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About two years ago, clinical material directed my attention to the study of Jewish ritual observances, particularly the phylacteries, praying shawl and door-post symbol. About the same time papers were published in the Imago (1930, Nos. 3/4) by Reik on The Praying Shawl and Phylacteries of the Jews and by Langer on The Jewish Phylacteries. This paper will deal with clinical material, with a summary of psycho-analytical views and with a reference to other literature in the following order:
A.A descriptive account of the form and usages of:
i.The Phylacteries (Hebrew—tefillin).
ii.The small, four-cornered garment (Hebrew—tsitsith, tassels, fringe, or arba'kanfoth, four corners).
iii.The large, four-cornered praying shawl (talith, scarf).
iv.The door-post scroll (Hebrew—mezuzah, door-post).
B.General Jewish religious opinion on the use and meaning of these ornaments.
C.The views of some modern scholars which may be classified into (1) the Amulet, (2) the Phallic theory.
D.Some clinical observations.