New Era: 1,500 Pairs of Tefillin Distributed Amidst Growing Spiritual Awakening
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Amichai Eyal has distributed 1,500 pairs of tefillin to Israelis committed to daily observance since the October 7th war, a project detailed in his new book 'Kesher Shel Tefillin.' The initiative has seen a surge in demand from soldiers and civilians, including from secular backgrounds and high schools. Rabbi Eyal attributes this growing spiritual engagement to a "new era" and plans to expand his outreach by studying Torah with people in their homes.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Amichai Eyal distributed 1,500 pairs of tefillin to Israelis committed to daily observance since October 7th.
- The 'Kesher Shel Tefillin' initiative has seen a significant increase in demand following the recent war.
- Rabbi Eyal's new book, 'Kesher Shel Tefillin,' shares moving stories of spiritual awakening amidst national tragedy.
- Requests for tefillin have come from soldiers, civilians, and students in secular high schools.
- The tefillin are donated, inspected, repaired, and renewed before distribution.
- Rabbi Eyal plans to expand his outreach by studying Torah with people in their homes.
Rabbi Amichai Eyal, founder of the 'Kesher Shel Tefillin' initiative, has distributed approximately 1,500 pairs of tefillin to Jews across Israel since the outbreak of the war on October 7th. Those who receive the tefillin commit to wearing them daily. The initiative, which has existed for 25 years, saw a significant surge in requests from soldiers, civilians, and even people abroad following the war's commencement.
Rabbi Eyal, who also manages the 'Or Chadash' organization, has compiled moving stories from these encounters into a new book titled 'Kesher Shel Tefillin.' He aims to highlight the spiritual awakening occurring alongside the national tragedy, stating, "Alongside this great disaster that occurred on Simchat Torah, there are also great and immense things happening, and this is the spiritual awakening that is everywhere."
One story recounts a medic from a secular background who promised to start wearing tefillin if his religious teammate, whom he was treating for injuries sustained in Gaza, survived. The teammate was saved, and the two later met in a reunion Rabbi Eyal described as "surprising and very moving." Another narrative features an officer injured in Gaza who requested tefillin from his mother upon waking from anesthesia, revealing he and his unit had already committed to daily tefillin use before entering Gaza.
Rabbi Eyal emphasized that recipients must commit to daily use, and many more have inquired than the number of tefillin pairs distributed due to this commitment. The demand remains high, with Rabbi Eyal distributing four pairs on the day of the interview to individuals from various backgrounds, including a kibbutz member, a disabled man, an elderly man whose tefillin were invalidated, and a young man who immigrated from Ukraine.
The tefillin distributed are donated from private homes, often from deceased grandfathers or when individuals purchase new pairs. These tefillin are inspected, repaired, and renewed by a STaM institute to ensure they are in excellent condition. Rabbi Eyal also noted an increase in requests from students in secular high schools, where he establishes tefillin-wearing stations with the full consent of school administrations. He explained this phenomenon as a sign of a "new era" and a return to God, not just spiritually but also practically, citing the biblical prophecy of Ezekiel regarding the ingathering of exiles and a "new heart."
Looking ahead, Rabbi Eyal plans to expand his outreach beyond tefillin, inspired by his experience with the 'Panim El Panim' initiative during the disengagement from Gush Katif. He intends to meet people in their own spaces, including their homes, to study Torah with them, rather than waiting for them to come to him.