It is sometimes difficult as a woman to know which of the commandments apply to me. I know that traditionally women do not don tefillin or use a talit. I don't know if that's Biblically correct or strictly a rabbinic tradition. Are women really "excused" from certain commandments because of time constraints, or is our exclusion based on chauvinism? Can a woman be "excused" from keeping a commandment? Is G-d okay with this?

Years ago, my husband bought me a talit, which I use in private prayer. I would not use it in a congregational setting (if I had a congregation) because some might be offended by that.

When you put this material out, please keep in mind the women who are trying to figure out where we stand in all this.

Thanks.

MJ

**Toby's response:* I will most certainly address this issue in the book. I had planned to already but perhaps will add more detail. I assure you that the traditional perspective is not about chauvinism but rather about gender roles, yet I can easily see how one could get that feeling.

Toby,
When I read your article I thought I would try to find some more paintings that fit this description. So far I found one at this site:
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225120&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673225120&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500816&fromDept=true&baseIndex=81&bmUID=1189640318392&bmLocale=en

What I think is interesting about this painting is that it is done by Gentile Da Fabriano who was an Italian painter during the early 1400's. His most famous painting is the Adoration of the Magi. This painting listed for this blog is called "The Presentation in the Temple". Here is a description of the painting from the site:

"In the heart of a city, a polygonal temple opens onto a flagged square flanked by palaces and, on the right, a portico. The Virgin and Joseph have come here to present their first-born Son to the Lord and offer two young doves in sacrifice. On the right stand Simeon and the prophetess Anna, who holds a phylactery. Receiving the Child into his arms, Simon recognizes the Messiah that the Lord promised he would behold before his death. Anna points out the Savior to "all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). On either side of the building a crowd has gathered. To the left, two women elegantly dressed in the fashion of the 15th century observe the scene from outside, while to the right a pair of old beggars ask for alms."

Anna holding the phylactery is what caught my attention for this blog. The time it was painted and by whom painted it makes it even more interesting to me. An Italian painter who was most likely Catholic (his father retired to a monistary) acknowledging the use of phylactery. If you look at the painting it is hard to make out because there is no way to get real close up without losing detail. I'm not sure what exactly to look for except for the red wrappings around Annas wrists, I'm quessing that is what they are.

To look at the painting goto this site. (It has a good copy)
http://www.abcgallery.com/F/fabriano/fabriano5.html

*Toby's Response:* Thanks, Jay.

Toby,

I am particularly excited about this project. The mitzvah of tefillin hold very special significance for me. I think that the commandment of tefillin provokes different responses from different people. When trying on and buying a set of tefillin from a man at a Messianic wedding, I encountered two very different views on the topic. One older man, a friend of mine, nearly bull rushed me and began spouting off emotions as I was putting on the "shel yad", expressing his distaste at this "rabbinic interpretation" of writing them for a sign upon your hand. Another man, a Jewish believer in Yeshua, quickly defended my decision by stating simply, "It's Torah". Sadly, I believe that there are still some hints of anti-Semitism looming even within the Messianic community due to the fear of the traditional interpretations of Torah.
Will there be any historical context as to where tefillin first emerged as a response to the commandment? In addition, do you think that there is any way that this book will ease some people's distrust of Rabbinic Judaism? Thank you guys so much for the balanced scholarship and comprehensive info. I think that ministries like FFOZ do a great job at providing solid information that even answers individuals psycological and emotional misgivings about a Torah life. This will be a great book!

Thanks,
Wade

*Toby's Response:* Wade, thanks for your comment. Yes, I will most certainly get into the historical context. There is a lot of evidence that this is an extremely ancient practice and not solely rabbinic. It will be my hope as well that this will put people somewhat at ease with rabbinic stuff as well. No to accept it all blindly but at least to be able to see some value in it.

Toby, I looked at the close-up. Are you sure that's tefillin? It kinda looks like some sort of hardware designed to keep his halo in place.

*Toby's Response:* No it's tefillin but it does serve that purpose as well... at least for me.

A year or two ago we went to a BBQ at the home of a Chasidic (Lubovitch) family who I had recently met. My husband Brian was kibbitzing with the men when one of them offered to wrap tefilin for him. He happily agreed, but when one of the men asked if Brian were Jewish, and he said no, they retracted the offer, which I think was a bit hurtful and perhaps felt like reverse discrimination for my husband.

Perhaps you can sensitively address why certain customs like these are protected by the mainstream Jewish community in way that makes your readers sensitive and understanding to the other side of the story.

**Toby's Response:** Hope, these are definitely things I would like to include in the book. I will include some sort of talk about Gentiles and Orthodox Judaism in regards to tefillin. Thanks for the ideas.

Toby, was it a common practice for the scribes in Ezra's time to wear tefillin while scribing? I thought tefillin was to be worn at times of prayer. What are your thoughts?
William H

**Toby's Response:** In the second temple times tefillin was worn all day. In fact this is the custom of some still today. So if the practice of literal tefillin was around in Ezra's day (which I believe is true) he would have most likely worn it everyday all day except on Shabbat and Festivals.

Toby,
Do not forget those of us who lay tefillin six days a week. To not use tefillin would be a broken mitzvah for some of us, unthinkable in our daily lifes. We struggle with the other end of the spectrum, to fit an Orthodox life into a Messianic congregation, where most people do not understand a Jewish person wanting HaMashiach and still able to live an Orthodox life.
You have been an encouragement when I have wanted to give up and go totally back in a traditional setting, where some of us feel more at home, with our own. Most Christians won't understand this mindset. Thanks, David Roth

**Toby's Response:** Absolutely David, we will include material for those already wrapping. I think you will really like the section on symbolism where I draw on a lot of traditional sources and tie it into the Master.

Toby,
Blessing to you and to all the staff for the work you do. In Judaism today many things take on a modern or contemparary look, is there a way of completing the mitzvah of telfillin in a modern look or should this be messed with. (Thinking out of the box, as it were) Toda, yosef

**Toby's Response:** Yosef, thank you for your kind words. One of the things I will do in the book is talk about the archeological remains form the second temple period and before. Complete tefillin have been discovered at Qumran that date back to the Master’s day. The most amazing thing is that except for size (which will also talk about) the style of the tefillin is much the same. These tefillin from Qumran are virtually “kosher” by today’s rabbinic standards. One of the most beautiful things about the traditional application of this mitzvah is how little it has changed over the years.

I am really looking forward to this book. My husband and I have so many questions about this and other topics such as tzit tzits, head coverings (for both men and women), talits. We have already begun to incorporate traditional blessing of foods as best we can with our children. Speaking of children, I think it is especially important for us parents with younger children to get this right (at least as best as possible). Our family has gone through so many changes this past year (all wonderful changes-which the kids have been very blessed by). We know there is still a lot more to learn and discover. It will be great to have something on hand to really study and pray about from a Messianic (Torah observant)perspective. Thank you to all of you at FFOZ. We know how hard you all work, and our family really appreciates it. JC & Eva

Dear Toby,

Your announcement is music to my ears! I have been hesitating in my take-up of this mitzvah due to the paucity of Scriptural evidence that Yeshua actually observed it Himself. Regarding tzitziyot, despite Yeshua's criticism of "lengthening," I have no doubt that He wore them
(and therefore so do I). But with tefillin we have His criticism of the "broadening" behaviour of the Pharisees which, leaves an uncomfortable feeling. Was He merely criticizing the ostentation being manifested?

My view is that Yeshua did wear tefillin; but there must have been different styles or interpretations regarding size and shape for His criticism to make sense. I just wish we had more info about how Yeshua would have observed this mitzvah! I have seen the pictures of the Qumran "narrow" ones.

I hope you will give some guidance about a Messianic way forward. I do not simply want to order a set of Rabbinically kosher tefillin online, as it were, under the radar, without some deeper Messianic teaching on
the subject.

Should we "invent" a narrower Messianic version of tefillin? I don't know.

Your book seems to be a most timely provision. In fact, can you get a move on - I can't wait ;-)

Shalom,

Steve.

**Toby's Response:** Thank you for your comments. I do plan to address these issues in the book.

Shalom Toby,

I can't wait for this resource!

Will it have instructions for donning them? If so, which custom will it follow? It would be awesome if this could be another way to unify the Messianic movement; donning in the same way.
Also, will it explain how to tell if your tefillin are still kosher, or not?

David ha'melekh chai v'kayam b'Mashiach Yeshua!

**Toby's Response:** Yes, it will have instructions. Right now we are going to have Ashkenazi style but that might change. That is an interesting thought about a unique version. We will also explain what makes tefillin kosher as well as have diagrams.

I think the picture is strange. First of all , if u see he/she got many sort of book. It seems like pagan books , and jews book , christian book.

And look at the logo's around. U got animals logo , some more logo , and under the fish and cross logo.

Seems like a confused person.

**Toby's Response:** It might appear strange but I think it is exciting that a Christian of this late date would paint a biblical figure with Tefillin.

In regards to the wearing of Tallit by women; I recently visited Masada and saw in the museum there a comment in a display containing a fragment of a tallit (with tzi tzi containing a blue thread, btw) that the tallit was worn by both men as well as women.
I found that interesting.
Adrienne

**Toby's Response:** That is interesting. From my research it appears that there were only a handful of women that have been documented throughout history as wearing tefillin. While some Sages and modern Rabbis do not forbid women form wearing tefillin, it is for the majority not practiced by women in Orthodox Judaism.