phylacteries — Judaism. either of two small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses 4–9 of Deut. 6, 13–21 of Deut. 11, and 1–16 of Ex. 13: one is attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men.
crazes — to derange or impair the mind of; make insane: He was crazed by jealousy.
things — (in Scandinavian countries) a public meeting or assembly, especially a legislative assembly or a court of law.
proclivities — natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition: a proclivity to meticulousness.
biases — a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned: illegal bias against older job applicants; the magazine’s bias toward art rather than photography; our strong bias in favor of the idea.
desires — A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.
prejudices — an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.