Halachot | Construction | Symbolism | Script Putting on the tefillin | Caring for Tefillin.

 

 

HALACHA: THE LAWS CONCERNING TEFILLIN

"The commandment of tefillin is an exceedingly precious one, for the whole Torah is compared to tefillin, as it is written: "So that the Torah of G-d will be upon your lips." He who does not lay tefillin is counted among the sinners of Israel. One who lays tefillin which are unfit - not only does he fail to fulfill the mitzvah, but also is guilty of the serious transgression of reciting several blessings in vain. One must therefore be careful to buy tefillin from one who is expert in the laws of tefillin and is G-d-fearing. Likewise, one must buy straps from a trustworthy person who has made sure that they have been manufactured from pure skins exclusively for the purpose of tefillin. [Unfortunately,] a major obstacle in the acquisition of tefillin is when one buys non-kosher tefillin and straps from one who sells them cheaply. Every G-d-fearing person must take this to heart: One who buys luxurious clothes and other articles, and makes sure they are in perfect condition, must certainly behave likewise when buying holy articles, and not be stingy with his money. He must rather acquire the best there is. He must make sure they are flawless, even if the price is high; he must make sure that both the batim and the straps are properly black and in kosher condition." (- Kitzur Shulchan Arukh)

 

 

Excerpts from the halachot of tefillin:

The verses must be written by a G-d-fearing sofer (scribe) who is meticulous in his observance of the Torah and its commandments. This also applies to those who manufacture the batim and the straps.

The batim of the tefillin must be square. If the square shape has been impaired, it must be sent for repairs.

The straps must be black.. If the color fades, it must be colored anew. The width of the straps must be at least one centimeter, but if necessary, 9 millimeters is also acceptable.

 

 

Laying tefillin:

Lay the tefillin on the upper left arm, on the biceps - between the elbow and the shoulder. A left-handed person lays tefillin on his right arm.

Before laying the hand-tefillin, recite the blessing, "Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to lay tefillin." Then tighten the strap and bind it twice more around your arm. Incline the tefillin a little towards your body so that it faces your heart, and bind the straps seven additional times around your forearm, between the elbow and the hand. The final binding of the hand straps is carried out after laying the head-tefillin.

Talking between putting on the hand-tefillin and putting on the head-tefillin is not permitted.

Sepharadim do not recite a separate blessing for head-tefillin, but if one has spoken between laying the hand-tefillin and laying the head-tefillin, then a blessing must be recited over the latter. Ashkenazim recite the blessing in any event.

The blessing for the head-tefillin is, "...Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin." The head-tefillin must be placed above your forehead, beginning at the hairline, and exactly in the center of the width of your head, as is written, "...between your eyes."

As mentioned above, after laying your head-tefillin, complete the binding of your hand-tefillin around fingers and hand.

Keep your tefillin on until you have finished praying the morning prayer.

One may lay tefillin any time from first daylight until sunset.

When laying tefillin, our intention should be as follows: "We must bear in mind that the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded us to write these four passages [that appear inside the tefillin] that stress the unity of His Name, and tell of our exodus from Egypt, in order to remind us of the miracles and wonders He performed for us. These teach us of His Unity and show us that He possesses the power and the majesty to act according to His will in the heavens above and on the earth below. He has commanded us to bind them around our arm which is opposite our heart, and on our head in which lies our brain, so that we may subjugate our passions and our thoughts to His service. By laying tefillin we will remember our Creator and subdue our inclinations."

On the hand-tefillin, there is a knot in the form of the letter yod which must be secured to the tefillin-box (bayit) - by means of the straps - during the whole time you are wearing the tefillin.

You must take care not to reverse the straps; the black side must always face up.

The straps with which you tie the head-tefillin are connected by a knot in the form of a letter dalet. Make sure this knot remains at the back of your head in the center.

The letter shin is prominent on two sides of the bayit of your head-tefillin. On the right-side, the shin has three heads, and on the right side - four. Together with the dalet knot and the yod knot, these three letters form the Holy Name, which also appears on the mezuzah.

Do not let your mind wander from the tefillin while you are wearing them. Likewise, do not speak of inconsequential matters, which would be showing disrespect to the tefillin you are wearing.

 

When reciting Shema, and the verse “You open your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor," it is customary to rub your fingers along the tefillin.

When you have completed your prayers, untie the straps from your hand (not your arm), then remove your head-tefillin, and then your hand-tefillin. When removing your head-tefillin, it is customary to look at the prominent letters shin on the sides of the bayit.

There are innumerable laws connected with the writing of tefillin. Sometimes, because of an apparently insignificant detail, the tefillin are unfit. Even tefillin that were perfectly kosher may become unfit, either because the ink has faded, or for other reasons.

Sometimes it is possible to repair unkosher tefillin, and sometimes it is not. It is therefore customary to have them checked once a year by a G-d-fearing sofer (scribe). The tefillin are sometimes checked at shorter intervals, when we are in need of additional blessing.

It is vital to respect and honor our tefillin, and to take care not to drop them. If they do fall, it is customary to give tzedakah (charity) instead of fasting.

Bar mitzvah boys: The custom is to begin laying tefillin a month before one's bar mitzvah, in order to become accustomed to it.

Whoever lays tefillin increases his days upon earth, as it is written, "G-d is upon [the tefillin;] they will live."