How do you predict the outcome of a war? Is it by the size of the respective armies? The advancement of their military technology? Or perhaps the amount of foreign aid being poured into the government's coffers?
Not many people would intuitively look to the spiritual health of a nation to predict a geopolitical outcome, but one Rabbi in Israel, Josh Friedman, sees the two as inextricably connected, and he is connecting them through the special commandment of Tefillin.
Rabbi Friedman, a 4th generation Memphian, moved his family to Israel, as he dreamed to live in the Jewish homeland and help the country through his non-profit, Israel Select Charity Fund. In an interview with Glenn's staff, he explained Tefillin consists of two black leather boxes with straps that Jewish men are commanded to wear on their head and arm during morning prayers. Each of the boxes contains small scrolls with hand-written excerpts from the Torah. The commandment to wear Tefillin appears 4 times in the Torah, specifying God's people bind His commandments on their arms and foreheads. While wearing Tefillin, Jewish men proclaim their faith in the Lord with the declaration of the Shema prayer “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
What does this particular garment have to do with Israel's ongoing war with Hamas? Rabbi Friedman explained, “As much as we know that we need a strong army […] the way we are going to win is to turn to God," and wearing Tefillin is the outward expression of the Jewish people connecting to God.
Rabbi Friedman noted how throughout Jewish history, "when the Jewish people turn to God, He shows up." And the current war with Hamas is no different. As Glenn said in his historic 2011 "Restoring Courage" address in Israel:
In Israel, you see courage [...] they didn't wait for the conventions of society to catch up with God's ancient laws. They pushed, they pressed, and in the end, they were the victors. That spirit lives within each and every one of us.
A united army is a stronger army, and Tefillin has become a powerful source of unity as the IDF continues its campaign in Gaza. Since the war broke out following Hamas' October 7th terror attacks, there has been an unprecedented number of requests from IDF soldiers to wear Tefillin—about 8,000 to date. Wearing Tefillin has helped bridge the divide between the observant and secular Jews in the IDF forces, with both beginning their day by donning Tefillin and praying the Shema. It also unites the IDF soldiers in fervor, reminding them that the same God who commanded them to wear Tefillin, who delivered them from the Egyptians, and who has preserved their people throughout history, is still dwelling with them now.
Rabbi Friedman has a mission to provide Tefillin to every IDF soldier who requests one, and both Jewish and non-Jewish donors have stepped up to the plate. Rabbi Friedman's Israel Select Charity Fund has raised over $3,450,000 out of its $4 million goal, enough to provide Tefillin to the 8,000 IDF soldiers who have requested them.
But the demand is growing.
Israel isn't just fighting a war with Hamas. This week, Hezbollah linked arms with Hamas and fired an onslaught of missiles from Lebanon over Israel's northern border, explicitly attributing the attack to their solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinian people. Israel's war is long from over, and the demand for Tefillin amongst the IDF is only growing.
Israel and the Jewish people are no strangers to being the underdog. Throughout Scripture and history, large armies and hostile oppressors have made the Jewish people their target. But God showed up, and He always will if His people turn to Him.
If you want to link arms with Rabbi Friedman's mission to connect Jewish men and soldiers to God through Tefillin, click here to learn more.