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Details About the Tefillin Boxes and Straps: Difference between revisions

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==Halachot of the Boxes (Batim)==
==Halachot of the Boxes (Batim)==
# The boxes should be black. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 33:3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 12 </ref>
# The boxes should be black. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 33:3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 12 </ref>
# The Tefillin boxes must be square. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:39, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 13 </ref>  
# The Tefillin boxes must be square. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:39, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 13 </ref>  
# In normal circumstances, Sephardim will not have fulfilled their obligation of [[Tefillin]], if they are written according to minhag Ashkenaz. If one has no choice, a halachic authority should be contacted. <ref> Halacha Brurah 32:148. See Yechave Daat 2:3 and 5:3 where Chacham Ovadia explains that LeKulei Alma the script itself is not a problem; rather, the issue is that Ashkenazi sofrim follow the Taz's peshara to be yotzeh both the Rambam and Rosh's opinions of a Parsha Stumah. Since the Shulchan Aruch explicitly rejects this peshara in Hilchot Sefer Torah, it is invalid for Sepharadim, thereby rendering the [[Tefillin]] Pesulim according to the Sephardi custom.</ref>
# In normal circumstances, Sephardim will not have fulfilled their obligation of [[Tefillin]], if they are written according to minhag Ashkenaz. If one has no choice, a halachic authority should be contacted. <ref> Halacha Brurah 32:148. See Yechave Daat 2:3 and 5:3 where Chacham Ovadia explains that LeKulei Alma the script itself is not a problem; rather, the issue is that Ashkenazi sofrim follow the Taz's peshara to be yotzeh both the Rambam and Rosh's opinions of a Parsha Stumah. Since the Shulchan Aruch explicitly rejects this peshara in Hilchot Sefer Torah, it is invalid for Sepharadim, thereby rendering the [[Tefillin]] Pesulim according to the Sephardi custom.</ref>


== Halachot for the Scribe ==
== Halachot for the Scribe ==
# The passages must be written in the order of the Torah (Kadesh, VeHaya Ki Yiviyecha, Shema, and then VeHaya Im Shamoa). <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:1 </ref> It is preferable to write the passages for the arm [[Tefillin]] before writing the passages for the head [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Rama 32:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 2 </ref>  
# The passages must be written in the order of the Torah (Kadesh, VeHaya Ki Yiviyecha, Shema, and then VeHaya Im Shamoa). <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:1 </ref> It is preferable to write the passages for the arm [[Tefillin]] before writing the passages for the head [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Rama 32:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 2 </ref>  
# Those in the head [[Tefillin]] are written on four separate pieces of parchment, while those in the arm [[Tefillin]] are written on one piece of parchment. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:2</ref>
# Those in the head [[Tefillin]] are written on four separate pieces of parchment, while those in the arm [[Tefillin]] are written on one piece of parchment. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:2</ref>
#The first three passages are Petuchot and the last one is Setumah. Bediavad, if the parsha which is supposed to be patuach is written satum or the satum parsha is written patuach the [[Tefillin]] are considered pasul.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 34:36, See Taz ibid. Yechave Daat 5:3, Ohr LeTzion vol. 2 pg 35, Iggros Moshe O.C. vol. 1 Siman 12</ref>
#The first three passages are Petuchot and the last one is Setumah. Bediavad, if the parsha which is supposed to be patuach is written satum or the satum parsha is written patuach the [[Tefillin]] are considered pasul.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 34:36, See Taz ibid. Yechave Daat 5:3, Ohr LeTzion vol. 2 pg 35, Iggros Moshe O.C. vol. 1 Siman 12</ref>
# The parchment must be made from the skin of a kosher type of animal or bird. Even if the animal is taref, it is permitted to use as long as the animal is from a kosher species. <ref> [[Shabbos]] 108a, Shulchan Aruch 32:12, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 6 </ref>
# The parchment must be made from the skin of a kosher type of animal or bird. Even if the animal is taref, it is permitted to use as long as the animal is from a kosher species. <ref> [[Shabbos]] 108a, Shulchan Aruch 32:12, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 6 </ref>
# The passages must be written with intent of writting them for the [[kedusha]] of [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:19 </ref>
# The passages must be written with intent of writting them for the [[kedusha]] of [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:19 </ref>
# Before and while writing the passages for the [[Tefillin]] the sofer should say "I am writing for the sake of the holiness of [[Tefillin]]." <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 7 </ref>
# Before and while writing the passages for the [[Tefillin]] the sofer should say "I am writing for the sake of the holiness of [[Tefillin]]." <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 7 </ref>
# The passages must be written with one's right hand if one is right-handed or ambidextrous, however, a left-handed person must write the passages with his left hand. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:5. See Mishna Brurah 32:18 who quotes the Pri Megadim that preferably one should not have a sofer who writes with the right hand and does other activities with the left hand or the opposite. </ref>
# The passages must be written with one's right hand if one is right-handed or ambidextrous, however, a left-handed person must write the passages with his left hand. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:5. See Mishna Brurah 32:18 who quotes the Pri Megadim that preferably one should not have a sofer who writes with the right hand and does other activities with the left hand or the opposite. </ref>
# The passages must be written with black ink. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:3 </ref>
# The passages must be written with black ink. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:3 </ref>
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# The passages for [[Tefillin]] must be written by a literate religious adult male Jew. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:30 and Shulchan Aruch 39:1 </ref>
# The passages for [[Tefillin]] must be written by a literate religious adult male Jew. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:30 and Shulchan Aruch 39:1 </ref>
# [[Tefillin]] written by a gentile or a Jew who does not believe in the entire Torah and its divinity are not kosher. <ref> Rambam Hilchot [[Tefillin]] 1:13 </ref> Women are exempt from wearing [[Tefillin]] and as such may not write [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Gemara Gittin 45b, S"A 39:1</ref>
# [[Tefillin]] written by a gentile or a Jew who does not believe in the entire Torah and its divinity are not kosher. <ref> Rambam Hilchot [[Tefillin]] 1:13 </ref> Women are exempt from wearing [[Tefillin]] and as such may not write [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Gemara Gittin 45b, S"A 39:1</ref>
# The passages should be written on 4 separate pieces of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh and on the same piece of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel yad. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[tefilin]]), seif 3 </ref>
# The passages should be written on 4 separate pieces of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh and on the same piece of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel yad. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 3 </ref>


==Halachot of the Straps (Retzuot)==
==Halachot of the Straps (Retzuot)==
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==Getting Tefillin Checked==
==Getting Tefillin Checked==
# Even though one is not obligated, it is praiseworthy to have one's [[Tefillin]] checked every year, particularly during the month of [[Elul]] and the aseret yimei teshuva. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:49, http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=356 </ref>
# Even though one is not obligated, it is praiseworthy to have one's [[Tefillin]] checked every year, particularly during the month of [[Elul]] and the aseret yimei teshuva. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:49, http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=356 </ref>
# It is proper to check one's tefilin to make sure that they are still valid twice every seven years. However, if [[Tefilin]] get damaged by water then they should be checked immediately, if that is not possible then one may use them, however without making a bracha.  
# It is proper to check one's Tefillin to make sure that they are still valid twice every seven years. However, if [[Tefilin]] get damaged by water then they should be checked immediately, if that is not possible then one may use them, however without making a bracha.  
<ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu 10:26 </ref>
<ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu 10:26 </ref>
# If one has not gotten one's [[Tefillin]] checked for a long time and later finds out they were unkosher, one should increase one's Torah learning and some say one should take upon oneself to also wear Rabbeinu Tam [[Tefillin]] if one has not been already doing so. <ref> Sh"t Otzrot Yosef 3:8 </ref>
# If one has not gotten one's [[Tefillin]] checked for a long time and later finds out they were unkosher, one should increase one's Torah learning and some say one should take upon oneself to also wear Rabbeinu Tam [[Tefillin]] if one has not been already doing so. <ref> Sh"t Otzrot Yosef 3:8 </ref>