@ "239a" }] AV-between, betwixt, asunder, within, between, out of, from; 32
- 1) between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
- ↑ 05869 ^ןיע^ ‘ayin \@ah’- yin\@ probably a primitive word, Greek 137 ~Αινων~; n f/m; AV-eye 495, sight 216, seem 19, colour 12, fountain 11, well 11, face 10, pleased + 03190 10, presence 8, displeased + 03415 8, before 8, pleased + 03474 4, conceit 4, think 4, misc 66; 887
- 1) eye
- 1a) eye
- 1a1) of physical eye
- 1a2) as showing mental qualities
- 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
- 1a) eye
- 2) spring, fountain
- 1) eye