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Meditation before putting on the tefillin

By putting on the tefillin I hereby intend to fulfil the commandment of my Creator who commanded us to wear tefillin, as it is written in the Torah: "Bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be an emblem on the centre of your head."

They contain these four sections of the Torah: one beginning with Shema; another with Vehayah im shamo-a; the third with Kaddesh; and the fourth with Vehayah. These proclaim the uniqueness and unity of G-d, blessed be His name. They also remind us of the miracles and wonders which He did for us when He brought us out of Egypt, and that He has the power and the dominion over the highest and the lowest to deal with them as He pleases.

He commanded us to place one of the tefillin on the arm in memory of His 'outstretched arm' (of redemption), setting it opposite the heart, to subject the desires and designs of our heart to His service, blessed be His name.

The other is to be on the head, opposite the brain, so that the mind, whose seat is in the brain, together with my other senses and faculties, may be subjected to His service, blessed be His name.

May the spiritual influence of the commandments of the tefillin be with me so that I may have a long life, a flow of holiness, and sacred thoughts, free from any suggestion of sin or iniquity. May the evil inclination neither incite nor entice us, but leave us to serve the Lord, as it is in our hearts to do. Amen.

Stand while putting on the tefillin. Place the hand-tefillin on the biceps of the left arm (or right arm if you are left-handed) and, before tightening the strap, say:

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, and has commanded us to put on tefillin.

Wrap the strap of the hand-tefillin seven times around the arm. Place the head-tefillin above the hairline, centrally (i.e. above the space midway between the eyes), and say:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of ther Universe, who has made us holy through His commandments, and has commanded us about the commandment of tefillin.

Adjust the strap of the head-tefillin and say:

Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and all time.

After putting on the head-tefillin, wind the strap of the hand-tefillin three times around the middle finger, saying:

I will betroth You to Me for ever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, lovingkindness and compassion; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.

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