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Naiive question about some headgear I saw recently

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ScottySatan

Well-Known Member
At a hub airport in the US recently I saw what looked to me like an Orthodox Jew teenage boy. Dark coat, big black hat, curly sideburns. He was pacing around and reading a book but on his forehead he was wearing what looked like a little square black tophat, maybe 2 inches per side. What was that?
 
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ScottySatan

Well-Known Member
Thank you! I learned something tonight. I'm interested where they come from, and noticed your last link had ads for them ($825!).

Do you know where they come from traditionally? Can one make one's own with dark cardboard for the outside and parchment calligraphy for the scriptures, or would a Rabbi make them? Is there some kind of ritual requirement for their creation?
 
Tarheeler

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
ScottySatan said:
Do you know where they come from traditionally? Can one make one's own with dark cardboard for the outside and parchment calligraphy for the scriptures, or would a Rabbi make them? Is there some kind of ritual requirement for their creation?
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The parchment is written by a scribe, and the tefillin are made according to pretty strict guidelines.
Just about every aspect of their creation has a ritual requirement.

Augustus said:
Are they used by pretty much all religious Jews or only the more orthodox adherents?
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Orthodox and Conservative Jews use them. As far as I know, most Reform Jews do not.
 
rosends

rosends

Well-Known Member
ScottySatan said:
Thank you! I learned something tonight. I'm interested where they come from, and noticed your last link had ads for them ($825!).

Do you know where they come from traditionally? Can one make one's own with dark cardboard for the outside and parchment calligraphy for the scriptures, or would a Rabbi make them? Is there some kind of ritual requirement for their creation?
Click to expand...
Any ritual product like this is made by a specially trained man with very precise materials. Every letter is formed a specific way and the pieces of the boxes are crafted carefully. They are a specialty item which explains the cost.
 
rosends

rosends

Well-Known Member
Augustus said:
Are they used by pretty much all religious Jews or only the more orthodox adherents?
Click to expand...
It is hard to say who does or does not put them on every day, but you are more likely to find a daily prayer service in a conservative or orthodox synagogue.
 
Y

Yosef-Firstborn

Member
ScottySatan said:
Thank you! I learned something tonight. I'm interested where they come from, and noticed your last link had ads for them ($825!).

Do you know where they come from traditionally?
Click to expand...
This is a commandment that comes from Deuteronomy 6:8. The chapter says, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day... You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be a reminder between your eyes..." So these words (the exact Hebrew words) are written on a scroll and placed inside these boxes, which are worn as shown in the pictures. One on the hand/arm, and one on the forehead, i.e. between the eyes.

It's a pretty cool tradition; it sure stands out from a crowd, though.
 
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