1. Early Training Steeped in Ancient Traditions (Fragment)

Tzitzit and Huetel

In the wardrobe of a rabbinical Jew there are two articles which old and young should always wear. One is the “Arbah‑Kanfot” (four corners) — a garment worn next to his body, covering his breast and shoulders with “Tzitzit” (fringes) — one on each corner. This is in compliance with Num. 15:37‑41. The significance of this little garment is to remind the wearer that he is bound always to be loyal to the God of his fathers, and to observe His statutes and commandments. The rabbis have made of this also a means of protection against evil spirits.

The other article is a typical Jewish skull‑cap, “huetel” or “yarmulkah.” Two reasons were given as to the kind and the necessity of constant head covering. The one is — the Jew in his apparel should be different from all other nations, according to the command that “he should not walk in the way of the Gentiles.” For the same reason the Jew keeps his head covered during prayer, because the Gentiles pray with their heads uncovered. The head covering is also considered a sign of mourning in compliance with 2nd Samuel 15:41‑43. Here David is shown in his bereavement when dethroned and persecuted by his son Absalom, and the text states that David’s faithful followers covered their heads. Now the Jew, who has lost his kingdom and his sanctuary, is being persecuted by the nations and mourns until God will restore him to his former position. For convenience during the night, the Jew uses another kind of cap — a soft one.

Mezuzah (Hebrew: Doorpost)

From childhood on, Leon’s attention was drawn to the Mezuzah in his home, placed on the door post in fulfillment of God’s commandment in Deut. 6:9: “Thou shalt write them (God’s Commandments) upon the posts of thy house.” Complying with the rabbinical interpretation of this command, each Jewish home has a kind of “phylactery” on each door post. This phylactery, called “Mezuzah,” is a little container with a scroll of parchment inside, on which a passage from Deut. 6:4‑7, beginning with “Shema Israel,” is carefully written in Hebrew letters by an accredited “sofer” (scribe). It is to preserve the sacred writing on this scroll that it is placed in a metal case which has a small opening for the Hebrew letter “Shin” (first letter in one of the mystical names of God — “Shaddai” — Almighty). The Mezuzah is attached to the door post in the vertical position so as to be visible.

On entering and leaving the house, young and old touch the Mezuzah, and the finger which touches the letter “Shin” is kissed, while the words in Deut. 28:6: “Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in and…when thou goest out,” and the words of Ps. 121:8: “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in…” are especially applied.

The Mezuzah is connected with Divine protection, as cited in the “Machilta,” one of the earliest rabbinical writings, where it is said to be placed as a memorial of the blood of the Passover lamb, sprinkled on the doorposts of the houses of the Israelites on the night of the deliverance from death of their firstborn sons when the death angel passed over the land of Egypt. The Mezuzah, which embodied the name of the Lord no less than ten times, became a mystical amulet.