Traditional ties to God

Since his own bar mitzvah in Rogers Park at the age of 13, Oren Rotman has been wrapping.

A few times a week the Buffalo Grove resident carefully winds leather straps and leather boxes called tefillin (also phylacteries) around his arm and his head before he says the ancient morning prayers.

He has also taught others how to fulfill the ritual, and will do so again Sunday as part of an international World Wide Wrap.

The Men's Club at Beth Judea will host a full morning of activities, including breakfast and a video titled "The Ties that Bind."

They will teach wrapping to both men and women. In the Conservative movement, women participate, Orthodox women do not.

The boxes contain the words to a prayer that commands people to remember and to do all the commandments.

"When they are right there, it's hard to ignore them," Rotman said. "We do this to revitalize our traditions and to make a connection between the older and younger generations."

Organized by Norm Kurtz, president of the Men's Club and vice president of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, the refreshment tables will also feature wrapped foods to maintain the theme.

"We set aside this one day when, throughout the world, we are raising the consciousness of wearing tefillin as you say your morning prayers," Kurtz said.

Since congregations started participating in the World Wide Wrap six years ago, "the awareness and use of tefillin has greatly increased," Kurtz said.

Those who perform the tefillin ritual say that the physical act creates a literal connection to God. For example, part of the leather strap is wrapped around the wedding finger to symbolize marriage to God.

Albert Stark, a long-time member of Congregation Beth Judea, said he enjoys "laying tefillin." Instead of simply saying he is connected to God, Stark is acting out that spiritual connection.

"I am pleased to see increasing numbers of young people becoming curious about ancient traditions like tefillin," he said. "The ritual is as significant today as it was 2,000 years ago."

Marc Chappe, co-president of Beth Judea's Men's Club, says this is no fad.

"Many Conservative Jews and all Orthodox Jews around the country and the world have been 'laying tefillin' as a regular part of their worship for over 2,000 years," he said.

"The difference today," Chappe added, "is that the World Wide Wrap has given its practitioners a forum to share and discuss their tradition."

The activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday with a discussion, followed by a special service at 9 a.m. and breakfast at 10 a.m. Beth Judea is at Hilltop Road, north of Lake Cook Road and Route 83, in Long Grove. For details, call (847) 634-0777.