Jewish Neck Purses?

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Hello,

In many depictions of Jews (e.g., in cinema films), several of the Jews usually are shown with some sort of pouch or purse around their neck attached by a string. What is that?
 
JMJ_coder said:
Hello,

In many depictions of Jews (e.g., in cinema films), several of the Jews usually are shown with some sort of pouch or purse around their neck attached by a string. What is that?
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Actually what Hollywood is depicting is the breastplate of Aaron the High Priest. If you count the jewels there are 12 of them consisting of 12 precious or semi precious stones. The 12 stones represent the 12 tribes of Israel It is the symbol of the office of High Priest like a stole represents the authority and office of a priest or the mitre for a bishop. However, they seemed to have an oracular function because it contained the Urim and Thumim which were used to divine God’s will of which very little seems to be known. Note these verses where it is mentioned:Exodus 28 Leviticus 8 and others
 
I think it contains scripture verses. I don’t remember the details. There is supposed to be a container with scripture verses at the front door. There is also a packet a Jew straps to his forehead and arm while praying. I think this may be related to those.
 
Not that it should ever be taken seriously, unless it is discussing Scientology, but South Park claims it is where Jews keep their Jew Gold that magically never runs out.

At least that is what Eric Cartmann said
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I think it contains scripture verses. I don’t remember the details. There is supposed to be a container with scripture verses at the front door. There is also a packet a Jew straps to his forehead and arm while praying. I think this may be related to those.
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Ok let’s try this again hopefully withoout another emergency!
The thing placed on the door is called a mezzuzah from the hebrew word for doorpost. The thing on the forehead is called a phylactery ( I foget the jewish term for it right now) The command to the jews to do these things comes from Deuteronomy 6:8,9 The phylactery consisted of a leather box containing verses of scripture from the Penteteuch which orthodox jews today wear when praying. I tried one at a messianic men’s breakfast and found it uncomfortable. Over time and with devotion the box was made bigger and bigger to contain more verses that you were honoring and became a showy devotion hence Jesus’ comments in Matthew 23. The original purpose of these practices was to remind one of the covenant with YHWH. These devotions also created a secondary effect in that they made the jew stand out from his neighbor.

The thing in the picture there is a money bag like our modern change purses. In ancient times people’s clothing didn’t have pockets so you needed some place to carry money or other valuables. It is only in modern times that somebody came up with the idea of pockets. This is the reason why the Franciscans and other orders wore their rosaries on their belts. It was a convienant place to have your rosary always handy!

RE:Cartman and the magic money purses full of gold that never run out, where do you get one of those I could use it!😃
 
I agree with Joe - it could possibly be part of the tefillin. (I believe that’s the Jewish term for the phylacteries)

Unlikely it would be for money or valuables - something like that would probably be worn INSIDE the robe so it couldn’t be seen and stolen, not hanging on the outside. Or at least attached to the girdle or belt, where it would be more convenient and less in the way.
 
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