Parashat Bo 5783

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

Do you ever give yourself a reminder, perhaps in the form of writing something down, like making a To Do List, putting up a post-it, in a location that is easily seen? People used to wear a rubber band, or tie string, to remind themselves of something. Children often write a note on their skin – one approach I am not a big fan of, at all! This week’s Torah reading, Parashat Bo, ends with a way for the Jewish people to remember God, and the Exodus from Egypt. That reminder is the donning of Tefillin, also called phylacteries. We are taught in Exodus 13:16, “And so it shall be a sign upon your hand and as a symbol on your forehead that with a mighty hand the Lord freed us from Egypt.” Each time we wrap Tefillin, we are reminded of our relationship to our past ancestors who were slaves in Egypt, and freed by God. Furthermore, each time we wrap Tefillin, it is a reminder of our commitment to God and the Torah, because of our history, and our faith in God. As we wrap tefillin, we are reminded that God rescued our ancestors, and God will be with us as well. Just another wonderful reason to wrap tefillin – to make us stronger, and more committed to God, Torah and Israel, each time we do tefillin. Mark your calendars for the World Wide Wrap on Sunday, February 12, 2023. Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!