If you find or inherit a pair of tefillin, reach out to a local rabbi to make sure they are kosher and learn the proper way to put them on.

As we know, tefillin is worn both on the arm and on a person’s head. The tefillin shel rosh, which is clearly seen when worn on the head, whereas the Tefillin shel yad that is strapped onto the arm is covered and essentially concealed. According to Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik, they represent a manifestation of both emotional love and rational love.

To appreciate the deeper meaning of tefillin and what they represent, read this illuminating analysis entitled, “Rational Love and Emotional Love: A Lesson from Tefillin” from Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald’s Torah message for Bo 5780-2020 Out of respect for Shabbat, please consider printing it on Friday afternoon if you plan to read it on Shabbat.