Questions tagged [tefilin]
Also called "phylacteries": a religious object worn by Jewish men, usually during morning weekday prayers.
407
questions
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Why do some people wrap their Tefilin around their arms 8 times?
I have seen people who wrap the Tefilin 7 times around their arm and some that wrap it 8 times around their arm. Why do the people who wrap it 8 times do so?
10
votes
2answers
580 views
Different Teffilin, now what am I required to do?
If I do not have my regular Teffilin one morning and need to borrow someone else's, but that person's Teffilin are different from mine, is that sufficient, or should I get a pair of Teffilin later on ...
3
votes
1answer
105 views
Bracha - Al Mitzvas Tefilin - does it count for the 100 daily Brachos
Saying 100 Berachoth in a day
There is a Mitzva to say 100 Brachos each day. Does the Bracha - Al Mitzvas Tefilin - which those who say it, say immediately Boruch Shem afterwards Mishna Berura 25:5:...
15
votes
2answers
543 views
Are Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin really Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin?
I once heard from a Sofer the shocking revelation that Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin do not actually follow Rabbeinu Tam's opinion. Is that correct? Did I misunderstand? Are there any Soferim in our ...
6
votes
2answers
246 views
Can tefillin be what covers our heads?
If we have our heads covered by a kippa/yarmulka to remind that HaShem is above us, does wearing tefilin fulfill that requirement?
8
votes
1answer
222 views
Baal haTanya's donning shel yad seated
I have heard that the baal haTanya put on his t'fila shel yad while seated (as S'faradim do).
Does anyone have a source for this (or for the opposite: that he put on his shel yad standing)?
If he did ...
6
votes
1answer
273 views
Why no tfillin on second day of Yom Tov?
The decree of keeping two days of Yom Tov outside of Israel is because Rosh Chodesh used to be determined by Beis Din and its messengers couldn't reach all of exiles in time, thereby requiring people ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the significance of the two letter shins (ש) on tefillin?
What is the significance of the two letter shins (ש) on tefillin?
One side of tefillin has a regular shin (ש) and the second has four-prongs.
3
votes
3answers
240 views
Does a Late Bris Necessitate Teffilin?
When one makes a Bris after Shacharis, he wears Tefilin. If a Bris is made later on in the day, does he wear Tefilin? Why or why not? And if he does, does it require a second Bracha?
13
votes
2answers
951 views
When did people stop wearing Tefilin all day?
At what point in history did most religous people stop wearing Tefilin all day?
18
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3answers
1k views
Why aren't Tefillin called Totafot?
They're called Totafot in the Torah, so why do we call them Tefilin?
10
votes
1answer
178 views
Why are the ends of Tefilin Retzuos cut on a slant?
I noticed than the end of my Tefillin Retzuos are cut on a slant. In the comments to this answer various reasons are postulated. What is the true reason?
14
votes
5answers
638 views
Do Tefilin need to be painted with “special” ink?
When painting tefillin, are there any requirements regarding the ink (other than the need to be black)? Or is any ink okay to use?
Like in the comments to this answer, shoe polish is recommended. Is ...
9
votes
3answers
657 views
What is the Minimum Width of Tefillin Straps?
What is the minimum width of tefillin straps?
For example: if one's tefillin straps partially tore, how much is required to remain for the tefillin to remain Kosher?
4
votes
2answers
434 views
Why is the right strap longer than the left strap by the Tefilin Shel Rosh?
What is the reason that the right strap is longer than the left strap by the Tefilin Shel Rosh?
5
votes
2answers
585 views
What is the proper length of the Tefilin Shel Rosh straps?
How long are the Tefilin Shel Rosh straps supposed to be? What is the minimum Shiur and what is the maximum?
2
votes
1answer
191 views
Buying New Tefillin during Nine Days / 3 Weeks
Is one allowed to buy new tefillin during the 9 days or 3 weeks? Is one then allowed to wear that same new tefillin during the 9 days / 3 weeks?
And if the answer is yes: why?
10
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the difference between Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin?
I understand that there are two types of tefillin, the standard Rashi, and Rabbeinu Tam's. How do they actually differ in construction and in makeup? I have heard that the scriptural passages are ...
19
votes
6answers
721 views
Why put on Tefillin shel yad halfway?
When we put on the tefillin shel yad, I've noticed that virtually everyone ties the tefillin up until the actual hand (like a placeholder), puts on the shel rosh, and only then finally completes the ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
What qualities are necessary in a halachic wrapping?
There are occasions, e.g. a mezuza in a sometimes-unbecoming environment, in which we're required to cover a holy object with one or two wrappings to separate it from various environmental elements. ...
4
votes
2answers
147 views
How does “×קש×Ø×Ŗ× ××××Ŗ” become “××× ×× ×Ŗפ×××”?
Every day, when donning my tefillin, I (being Ashkenazic) recite two b'rachos, the first one of which is ×ש×Ø ×§××©× × ××צ×××Ŗ×× ×צ×× × ××× ×× ×Ŗפ×××, said whilst I tie down the shel yad onto my bicep with ...
16
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5answers
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Why does the Tefilin Shel Yad have a protective cover?
When you purchase Tefilin, the Tefilin Shel Yad has a protective cover. Why? Is it Halachically necessary?
8
votes
2answers
488 views
How often should Tefillin be inspected?
Like the title says: how often should one have his tefillin inspected, and why was such a frequency chosen?
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Direction of Tefillin Winding
Why do some people have the custom to wind the Tefillin-Shel-Yad towards themselves, while others wind it away from themselves? What is the reason behind these two customs, and which sects of Judaism ...
5
votes
2answers
212 views
Touching the forearm when putting on Tefilin
If one has touched his forearm while placing the arm-Tefilin (I see that it's a very common case), is he obligated to wash his hands immediately, as he has to say a Beracha on the head-Tefilin? If so, ...
10
votes
3answers
920 views
Did Rabbi Dovid Feinstein of Uzda wear tefilin that were Ktav Ari or Ktav Beit Yosef? What about his son?
The biographical sketch of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein that appears in the beginning of Igrot Moshe volume 8 states that his father, Rabbi Dovid Feinstein of Uzda, was born and raised Hassidic, but took on ...
12
votes
2answers
329 views
Is it possible to convert a rosh of a Rabeynu Tam Tefillin into a rosh of a Rashi Tefillin?
If I find a Rabeynu Tam Tefillin and I do not have another one, can I take it apart, and change the rosh (I know how to) from Rabeynu Tam to a Rashi Tefillin?
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Tefillin On Shabbos
Why do we not put on Tefillin on Shabbos?
Why is one not allowed to put on Tefillin on Shabbos?
And similarly, why is Tefillin Muktzah?
11
votes
5answers
429 views
Where in Davening do we kiss ×Ŗפ××××?
It is well-known (I assume) that one should kiss his ×Ŗפ×××× when saying ×קש×Ø×Ŗ× ××××Ŗ... (twice) in ש××¢, when saying פ××Ŗ× ××Ŗ ×××... in ×ש×Ø×, and ×¢×××Ø ×ש×Ø×× ××Ŗפ××Ø× in ××Ø××Ŗ ×ש××Ø.
Most Artscroll Siddurim ...
6
votes
4answers
504 views
Keeping Tefillin Black
What are some suggestions for keeping the Tefiliin Retzuos (straps) black? How can I prevent the Retzuos from needing to be painted and/or replaced?
8
votes
3answers
446 views
Sources on covering tefilin shel yad
I've read several things about covering the tefilin shel yad :
covering it with the tallit while fixing it
covering it with the tallit for the entire tefila
covering it with the shirt sleeve for the ...
5
votes
3answers
852 views
Tefillin removal on Rosh Chodesh
Removal before Musaf, some wait until after Kaddish, some don't. Why wait? Is there a source for this?
Some do not 'wind up' the rezuas but wait until after amidah. Is this because it creates a ...
10
votes
2answers
417 views
Teffilin and women
Rashi's daughters are popularly described as having worn Teffilin, but apparently there is no such source, just a popular urban legend in Jewish circles. Are there any women described in Rabbinic ...
5
votes
4answers
447 views
Finding the tefilin boundary on a balding head
The head tefilin are supposed to go above the hairline, or above where the hairline was on someone whose hairline has receded.
The former situation is easy to deal with. A man whose hairline hasn't ...
8
votes
2answers
194 views
how to describe to a jew what tefillin is?
BH i very often have the merit of putting tefillin on jews that have never put it on. how do i describe to them what it does spiritually?
4
votes
2answers
277 views
Shachris in the Dark
When do people who live in places where it is dark for days Daven Shachris and put on Tefillin?
Please provide a source (Mareh Makom).
4
votes
2answers
127 views
Is checking the parshios a hefsek?
Are you required to make another bracha on your tefillin if you take them off to check the parshios?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Are there standard sizes for tefilin batim (leather cases/housings) today?
I just looked down at the little plastic cover on my arm-tefilin and it had the number 4 on it. I assume that's a size ... while tefilin must be square, there are definitely a variety of sizes out ...
10
votes
1answer
502 views
Speaking while wearing Tefillin
Is there a real halachic source for the widespread practice not to speak while wearing tefillin? Of course, one is required to keep his mind on the tefillin, and may not get drawn into conversations ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Tefillin or Tzitzis
If one has enough money to buy Tzitzis or Tefillin and not both, which one should he buy? I heard Rabbi Akiva Aiger talks about it.
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Procedure for pre-kevasikin prayer
If one needs to daven shacharis at a super-early (i.e., post-dawn but pre-sunrise) minyan, what is the correct procedure for putting on Tallis and Tefillin? At what point are they put on, and which ...
10
votes
8answers
1k views
Are tefillin supposed to be removed before a bris (circumcision)? If so, why?
I remember in yeshiva one day as a bris was about to start after minyan, someone came around and told everybody, "take off your tefilin!"
Recently I saw R' Moshe Feinstein explaining why we leave ...
0
votes
2answers
160 views
Any reason not to put your tefilin inside your car's spare tire when driving?
For cars that store their spare tire in a well inside the trunk, that seems like a good place to put my tefilin while driving -- it takes up no extra space (if they fit in the middle of the tire), ...
10
votes
1answer
469 views
Illness with Talit and Tefillin
If one is wearing Talit and Tefillin and suddenly becomes violently ill, what should one do? One cannot enter a bathroom with them on; however, one also runs the risk of fouling himself, or ...
14
votes
1answer
512 views
Putting Tefillin on Un-educated Jews
May one put tefillin on an uneducated Jew without first explaining to him the laws of keeping his body clean and conveying to him the seriousness of the sanctity of tefillin (is that even possible?)?
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1answer
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2answers
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5answers
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Tefillin under Bar Mitzvah
Common practice is that a boy begins wearing Tefillin when he reaches Bar Mitzvah age, or perhaps a month (or three) prior. While there should be an obligation even earlier (under the rubric of ...
6
votes
2answers
602 views
Composition of Sofer's ink
What ingredients are currently used in the manufacture of ink for Safrus? Is there a different formulation for the paint that is used to dye tefillin straps/boxes?
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Cutting Tefillin Retzuos
As we know, the outside of the tefillin's retzuos (phylacteries' straps) must be black. Lately, I've noticed that the very end of the retzuah of my shel yad (tefillin of the arm) is cracking and ...
