Aligning with God

Understanding the Mitzvah of Tefillin through the Lens of Parashas Ekev

www.frocksinstock.com

Over the last 150 years, we have been privileged to be guided by many impactful leaders. Among these, Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe stand out, their names evoking strong responses from us, each for unique reasons and each resonating differently with individuals. Indeed, their impact is still reverberating today.

Despite their differences, one shared passion of both Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe was the mitzvah of tefillin. Rav Kook wrote his first sefer, Chevesh Pe'er, about the mitzvah of tefillin. Similarly, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in the tense times preceding the Six-Day War, urged everyone to wear tefillin, continuing this advocacy afterwards, insisting it would bring spiritual salvation. He emphasized the mitzvah of tefillin as it provides a gateway for Jews to attain a spiritual stake in the afterlife. Wearing tefillin not only reaffirms their Jewish identity but also ignites a spiritual curiosity, potentially leading to a deeper exploration of their…