Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
Is there any sephardim that say the "Al Mitzvas Tefillin" beracha for the Tefillin shel Rosh? Are they allowed to say a beracha for it?
I am asking because in this video, which demonstrates how to put on tefillin the Sephardi and ashkenazi way, and when they show you the sephardi way it says the beracha "Al Mitzvas Tefillin" and "Baruch Shem Kevod..." when the sephardi put on the Shel Rosh.
It is not something we do normally. What I was told was, we only say the blessing for the head when we have spoken between putting on the arm and putting on the head. So after the blessing for the arm until the meditation of the finger wrapping is silence. Of course we sit with the arm and stand for the head. I have a mixed family one side does Sephardic and the other Hassidic. So Tefillin I ask lots of questions as a young man. Now am old and it still is a great blessing, never lost its sparkle.
See SA O C 25, 5:
ויניח של יד תחילה ויברך להניח תפילין ואחר כך יניח של ראש ולא יברך כי אם ברכה אחת לשתיהן
Rabbi Yosef Karo says clearly to bless one blessing only for the two.
The Beur Halacha explained that Rishonim discussed this rule, an that the Gain Mivilna ruled as the Mechaber. Acharonim Sefaradim as Kaf Hachayim follow the Shulchan Aruch.
No doubt about the Sephardic custom. I heard from an old litwak that in Lita, most people blessed one blessing only, may be because of the GRA opinion.
No doubt about the Sephardic custom. This isnt a sentence. I assume you meant to write "There is no doubt about the Sehardic custom" and are assuming that no Sephardim make a blessing on the "shel rosh". While this may or may not be true, it is certainly not proven by your answer which cites no sources regarding Sephardic custom(s).