Share Your Tefillin Experience

First time Tefillin I was a member of a Reform Temple after 40 years away from Judaism. I can from very strict Sephardic stock however strayed away in my teens only to come back to Judaism in my later years. I strayed into a Chabad service in Yorba Linda CA because the teachings that I was receiving at the Reform Temple were against everything that I had ever been taught (Torah is not history book, it's the word of G-d). Getting back to the point, the first day I attended services one of the people came and wrapped me up. It was the first time I had ever worn Tefillin since I left Judaism before I ever had a Bar mitzvah. For the first time in my life my Judaism felt complete. I came back the next service hoping that I could don Tefillin again however they didn't have any available. I contacted family that I had not seen in years begging for them to send me a set. I received my Tefillin prior to Yom Kippur and have tried to don it daily ever since. I won't travel anywhere without them. Reply

The Tefillin Booth I want to share my experience growing in Judaism. Today I put on Tefillin using online instructions. Often I do not log in to do this as I saved the link on my computer.
I almost left my apartment without putting on Tefillin today. I turned around and did it and you know whenever I put on Tefillin it is a warming experience.
Of course when I began recently it was a struggle physically to get it, meaning how to lay Tefillin and the prayers that accompany the act.
Well as people have shared with me the more I do this mitzvah the easier and more spiritual it becomes.
I am growing slowly in my Judaism.
I also say Modeh Ani, the blessing upon rising and attend Shul on a pretty regular basis. I have a long journey ahead and I hope I am blessed with a long life to be able to learn and progress. I am only 67 years young.
This entire journey has been good for my heart, soul and intellect.
Thank you Hashem and Chabad for assisting me in my journey.
Yasher Koach,
Hart Peikoff Reply

my story i am 15 years old and ive been putting on tefillin since my bar mitzvah. my dad bought me my pair of tefillin and he bought one for himself too. me and my dad started putting them on together and after my bar mitzvah he was the one who urged to put them on everyday. i always heard the stories of rabbis and orthodox people that putting on the teffilin gave them power though i never believed them. that is until i found that whenever i didnt put on the tefillin that day seemed somehow worse than my normal day. now i put teffilin everyday because i want to. because that is my time to think about g-d and to thank, apologize, and ask him for anything. now i can too say it gives me power : ) Reply

First time No, today was not the first time I ever put on tefillin. I went to a Jewish day school where we started putting on tefillin before our bar mitzvah. In airports, on airplanes, in Venice -- I never said no to the chance to put on tefillin. But, today was different. I got a brand new set of tefillin for a wedding present several months back. Today was the first time I put them on. Today was the first time I put on tefillin without anyone asking or telling me to. There has been a lot of bad in my life lately -- three friends in the hospital, one friend dead. As the rabbi who gave them to me said, laying tefillin is a "good thing". Right now, I need some of that. Reply

starting your day tefillin...better than a bowl of wheaties! Reply

Tefillin on South Beach Almost 2 or 3 weeks ago I put onTefillin for the 1st time in my life. I have not words to describe how those 10 mins have affected me. At the time I was so nervous I forgot some of the words in the prayers but the Yeshiva student was very helpfull. I can't wait to do it again and perhaps buy a pair when I can afford it but at the moment its rather impossible. All I know is I feel diferent because I did this mitzvot instead of taking my schedule lunch. Reply

Tefillin I am a 36 year old Jewish man who was raised without Judaism in his life. No Bar Mitzvah, no Hebrew, and certainly no Tefillin. My twin sons were born 3 years ago and their birth had a tremendous impact on me. It made me realize that they could become even more lost than I was. It was then that I decided to start learning. I learned Hebrew, then the prayers, and now every day practice. I never laid tefillin before but after reading a few articles on Chabad.org, I realized how important this mitzvah is. I contacted my Rabbi and told him of my interest, but that I couldn't afford them. He found a donated pair in the Shul and 'lent' them to me until I could afford my own. Then he taught me. When I put them on the first time, my soul soared, but I didn't quite know why. But now I know - I'm a Jew. And this is what I was born to do. I just ordered my first set. They came today. This Sunday will be the start of a lifetime of Tefillin. Baruch Hashem! Reply

thank you ! As the grateful recipient of this special "favor" all I can say is a heartfelt thank you to the Rabbis who spent a hot humid day last may at the Israel Independence Day helping people put on tefillin! I was so moved I went to the credit union got a loan and bought a pair of tefillin for myself! After 7 payments of 160 they are finally paid off Thank G-d!
You can never tell what your actions will accomplish thank you! Reply