TA PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. XXXIV. 
17-21). Some synagogues have in the vestibule a laver for the wor- 
shippers to wash their hands before performing the prayer which has 
taken the place of sacrifices. The washing of hands is accompanied 
by a benediction. Measurements, height 65 inches; diameters, 44 and 
34 inches. Tunis, North Africa. (Cat. No. 217687, U.S.N.M.) 
44, Laver.—Made of copper with two handles. Height, 62 inches; 
diameters, 54 and 4? inches. (Cat. No. 248925, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat. 
45. Atmsspox.—Made of copper. Height, 6 inches; diameters, 44 
and 8 inches. (Cat. No. 248926, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat. 
II. OBJECTS USED AT PRAYER. 
46. Mintarurn Prayer Boor (siddur, 1. e., orDER, or seder tefilloth, 
ORDER OF PRAYERS).—Containing all the prayers and devotions used 
on week days and on special festal occasions, in the synagogue and at 
home. Printed at Amsterdam, Holland, in the year 5499 (17389). 
-Bound in leather, with silver clasps, with the name of “ Ephraim 
Benguiat ” in Hebrew characters impressed on the left cover. (Plate 
LXXV, fig. 1, Cat. No. 154581, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat. 
47. Puynacreriss (tefillin).—(Plate LXXYV, fig. 2, and Plate 
LXXVI, fig. 1, Cat. No. 154583, U.S.N.M.) The phylacteries, or 
tefillin, ave two square boxes of parchment. The boxes are fastened to 
a kind of a base made of thick parchment with a loop on one side, so as 
to let a narrow leather strap pass through (Plate LX XVI, fig. 1). 
Into these boxes are inserted the following passages from the Penta- 
teuch, written on strips of parchment: Exodus xu, 1-10; Exodus xin, 
11-16; Deuteronomy vi, 4-9; and Deuteronomy xi, 13-21. By means 
of the straps the boxes are bound around the arm and head and worn 
by all male Jews who have attained religious majority—1. e., passed the 
thirteenth year of age—during morning prayers of week days; hence 
their Hebrew name fefillin, from tefillah, prayer. The name phylac- 
teries is derived from the Greek $vAaxrhpi. (phylacteria), which is 
used in the New Testament,’ meaning, properly, things that guard, 
i. e., amulets, talismans, which the Jewish ¢efillin are not. The New 
Testament name may be based upon an external resemblance between 
the tefillin and the Greek phylacteria. The obligation to wear tefi/lin 
is derived from the command included in the extracts mentioned 
above: “And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand and for 
frontlets between your eyes.” ? 
The tefilla for the head is embossed on two sides of the exterior 
with the Hebrew letter » shin (sh), and inside is divided into four 
4Matthew xxiii, 5. 
’ Deuteronomy vi, 8; xi, 18. Compare Exodus xiii, 9 and 16. 
