Hashem’s Tefillin

In Parshat Bo we are introduced to the mitzvah of tefillin. The Talmud (Brachot 6) teaches that Hashem wears tefilljn. The third of the 13 Principles of Faith enumerated by Maimonides is “I believe with full faith that the Creator does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing that resembles Him.” If Hashem doesn’t have a body, then what do the rabbis mean when they say that Hashem wears tefillin? Rav Kook explained that to understand this concept we must first explore the significance of the tefillin that humans wear. Throughout our lives we utilize our physical and intellectual abilities in order for us and our loved ones to survive and to thrive. On the most simple human level we strive to ensure the basics of life such as food and shelter. We hope to be able to provide additional opportunities and luxuries as well. We also may work hard to reach our goals and to achieve a sense of accomplishment. However, Rav Kook notes, life is not meant to be utilized exclusively to satisfy our material needs or to satisfy our ego. We are also supposed to utilize our abilities to live lives of morality and spirituality. We are meant to be seekers in pursuit of moral and spiritual growth. We are not only meant to survive in this world; we are also meant to be Avdei Hashem, servants of God. As an example, the Jewish perspective mandates that we utilize our physical and intellectual capacities to ensure that our fellow Jews have what they need as well. It emerges that our intellectual and physical abilities are supposed to be utilized on two planes: a baseline plane to address our material needs and an elevated utilization in pursuit of spiritual growth. Tefillin remind us of this second plane. Tefillin are worn on the arm and on the head to remind us that our physical and intellectual abilities can and must be used for spiritual purposes as well. Rav Kook goes on to explain that these two planes exist within the universe as well, and not just within each person. The universe operates based on las of nature. From a physical perspective the world runs based on biology, chemistry and physics. But there is also a higher dimension of existence, one that seeks to uplift humanity to a higher moral state. The imagery of God wearing tefllin, according to Rav Kook, is a metaphor for the universe’s spiritual yearnings. It portrays a universe that is guided by an inner drive for holiness and spiritual advance. The Talmud goes on to explain that just as our tefillin contain parchments upon which are written pesukim, so too Hashem’s tefillin contain verses that speak of the Jewish people and their unique mission, such as “Who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation in the world?” Since the metaphor of Hashem’s tefillin teaches us of the spiritual potential for growth that exists within the universe. Hashem’s tefillin contain pesukim about the uniqueness of the Jewish People because the vehicle by which the universe can reach an elevated moral status is through Am Yisrael. Our status as the Chosen People obligates us to be a Light onto The nations and model what it means to live lives of meaning and of spiritual fulfillment.