Egypt, he who has the power and the dominion over the heavenly and the earthly creatures to deal with them as he pleases. He has commanded us to wear tefillin on the arm in memory of his outstretched arm; opposite the heart, to intimate that we ought to subject our heart’s desires and designs to the service of God, blessed be he; and on the head opposite the brain, to intimate that the mind which is in the brain, and all senses and faculties, ought to be subjected to his service, blessed be he. May my observance of the tefillin precept bring me long life, holy inspiration and sacred thoughts, and free me from any sinful reflection whatever. May the evil impulse never tempt us, but leave us to serve the Lord as our heart desires.
When placing the tefillin on the left arm:
Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us with thy commandments, and commanded us to wear tefillin.
When placing the tefillin on the forehead:
Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast sanctified us with thy commandments, and commanded us concerning the precept of tefillin.
Blessed be the name of his glorious majesty forever and ever.
Supreme God, thou wilt imbue me with thy wisdom[1] and thy intelligence; in thy grace thou wilt do great things for me; by thy might thou wilt cut off my foes and my adversaries. Thou wilt pour the good oil into the seven branches of the Menorah[2] so as to bestow thy goodness upon thy creatures. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest every living thing with favor.[3]
When winding the retsuah three times round the middle finger:
I will betroth you to myself forever; I will betroth you to myself in righteousness and in justice, in kindness and in mercy. I will betroth you to myself in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.[4]
May it be thy will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that
