I wanted to take this opportunity to share about the World Wide Wrap (WWW) and its importance. However, before I do, I would like to share my experience. I’m thrilled to talk about my most favorite ritual. So much so, that long before getting involved with the WWW, ever since I discovered its significance, I’ve made it my daily practice. Like most rituals in Jewish life, it’s not simply about believing, but about loving HaShem Elohim with all your heart, mind, strength/might–the action of believing.
That said, this ritual has such importance to me that if for some uncontrollable reason I wasn’t able to do so in the morning to start my day, I feel naked and defenseless. Along with my tallit & tzitzit (Bamidbar/Numbers 15:38), it is literally my armor and weapon in dealing with the challenges of my daily life. I hope after my short discourse, it will give you pause for both its significance and value for your Jewish life as well.
To start off with, the CBI Men’s Club is an affiliate of the international Federation of Jewish Men’s Club (FJMC); and the World Wide Wrap (WWW) program is an FJMC initiative that has the following objective:
Design and implement programming to promote the daily mitzvah of tefillin use – emphasizing the deeply personal aspects of wrapping tefillin – a meaningful way to experience “first thoughts” of the day and reflection on our connection to God via prayer. Tefillin can be a powerful source of comfort and for coping with family illness, loss of a loved one and the infinite challenges of everyday life.
Every year on Super Bowl Sunday, Men’s Clubs from all over the world gather together to participate in this ancient ritualistic mitzvah to wrap tefillin along with our morning prayers.
As you may know, the mitzvah of tefillin is more than tradition. And like many Jewish traditions, this one too is rooted in Torah. In fact it is derived from the Shema,
“… And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes….” (Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:8)
Furthermore, in the instructions for us to remember the exodus from Egypt, we are commanded,
“And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did the LORD bring you out of Egypt.” (Shemot/Exodus 13:9)
A direct command from HaShem in Torah and has been a Jewish practice for thousands of years. Talk about incredible!
In addition to binding us together with the shared experience of being freed from the bondage of Egypt, and the Torah will be in our mouths. I hope by now you got a sense of my excitement and why this is more than an event, but an opportunity to connect together in unity. So much so that some attributes the coming of Mashiach (Messiah) to be tied to the coming together to wrap tefillin.
More more details, you can visit the FJMC website at https://www.fjmc.org/wrap. Here’s a video that can give you a short summary of the project. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TseOUpuprr8). Enjoy!