Parshiot of Tefillin

The four Parshiot from different places in the Torah that are found in the Tefillin are written according to all the laws that apply to Torah scrolls and Mezuzot. In the Tefillin shel Rosh the Parshiot are written on four separate pieces of parchment and encased in four individual compartments. In the Tefillin shel Yad, the Parshiot are all written on one piece of parchment and placed in one case.

A. The First Parasha –“Kadesh” (Sh’mot 13:1-10). This section deals with the holiness of ht efirst-born, man and beast, and with the obligation to redeem them, as well as the Exodus from Egypt and the Passover festival.

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:
‘Sanctify unto Me all the first-born, whatsoever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is Mine.’
And Moshe said unto the people: ‘Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for with a strong hand HaShem brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
This day you go forth in the month Aviv.
And it shall be when HaShem shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore unto your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
Seven days you shall eat Matzah, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to HaShem.
Matzah shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, neither shall there be any leaven seen with you, in all your borders.
And you shall tell your son on that day, saying: It is because of what HaShem did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.
And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of HaShem may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand HaShem brought you out of Egypt.
You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
B. Second Parasha, “V’haya ki yevi’acha” (Sh’mot  13:11-16). This section also deals with the sanctity and redemption of the first-born and remembering the Exodus.
And it shall be when HaShem shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,
you shall set apart unto HaShem all that opens the womb; every firstling that is a male, which you have coming from a beast, shall be HaShem’s.
And every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and all the first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem.
And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying: What is this? You shall say to him: With a strong hand HaShem brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage;
and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that HaShem slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast; therefore I sacrifice to HaShem all that opens the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.
And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes; for with a strong hand HaShem brought us forth out of Egypt.’

 

C. The third Parasha, “Sh’ma Yisrael“ (D’varim 6:4-9). This section, well-known to us through the recitation of Kriyat Sh’ma, deals with accepting the yoke of Heaven upon ourselves, loving G-d, and the Mitzvah of Tefillin.
HEAR, O ISRAEL: HaShem is OUR GOD, HaShem IS ONE.
And you shall love HaShem your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart;
and you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
And you shall write them upon the door-posts of your house, and upon your gates.

 

D. The fourth Parasha, “V’haya im shamo’a” (D’varim 11:13-21). This section also serves as the second paragraph of Kriyat Sh’ma, and deals with the reward for observing the commandments and the consequences of neglecting them, as well as the Mitzvah of Tefillin.
And it shall come to pass, if you hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love HaShem your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may  gather in your grain, and your wine, and your oil.
And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall eat and be satisfied.
Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
and the anger of HaShem will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heaven, so that there shall be no rain, and the ground shall not yield her fruit; and you will perish quickly from off the good land which HaShem gives you.
Therefore you shall lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
And you shall teach them your children, talking of them, when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
And you shall write them upon the door-posts of your house, and upon your gates;
that your days may be many, and the days of your children, upon the land which HaShem swore unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

 

At Tefillin Hebron, experienced and devout scribes write the Parshiot, and experts place them in your Tefillin according to their proper order. All this – in the holy atmosphere of Hebron, near the tomb of our patriarchs.