Checking Tefillin Once a Year and Canaan's Reward of Africa

Another interpretation: "From days to days" (Exodus 13:10) tells that a person must examine his tefillin once every twelve months. It says here "from days," and it says elsewhere, "days shall be the time of its redemption" (Leviticus 25:29); just as "days" stated there means no less than twelve months, so "days" stated here means no less than twelve months—the words of the House of Hillel. The House of Shammai say: he need never examine them. Shammai the Elder says: these are the tefillin of my mother's father. "And it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite" (Exodus 13:11). Canaan merited that the land was called by his name. And what did Canaan do? Only this: when he heard that Israel was entering the land, he arose and cleared out before them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: you cleared out before My people, so I too will call the land by your name, and I will give you a land as fair as your land—and which is it? This is Africa. And so it says, "And Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth" (Genesis 10:15), and it is written, "And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, Hear us, my lord" (Genesis 23:5–6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: you honored My beloved, so I too will call the land by your name and give you a land as fair as your land—this is Africa. "As He swore to your fathers" (Exodus 13:11). And where did He swear to the fathers? Of Abraham He says, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying" (Genesis 15:18). Of Isaac, what does He say? "Sojourn in this land" (Genesis 26:3). Of Jacob, what does He say? "The land on which you lie, to you I will give it" (Genesis 28:13). "And He will give it to you" (Exodus 13:11)—that it should not be in your eyes like an inheritance from the fathers, but be in your eyes as though that very day He gave it to you.