Over 75 people joined together Sunday February 5, 2006 to wrap tefillin at the 6th annual World Wide Wrap sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Some people wore tefillin for the first time while regulars guided them through the steps. For two participants it was a chance to show their 11-year-old boys how to wrap tefillin.

After schmoozing with the audience during breakfast, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah synagogue gave the keynote address where he discussed the origins of tefillin in connection with the Exodus story. He explained that the mitzvah of totafot (frontlets) is directed in Exodus 13:1-16. What we find in these passages: they shall be a sign on your arm and a memorial between your eyes because God brought us out of Egypt by the strength of his hand. Parts of these verses are also found in the Haggadah that we read at the Seder on Passover.

During Rabbi Herzfeld’s discussion, we realized that not only does he have a knack for telling stories (and what rabbi doesn’t), but he also became connected to our own Dr. Elliot Wilner. The Rabbi’s wife works in Dr. Wilner’s practice. We learned more about the origins and practices of tefillin in this very interesting presentation.