You might’ve seen these dumb little boxes on their heads. I’ll explain them, but they’re much worse than you might at first think.

Called “Tefillin” (or “phylacteries”), wearing these weren’t something Moses instructed. It began as a Second Temple practice, based on a literal reading of Deuteronomy 6:8 and 11:18, which command binding God’s words “as a sign on your hand” and “frontlets between your eyes.” Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14), so Jews read the Bible like an autists reads a book of puns.

But it gets worse. Way worse. Jews have in it verses about God, like the Shema. And just when you think, “That’s sweet. They want reminded to be God focused,” you learn that Judaism teaches that GOD also wears a teffilin around HIS head, containing praises for Jews, so that He remembers to be Jew-focused.

It’s taken from tractate Berakhot 6a, which claims that’s the meaning of Isaiah 62:8, “The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm,” which they claim is a reference to God wearing one on his right hand, which is a list of ways that Jews are superior to all other races, which is why God loves them so much.

The idea is a kind of role reversal. Just as israel worships God because He’s the best God, God worships Israel he because they’re the best people. There’s a companion story in the same Talmudic passage where Moses catches God in the act of tying His own tefillin.

God is Spirit, but whatever, I guess.

In the Rabbinic mindset, their Covenant is so secure because it’s not just Jews who need God. God also needs Jews. It’s a reciprocal relationship.

They also believe God studies the Torah 4 hours per day to stay sharp and not forget any of it (Avodah Zarah 3b) and that when the Temple was destroyed, He cried three times a night, sad and mourning its loss (Berakhot 3a). Rabbi Yose says he once entered a ruin to pray and encountered Elijah, who told him God prays, too, but to Himself that He can be as good a God to the Jews as they deserve.

God made man in His image. Then came the Jews, and returned the favor.

https://x.com/LostMyHats/status/2085483930103222466

(https://autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5890364&forum_id=2#50051378)