תְּפִלִּין

The matter of tefillin and the straps of tefillin — see the chapter Tzaddik in the Appendices [hashmasos], §19 and §6; Likutay Tinyana §5 — Tik'u Emunah.

The glory with which Hashem Yisborach is glorified with Israel is the dimension of His tefillin, blessed be He. And therefore when one of Israel distances himself from Hashem Yisborach, Heaven forbid — the Shechinah cries out: "He has made me light from my head, He has made me light from my arm" [Lamentations 1:14, as taught in Talmud Bavli, Chagigah 15b] — meaning that the tefillin formed from the glory are blemished, as it were; and this is "from my head" and "from my arm" specifically — the dimension of tefillin. And when one of Israel draws close to Hashem Yisborach — particularly when many from Israel are added who wish to serve Him and draw close to Him, blessed be He — then the light of glory which is the dimension of the light of G-d's tefillin increases and grows further. And from this is formed the Providence of Hashem Yisborach, as it were — that He Providence over Israel always for good; and from this the holiness of the Land of Israel is drawn, and the dimension of "the air of the Land of Israel makes wise" [Talmud Bavli, Bava Basra 158b]. [No source citation in this edition.]

Tefillin are the dimension of mochin [consciousness/brains] — and the strap of tefillin is the dimension of awe [yir'ah]. And this is the dimension of the strap passing through the loop [ma'avarta] of the tefillin — for awe passes through and within the mochin and tefillin; for "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of Hashem" [Psalms 111:10] — and if there is no awe there is no wisdom, as our Rabbis said [Mishnah Avos 3:17]. And from this dimension of the strap — each and every Israelite has some grief each day; and whoever has greater da'as — has greater grief; for his grief is derived from the awe which is the dimension of the strap, and the awe is proportionate to the mind and da'as which are the dimension of tefillin. And the rectification and sweetening of this grief that comes from the above-mentioned strap — is through eating in holiness and fear of Heaven. [No source citation in this edition.]

The power of the holiness of the mitzvah of tefillin — see the chapter Tzitzis in the Appendices. It is appropriate for a person to become greatly inflamed at the time of donning tefillin — and it is appropriate that great fear and trembling and awe and very powerful and awesome reverence should fall upon the person when he wishes to don tefillin; for their holiness is very very elevated, lofty, and awesome. [No source citation in this edition.]

It is appropriate for a person to beautify [hiddur mitzvah] — that he have good and precious tefillin from a worthy and truly righteous scribe. [No source citation in this edition.]