This article was posted earlier this week: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3199682/posts
My thanks to Tilted Irish Kilt for the explanation that “the magic charms” are not magic but faith reminders:
“..the Jewish practice of wearing a piece of scripture as part of one’s clothing; unfortunately I do not know the proper name for this item/practice.”
I knew of the term wearing phalacteries among Orthodox Hassidic Jews, as I grew up in predominately Jewish neighborhoods.
I was occassionaly the “shabot goy (Sabboth Gentile-worker)” as truely Orthodox don’t work on the Sabboth.
SOURCE :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin
Info :” efillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers.
Also
SOURCE:judaism.about.com/od/prayersworship/a/What-Are-Tefillin.htm
INFO: Tefillin are two small leather boxes that are worn by observant Jewish men during morning services. One box is attached to an arm and the other is affixed between the eyes, just above the forehead.
Thanks for the post and ping. Like you, I also grew up in a Jewish neighborhood. To this day, I cherish many happy memories from those years.
Sounds like the garment version of the mezuzah, the little holder of a tiny prayer scroll that Jewish people attach by their front doors. They will kiss their hands and touch the mezuzah on entering the house, as a prayerful gesture asking for God’s protection and blessing.