Allegedly their phylacteries are the result of them misinterpreting God's command to bind His law to their heads (which just meant *remember the law*, not literally binding copies of the Law to their heads). But it could just be cover some occult practice like you say, since I do not trust their official explanations of anything. I wouldn't be to surprised if instead of copies of the Law, those phylacteries had some occult curses in them).
and we all know how jewd love to act in accordance with whatever jewish mysticism/occult/magic it is that they follow
Virtually all ancient polytheism IDs the 5 visible planets as top gods among the pantheon.
The more I look the more correlation I see. Plus "they" believe it and act in accordance.