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Tefillin: Difference between revisions
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==Importance of Tefillin== | ==Importance of Tefillin== | ||
# One who is meticulous concerning the mitzvah of tefillin and treats it with holiness merits a long life in this world and a portion in the world to come. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the mitzvah of tefillin, seif 1 </ref> | # One who is meticulous concerning the mitzvah of tefillin and treats it with holiness merits a long life in this world and a portion in the world to come. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the mitzvah of tefillin, seif 1 </ref> | ||
==Reward for the Mitzvah of Tefillin== | |||
# One who is meticulous regarding the mitzvah of tefilin will not face the fire of gehinam and will have his iniquities forgiven. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, the reward for the mitzvah of tefillin, seif 1 </ref> | |||
==Punishment for not Fulfilling the Mitzvah of Tefillin== | |||
# One who doesn't don tefillin will not rise at the resurrection of the dead. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, the reward for the mitzvah of tefillin, seif 3 </ref> | |||
==Putting on Tefillin at home== | ==Putting on Tefillin at home== | ||
# One who is careful to wear a [[Talit]] Katan ([[Tzitzit]]) should put on the [[Talit]] Katan and Tefillin in one's house and then walk to Shul wearing Tefillin and in Shul put on a [[Talit]] Gadol. <Ref> Based on the Zohar Vaetchanan 265, the Shulchan Aruch 25:2 rules that one who is careful to wear a [[Talit]] Katan should put on the [[Talit]] Katan and Tefillin in one's house and then walk to Shul wearing Tefillin and in Shul put on a [[Talit]] Gadol.</ref> However, some say that one should only put on one's Tefilin at home if one had put on a [[Talit]] Gadol beforehand. <ref> Halacha Berura (Rav David Yosef, 25:11) quotes the Ari"zal as saying that even if one is wearing a [[Talit]] Katan one must put one's [[Talit]] Gadol before putting on one's Tefillin at home and adds that it's good to follow this latter opinion. </ref> | # One who is careful to wear a [[Talit]] Katan ([[Tzitzit]]) should put on the [[Talit]] Katan and Tefillin in one's house and then walk to Shul wearing Tefillin and in Shul put on a [[Talit]] Gadol. <Ref> Based on the Zohar Vaetchanan 265, the Shulchan Aruch 25:2 rules that one who is careful to wear a [[Talit]] Katan should put on the [[Talit]] Katan and Tefillin in one's house and then walk to Shul wearing Tefillin and in Shul put on a [[Talit]] Gadol.</ref> However, some say that one should only put on one's Tefilin at home if one had put on a [[Talit]] Gadol beforehand. <ref> Halacha Berura (Rav David Yosef, 25:11) quotes the Ari"zal as saying that even if one is wearing a [[Talit]] Katan one must put one's [[Talit]] Gadol before putting on one's Tefillin at home and adds that it's good to follow this latter opinion. </ref> | ||
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# It’s also important to have intent that is doing the action in order to fulfill a Biblical obligation. <ref> S”A 60:4 </ref> | # It’s also important to have intent that is doing the action in order to fulfill a Biblical obligation. <ref> S”A 60:4 </ref> | ||
==Who is obligated?== | ==Who is obligated? Who is exempt?== | ||
# All men above the age of thirteen are required to put on tefillin daily. <ref> The Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Mitzvah Aseh 12 and 13) and Sefer HaChinuch (421) record this as a mitzvah that applies to every male individual even nowadays. Rambam there says based on the gemara in Menachot 44a that one who is obligated to wear tefillin but doesn't, transgresses eight commandments (4 for the hand and 4 for the head). </ref> | # All men above the age of thirteen are required to put on tefillin daily. <ref> The Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Mitzvah Aseh 12 and 13) and Sefer HaChinuch (421) record this as a mitzvah that applies to every male individual even nowadays. Rambam there says based on the gemara in Menachot 44a that one who is obligated to wear tefillin but doesn't, transgresses eight commandments (4 for the hand and 4 for the head). </ref> | ||
# Tefillin is a [[Mitzvah Aseh SheHaZman Grama]] (time bound mitzvah) and so women are exempt. Even though usually women are allowed to fulfill mitzvot from which they are exempt, by Tefillin it’s preferable that women do not fulfill this mitzvah. <ref> S”A and Rama 38:3, Mitzvat Nashim (pg 35). See Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel on Devarim 22:5 who includes a woman wearing Tefillin in the category of Lo Yehey Kli Gever Al Isha. </ref> | # Tefillin is a [[Mitzvah Aseh SheHaZman Grama]] (time bound mitzvah) and so women are exempt. Even though usually women are allowed to fulfill mitzvot from which they are exempt, by Tefillin it’s preferable that women do not fulfill this mitzvah. <ref> S”A and Rama 38:3, Mitzvat Nashim (pg 35). See Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel on Devarim 22:5 who includes a woman wearing Tefillin in the category of Lo Yehey Kli Gever Al Isha. </ref> | ||
# One who is shirtless cannot wear tefillin. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, who is obligated in tefillin and who is exempt, seif 2 </ref> | |||
# One who is unable to control his promiscuous thought is exempt from tefillin. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, who is obligated in tefillin and who is exempt, seif 5 </ref> | |||
==Where is one forbidden to wear tefillin?== | |||
# | |||
==Eating and Drinking with Tefillin on== | |||
# It is permitted to tea or coffee whole wearing tefillin, and so too one can eat a snack while wearing tefillin. However, one must remove his tefillin before eating a fixed meal. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, who is valid to write tefillin and to buy from, seif 7 </ref> | |||
== Arrangement of Paragaphs == | == Arrangement of Paragaphs == | ||
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==Halachot of the Boxes (Batim)== | ==Halachot of the Boxes (Batim)== | ||
# The boxes should be black. <ref> S"A 33:3, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, miscellaneous laws (of tefilin), seif 12 </ref> | # The boxes should be black. <ref> S"A 33:3, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, miscellaneous laws (of tefilin), seif 12 </ref> | ||
# The tefllin boxes must be square. <ref> S"A 32:39 </ref> | # The tefllin boxes must be square. <ref> S"A 32:39, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, miscellaneous laws (of tefilin), seif 13 </ref> | ||
# In normal circumstances, a sephardi doesn't fulfill his obligation with tefillin written according to minhag ashkenaz. If there is no choice, a halachic authority should be contacted. <ref> Halacha Berura 32:148 </ref> | # In normal circumstances, a sephardi doesn't fulfill his obligation with tefillin written according to minhag ashkenaz. If there is no choice, a halachic authority should be contacted. <ref> Halacha Berura 32:148 </ref> | ||
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# The minimum length of the strap for the tefillin for the arm is at least long enough to wrap around the upper arm and extend downwards to the hand and wrapped around the middle finger three times. Preferably though it should be long enough to wrap around the arm six or seven times. <ref> S:A 27:8. Mishna Berura 27:31 says the custom nowadays is seven times. </ref> | # The minimum length of the strap for the tefillin for the arm is at least long enough to wrap around the upper arm and extend downwards to the hand and wrapped around the middle finger three times. Preferably though it should be long enough to wrap around the arm six or seven times. <ref> S:A 27:8. Mishna Berura 27:31 says the custom nowadays is seven times. </ref> | ||
# The minimum length of the strap for the tefillin of the head is at least enough to go around the head plus two tefachim on each side going down. <ref> Mishna Berura 27:44 </ref> The custom is that the right one be longer than the left one and that both go past the midsection. <ref> Mishna Berura 27:41 </ref> | # The minimum length of the strap for the tefillin of the head is at least enough to go around the head plus two tefachim on each side going down. <ref> Mishna Berura 27:44 </ref> The custom is that the right one be longer than the left one and that both go past the midsection. <ref> Mishna Berura 27:41 </ref> | ||
# The straps should be colored black. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 24, S"A 33:3 | # The straps should be colored black. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 24, S"A 33:3 and Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 3 say that this is a halacha limoshe misinai. Mishna Berura 33:19 says they should be as black as a raven and adds that one should be especially careful at the spot where one tightens the tefillin as the paint there wears off easily. </ref> | ||
*The coloring should be done for the sake of the mitzva of tefillin. <ref> S"A 33:4. Rama writes that they are not even kosher bidieved if they are not colored black for the sake of the mitzva. Biur Halacha 33:4 "pasul" says they should be repainted with the proper concentration. </ref> | *The coloring should be done for the sake of the mitzva of tefillin. <ref> S"A 33:4, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 2. Rama writes that they are not even kosher bidieved if they are not colored black for the sake of the mitzva. Biur Halacha 33:4 "pasul" says they should be repainted with the proper concentration. </ref> | ||
*The coloring can be done by a women, or a child if the child is supervised by an adult who instructs him to paint it for its sake. <ref> Mishna Berura 33:23 </ref> | *The coloring can be done by a women, or a child if the child is supervised by an adult who instructs him to paint it for its sake. <ref> Mishna Berura 33:23 </ref> | ||
*The coloring can be done at night. <ref> Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg quoted in Mivakshei Torah volume 4 page 415. </ref> | *The coloring can be done at night. <ref> Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg quoted in Mivakshei Torah volume 4 page 415. </ref> | ||
# One should ensure that the black of the straps is facing outward. <ref> S"A 27:11. Mishna Berura 27:38 says that one really only has to make sure that the part around the head and around the arm muscle has the black on the outside but it looks nicer to make sure the whole thing is that way. </ref> | # One should ensure that the black of the straps is facing outward. <ref> S"A 27:11. Mishna Berura 27:38 says that one really only has to make sure that the part around the head and around the arm muscle has the black on the outside but it looks nicer to make sure the whole thing is that way. </ref> | ||
# The minimum width of the Tefillin straps is the width of a barley kernel, which is approximately a centimeter. <ref>Kitzur S"A 10:13 writes that the minimum width of the Tefillin straps is the width of a barley kernel. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (comments on Kitzur S"A 10:16) writes that the size of a barley is one centimeter.</ref> | # The minimum width of the Tefillin straps is the width of a barley kernel, which is approximately a centimeter. <ref>Kitzur S"A 10:13 writes that the minimum width of the Tefillin straps is the width of a barley kernel. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (comments on Kitzur S"A 10:16) writes that the size of a barley is one centimeter.</ref> | ||
# The straps of the tefilin should be made from the skin of a kosher animal. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 2 </ref> | |||
# The strap of the tefilin shel rosh should contain a knot in the shape of the hebrew letter dalet, and the strap of the tefilin shel yad should contain a knot in the shape of the letter yod. In the end, these symbols and the hebrew letter shin on the tefilin shel rosh will complete the spelling of the name of Hashem. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 1 </ref> | |||
== Process of Putting Tefillin On== | == Process of Putting Tefillin On== | ||
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# A wristwatch does not need to be removed. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 3:2, Sh"t Yabia Omer 2:2 and Rav Ovadia writes that one who is stringent will be blessed. Emes liYaakov OC 27:note 31 says even though the Rama 27:4 based on the Teshuva of the Rashba 1:827 says one doesn't need to worry about barriers except for between the skin and the boxes, that if one is accustomed to removing it he should continue doing so, as there are some poskim who are stringent on barriers on any part of the arm or head tefillin </ref> | # A wristwatch does not need to be removed. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 3:2, Sh"t Yabia Omer 2:2 and Rav Ovadia writes that one who is stringent will be blessed. Emes liYaakov OC 27:note 31 says even though the Rama 27:4 based on the Teshuva of the Rashba 1:827 says one doesn't need to worry about barriers except for between the skin and the boxes, that if one is accustomed to removing it he should continue doing so, as there are some poskim who are stringent on barriers on any part of the arm or head tefillin </ref> | ||
# If one is unable to remove a bandage or a cast he should wear the tefillin without a beracha. This only applies if the separation is between the body and the boxes, but if the separation is only with the straps the beracha should be recited as usual. <ref> Sh"t Yabia Omer OC 2:2 </ref> | # If one is unable to remove a bandage or a cast he should wear the tefillin without a beracha. This only applies if the separation is between the body and the boxes, but if the separation is only with the straps the beracha should be recited as usual. <ref> Sh"t Yabia Omer OC 2:2 </ref> | ||
==Wearing Rabbenu Tam Tefilin== | |||
# Those who fear heaven don the tefilin of both Rashi and Rabbenu Tam. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, the order of the donning, seif 2 </ref> | |||
# The Rashi and Rabbenu Tam tefilin should be placed in separate bags. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, the order of the donning, seif 5 </ref> | |||
==Proper conduct while wearing Tefillin== | ==Proper conduct while wearing Tefillin== | ||
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# One shouldn't hold the tefillin by their straps, rather they should be held by the boxes. <ref> S"A 40:1, Ben Ish Chai Chayei Sara 13, Chesed La'alafim 40:1 </ref> | # One shouldn't hold the tefillin by their straps, rather they should be held by the boxes. <ref> S"A 40:1, Ben Ish Chai Chayei Sara 13, Chesed La'alafim 40:1 </ref> | ||
# It is forbidden to go to sleep while wearing Tefillin unless one covered the Tefillin and isn’t with one’s wife. <Ref> S”A 44:1. Halacha Berurah 44:1 says that if you sleep for less than 54 seconds or if you simply rest your head in your lap it is also permitted. </ref> One is permitted to sleep while he is holding tefillin in a bag. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 44:7 </ref> | # It is forbidden to go to sleep while wearing Tefillin unless one covered the Tefillin and isn’t with one’s wife. <Ref> S”A 44:1. Halacha Berurah 44:1 says that if you sleep for less than 54 seconds or if you simply rest your head in your lap it is also permitted. </ref> One is permitted to sleep while he is holding tefillin in a bag. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 44:7 </ref> | ||
# It is customary to fast if one's tefillin fall to the floor even if it was accidental. <ref> Mishna Berura 40:3, Iggerot Moshe OC 3:3. Daat Torah 44:1 however quotes poskim who say that fasting is only necessary if they fell because of negligence. Baer Heitev 571:1 and Kaf hachayim 40:6 write that it is preferable for one to fast on the day that the tefillin fell. Kaf Hachayim 40:7 writes that one doesn't need to fast at all if the tefillin fell from less than 3 tefachim high. </ref> In some cases instead of fasting, it is better to give charity, or do a taanit dibur, or learn for additional hours, and therefore a posek should be consulted. <ref> Az Nidberu 8:20 and Rivevos Efrayim 6:14 quoting the Steipler. Daat Torah 44:1 writes that if fasting is too hard for somebody they can be lenient and give charity and this is the case for someone who is physically weak, a torah scholar or teacher as well as somebody who is active in the community. This is also the opinion of the Chida in Chayim Sho’al 12, Ben Ish Chai Parashat Chayei Sarah halacha 18, Sh"t Yabia Omer 2:28 </ref> | # It is customary to fast if one's tefillin fall to the floor even if it was accidental. <ref> Mishna Berura 40:3, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, who is valid to write tefillin and to buy from, seif 3, Iggerot Moshe OC 3:3. Daat Torah 44:1 however quotes poskim who say that fasting is only necessary if they fell because of negligence. Baer Heitev 571:1 and Kaf hachayim 40:6 write that it is preferable for one to fast on the day that the tefillin fell. Kaf Hachayim 40:7 writes that one doesn't need to fast at all if the tefillin fell from less than 3 tefachim high. </ref> In some cases instead of fasting, it is better to give charity, or do a taanit dibur, or learn for additional hours, and therefore a posek should be consulted. <ref> Az Nidberu 8:20 and Rivevos Efrayim 6:14 quoting the Steipler. Daat Torah 44:1 writes that if fasting is too hard for somebody they can be lenient and give charity and this is the case for someone who is physically weak, a torah scholar or teacher as well as somebody who is active in the community. This is also the opinion of the Chida in Chayim Sho’al 12, Ben Ish Chai Parashat Chayei Sarah halacha 18, Sh"t Yabia Omer 2:28 </ref> | ||
# One is not obligated to fast if he only saw tefillin fall. <ref> Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, who is valid to write tefillin and to buy from, seif 4 </ref> | |||
==Eating while wearing Tefillin== | ==Eating while wearing Tefillin== | ||
