Tefillin and the Five Senses

Question

Dear Rabbi,

Do you have any idea about the significance of the five parchments and compartments in the tefillin boxes: four in the head box and one in the arm box?

Thank you!

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    The mitzvah of tefillin is called a “statute” in the Torah. This means that there is no specific reason attached to the mitzvah other than doing it fulfills the will of the Creator. Other mitzvahs, such as not stealing and correct interpersonal activities, are called “judgments.” This means that their reason and purpose are clear and logical.

    Regarding tefillin, despite its being in the statute category, classical Jewish scholars have expressed ideas and teachings that can be seen in the mitzvah of tefillin. And specific to your question about the significance of the total of five parchments in the tefillin boxes, I’d like to share a fascinating thought from one of our great Torah scholars.

    Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher (Spain, 1255-1340) writes that the four compartments and parchments of the head tefillin and the single compartment of the arm tefillin correspond to the five senses. The five senses are touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The sense of touch comes from the arm, whereas the other four senses of sight, hearing, smell and taste, are centered around the head. This breakdown corresponds to the one compartment for the arm and the four for the head. He explains that a person putting on tefillin is literally binding the five senses and dedicating them to doing the will of the Creator.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team