There were many excuses Erez gave for never having put on Tefillin, but all them boiled down to the same source: Erez’s lack of belief in his ability to properly put on Tefillin!
Recently, Erez began expressing interest in putting on Tefillin. His personal hygiene situation was assessed and he was deemed worthy of putting on Tefillin on a daily basis. With Rabbi Shimon Levy’s encouragement, a pair of mehudar Tefillin was purchased, as well as a tallis, a siddur and a velvet pouch to store his Tefillin.
On Sunday, the 26th of Teves 5773, Erez put on Tefillin for the first time in his life, at the age of 40! Erez was extremely overcome with emotion as the holy straps were wrapped around his arms. Although he cannot read, he started opening sifrei kodesh, shaking back and forth in front of them, a bright exuberance shining forth from deep inside. It was clear that his holy neshamah was connecting to his Creator!
When his father was contacted to be told the good news, he broke down crying and said that since Erez joined Seeach Sod, he has seen unbelievable progress, both in physical and spiritual realms! Right now, Erez is learning how to recite the complete Krias Shema, as well as some of the basic halachos of Tefillin.
“And from the mitzvah of Tefillin, may we merit an abundance of holiness…”
