Anonymous

Putting On and Removing Tefillin: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
no edit summary
No edit summary
Line 45: Line 45:


== Process of Putting Tefillin On==
== Process of Putting Tefillin On==
# First one puts on the [[Tefillin]] of the arm before putting on the [[Tefillin]] of the head. <ref>Rashi Yoma 33b "Avurei" learns this from the concept of ein maavirin al hamitzvot. Tosfot there "avurei" questions this because the gemara Menachot 36a derives this from the pasuk (Devarim 6:8, see above) of [[Tefillin]], which mentions arm before head. Therefore Tosfot interpet the gemara in Yoma as referring to the placement of the [[Tefillin]] in the bag. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 18. Ben Ish Chai Vayera Halacha 6 says that this order has great kabbalistic significance as well. Chazon Ovadia Chelek 2 page 209 says that the order relates to the idea of naase vinishma (Shemot 24:7, that the Jews accepted to observe the commandments and only afterwards understand them) because the [[Tefillin]] shel yad represent our actions and the shel rosh represent our understanding </ref> Therefore one should be careful to arrange the [[Tefillin]] in the case so that one takes the [[Tefillin]] shel yad first. Furthermore, it is proper to keep the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh in one's bag or at least still wrapped until one is finished donning the [[Tefillin]] shel yad. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 20 </ref>
# First one puts on the [[Tefillin]] of the arm before putting on the [[Tefillin]] of the head. <ref>Rashi Yoma 33b "Avurei" learns this from the concept of ein maavirin al hamitzvot. Tosfot there "avurei" questions this because the gemara Menachot 36a derives this from the pasuk (Devarim 6:8, see above) of [[Tefillin]], which mentions arm before head. Therefore Tosfot interpret the gemara in Yoma as referring to the placement of the [[Tefillin]] in the bag. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 18. Ben Ish Chai Vayera Halacha 6 says that this order has great kabbalistic significance as well. Chazon Ovadia Chelek 2 page 209 says that the order relates to the idea of naase vinishma (Shemot 24:7, that the Jews accepted to observe the commandments and only afterwards understand them) because the [[Tefillin]] shel yad represent our actions and the shel rosh represent our understanding </ref> Therefore one should be careful to arrange the [[Tefillin]] in the case so that one takes the [[Tefillin]] shel yad first. Furthermore, it is proper to keep the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh in one's bag or at least still wrapped until one is finished donning the [[Tefillin]] shel yad. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 20 </ref>
# Right handed people wear the [[Tefillin]] on their left arm and left handed people place it on their right arm. Whether you are right handed or left handed is determined by which hand you write with. Someone who is completely ambidextrous should place it on the left arm. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:1, 27:6 based on gemara Menachot 37a. Halacha Brurah 27:21 writes that someone who writes with one hand and performs all other activities with another is considered praiseworthy if he places [[Tefillin]] on the other hand in addition, however without making a bracha on the second [[Tefillin]]. This is also the ruling of Rabbi Eli Mansour http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=1101 </ref> One who in the past performed all activities with his right hand but for whatever reason has lost use of it and now his left becomes stronger should place it on the right arm. <ref> Mishna Brurah 27:22 </ref>
# Right handed people wear the [[Tefillin]] on their left arm and left handed people place it on their right arm. Whether you are right handed or left handed is determined by which hand you write with. Someone who is completely ambidextrous should place it on the left arm. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:1, 27:6 based on gemara Menachot 37a. Halacha Brurah 27:21 writes that someone who writes with one hand and performs all other activities with another is considered praiseworthy if he places [[Tefillin]] on the other hand in addition, however without making a bracha on the second [[Tefillin]]. This is also the ruling of Rabbi Eli Mansour http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=1101 </ref> One who in the past performed all activities with his right hand but for whatever reason has lost use of it and now his left becomes stronger should place it on the right arm. <ref> Mishna Brurah 27:22 </ref>
# Even if someone's heart is on the right side, a righty should still place Tefilin on the left arm.<ref>Halacha Brurah 27:4</ref>
# The Sephardic minhag is to place the [[Tefillin]] shel yad while seated and the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh while standing, <ref> Kaf HaChaim 25:33, Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:36, Chesed La'alafim 25:4. </ref> and remain standing while wrapping the [[Tefillin]] around the hand. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 25:68, Chesed La'alafim 25:11, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 18 </ref> A Sephardi who prays in an Ashkenazic [[minyan]] should place his [[Tefillin]] according to Sephardic minhag. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:36 </ref>
# The Sephardic minhag is to place the [[Tefillin]] shel yad while seated and the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh while standing, <ref> Kaf HaChaim 25:33, Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:36, Chesed La'alafim 25:4. </ref> and remain standing while wrapping the [[Tefillin]] around the hand. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 25:68, Chesed La'alafim 25:11, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the donning of [[tefillin]], seif 18 </ref> A Sephardi who prays in an Ashkenazic [[minyan]] should place his [[Tefillin]] according to Sephardic minhag. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:36 </ref>
# According to some poskim one may kiss one's [[Tefillin]] shel rosh when one takes them out of one's bag even though one should try not to interrupt between the [[Tefillin]] shel yad and shel, rosh since kissing it is giving it honor, it is permitted. <ref>Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:27:1 </ref>
# According to some poskim one may kiss one's [[Tefillin]] shel rosh when one takes them out of one's bag even though one should try not to interrupt between the [[Tefillin]] shel yad and shel, rosh since kissing it is giving it honor, it is permitted. <ref>Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:27:1 </ref>
Line 53: Line 54:
# If one injured one's arm, one should wrap one's [[Tefillin]] on top of the rag that covers the wound. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 10 </ref> Nonetheless, one should try to avoid wrapping one's [[Tefillin]] over one's bandage. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 11 </ref> Furthermore, in a case where donning the [[Tefillin]] over a rag is necessary, one does not recite a bracha on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad, but one should recite a bracha on the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh and have the [[Tefillin]] shel yad in mind. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 12 </ref>
# If one injured one's arm, one should wrap one's [[Tefillin]] on top of the rag that covers the wound. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 10 </ref> Nonetheless, one should try to avoid wrapping one's [[Tefillin]] over one's bandage. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 11 </ref> Furthermore, in a case where donning the [[Tefillin]] over a rag is necessary, one does not recite a bracha on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad, but one should recite a bracha on the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh and have the [[Tefillin]] shel yad in mind. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 12 </ref>


==<noglossary>If One Mistakenly Put on the Tefillin Shel Rosh First</noglossary>==
==If One Mistakenly Put on the Tefillin Shel Rosh First==
# If one mistakenly took the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh first, one must put it down and put on the [[Tefillin]] Shel Yad first. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 25:6, Kaf Hachayim 25:42 </ref>
# If one mistakenly took the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh first, one must put it down and put on the [[Tefillin]] Shel Yad first. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 25:6, Kaf Hachayim 25:42 </ref>
# If one mistakenly put on the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh first, one should put on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad afterwards and need not take off the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh before putting the [[Tefillin]] shel yad on. However, if one put the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh on incorrectly, one should take it off, put on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad, and then re-don the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, one who only has one tefila, seif 2 </ref>
# If one mistakenly put on the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh first, one should put on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad afterwards and need not take off the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh before putting the [[Tefillin]] shel yad on. However, if one put the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh on incorrectly, one should take it off, put on the [[Tefillin]] shel yad, and then re-don the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, one who only has one tefila, seif 2 </ref>
Line 72: Line 73:


==Where the Tefillin Are Placed==
==Where the Tefillin Are Placed==
# The arm [[Tefillin]] is placed on the biceps, below the halfway point of the bone between the elbow and armpit and on the elevated part of the muscle which is slightly above the elbow. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:1 writes that the Tefillin shel yad is placed on the bone between the elbow and armpit on the elevated part of the muscle. The Rama adds that it has to be below the halfway point on that bone. The Mishna Brurah 27:4 clarifies that it must be slightly above the elbow so that it is on the elevated part of the muscle. Halacha Brurah 27:3 agrees.</ref> After the bracha is said, the arm [[Tefillin]] is tightened, then wrapped around the arm seven times. The knot formation and arm binding differ considerably between different traditions. The Sephardic minhag is to wrap the seven times outward, away from the body while the Ashkenazi minhag is to wrap towards the body. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 25:67, Halacha Brurah 27:27 </ref> There is a custom to cover the arm [[Tefillin]] with the sleeve, in accordance with the verse "And they will be a sign to you...", i.e. to you and not to others. <ref> Ben Ish Chai Vayera 15 based on Shaar Hakavanot Derush 5 of [[Tefillin]] </ref>
[[Image:Tefillin shel yad placement.png|200px|right]]
# The arm [[Tefillin]] is placed on the biceps, below the halfway point of the bone between the elbow and armpit and on the elevated part of the flesh which is slightly above the elbow. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:1 writes that the Tefillin shel yad is placed on the bone between the elbow and armpit on the elevated part of the flesh. The Rama adds that it has to be below the halfway point on that bone. The Mishna Brurah 27:4 clarifies that it must be slightly above the elbow so that it is on the elevated part of the flesh. Halacha Brurah 27:3 agrees.</ref> After the bracha is said, the arm [[Tefillin]] is tightened, then wrapped around the arm seven times. The knot formation and arm binding differ considerably between different traditions. The Sephardic minhag is to wrap the seven times outward, away from the body while the Ashkenazi minhag is to wrap towards the body. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 25:67, Halacha Brurah 27:27 </ref> There is a custom to cover the arm [[Tefillin]] with the sleeve, in accordance with the verse "And they will be a sign to you...", i.e. to you and not to others. <ref> Ben Ish Chai Vayera 15 based on Shaar Hakavanot Derush 5 of [[Tefillin]] </ref>
# Next, the head [[Tefillin]] is placed on top of the head, "between the eyes" but not lower than the hairline (or if balding, where one's hairline once was). <ref> Ben Ish Chai Chayei Sarah Halacha 1 </ref>  The knot of the head [[Tefillin]] sits at the back of the head, upon the part of the occipital bone that protrudes just above the nape. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:10 </ref> The two straps of the head [[Tefillin]] are brought in front of the shoulders, with their blackened side facing outwards. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:11 </ref>
# Next, the head [[Tefillin]] is placed on top of the head, "between the eyes" but not lower than the hairline (or if balding, where one's hairline once was). <ref> Ben Ish Chai Chayei Sarah Halacha 1 </ref>  The knot of the head [[Tefillin]] sits at the back of the head, upon the part of the occipital bone that protrudes just above the nape. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:10 </ref> The two straps of the head [[Tefillin]] are brought in front of the shoulders, with their blackened side facing outwards. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:11 </ref>