Back To Cuba - Day 5 (part 2)

More street photos from Havana, in the neighborhood of the Central Park and the Prado.

Tefillin - Part 3

Last set from the event this past Sunday.

Concentration:

With Zayde:

The proud Mama:

Tefillin - Part 2

More from the event this past Sunday.

Grandfather, father, and sons:

Brothers-in-law:

Giving tzedakah:

Tefillin

I needed to take a break from working on my Cuba Trip pictures and the perfect opportunity came up this morning. Tefillin are ritual objects (in Greek called phylacteries) that are worn during the morning prayers by men from the time they are bar mitzvah age. They're black lacquered leather boxes that contain hand written parchment scrolls - much the same as a torah. This morning's occasion celebrated the first time a young man was wearing his tefillin - he's to be bar mitzvah in two months. It's a joyous coming of age ceremony beginning a lifetime commitment to spiritual study and growth, and it's one of the grounding rites that provides continuity through life and connects each of us to thousands of generations of our ancestors.

Cousins:

 Father and son - passing on the tradition:

 Grandfathers:

Newly initiated and younger brother:

Extended family:

Accouterments: