Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Chabad Rebbe, taught that we must live with the times. His followers explained this to mean that we must live with the weekly Torah portion. 

Many of us heard the news yesterday about the US Airways flight that was diverted to Philadelphia after a young Jewish man's prayer items triggered a bomb scare. 

The US Airways flight was escorted by police after being diverted to Philadelphia International Airport Thursday when passengers reportedly mistook a Jewish passenger's Teffilin for a bomb. 

Although the teen explained the significance of the tefillin to the crew, the pilot opted to land the plane in Philadelphia anyway and the news reported that the unidentified youth was cooperative with authorities after the plane landed. 

Indeed, one of the commandments in this week’s Torah portion is that the tefillin should be worn as "a sign on your arm and a remembrance between your eyes, that G-d's Torah be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did G-d bring you out of Egypt." 

Just before the outbreak of the six day war in 1967, an active campaign to encourage the observance of tefillin by Jewish males over 13 years of age, was launched by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson to ensure Israel’s security, and since more than 400,000 members of the Jewish faith are estimated to have observed the commandment to wear Tefillin at the Kotel (the Western Wall). 

But why Tefillin? 

The answer can be found in the words of Deuteronomy 28:10 “And all the nations of the world will see that the Name of G-d is upon you and they will fear you” What does it mean that "the Name of G-d is upon you"? The Talmud quotes Rabbi Eliezer the Great who explained that the verse refers to the tefillin worn on the head, which bear the letter Shin symbolizing G-d's name. These are visible to the eye and have the spiritual power to inspire fear in the hearts of our enemies. 

They may not be massing armies on our borders today. But no one can deny that Israel's security is still at very high risk. 

This coming Monday will mark 60 years since the Rebbe began his leadership of the Chabad community.  Thank G-d, since the Rebbe’s launch of the Tefillin Campaign he has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands throughout the world. Today, I ask all males over the age of 13 to consider this special Mitzvah. If tefillin are not yet part of your daily routine, may this story inspire you to begin observing it now. If you are already a regular, then share the mitzvah with a friend. Besides all the wonderful traditional reasons for wearing tefillin, contributing to the spiritual security of Israel adds one more important motivation. In its merit, may Israel be safe and secure until the ultimate era of peace on earth with the coming of our righteous Moshiach speedily in our day. Amen.
 

To learn more about tefilin click here