ב"ה
Rambam - 3 Chapters a Day
Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Two, Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Three, Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Four
Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Two
1
In what manner are the tefillin [placed on] the head written? [The] four passages are written on four parchments and rolled closed, each as a separate entity. They are placed in four compartments, which are covered by a single piece of leather.
The four passages of [the tefillin placed on] the arm are written on four columns on a single parchment. They should be rolled closed like a Torah scroll from the end to the beginning and placed in a single compartment.
אכֵּיצַד כּוֹתְבִין אֶת הַתְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. כּוֹתְבִין אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְלָפִין וְגוֹלְלִין כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְבַדּוֹ וּמַנִּיחִין אוֹתָן בְּאַרְבַּע בָּתִּים שֶׁהֵן מְחֻבָּרִין בְּעוֹר אֶחָד. וְשֶׁל יָד כּוֹתְבִין אוֹתָן הָאַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בְּאַרְבַּע דַּפִּין עַל קְלָף אֶחָד וְגוֹלְּלוֹ כְּמִין סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה מִסּוֹפוֹ לִתְחִלָּתוֹ וּמַנִּיחוֹ בְּבַיִת אֶחָד:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
Care must be taken in writing these passages. If one wrote a passage which should be s'tumah as p'tuchah or a passage which should be p'tuchah as s'tumah, it is invalid.
The first three passages are all p'tuchot, while the final passage, V'hayah im shamo'a, is s'tumah.
בוְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר בַּפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת שֶׁאִם עָשָׂה הַסְּתוּמָה פְּתוּחָה אוֹ הַפְּתוּחָה סְתוּמָה פְּסָלָן. וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת כֻּלָּן פְּתוּחוֹת וּפָרָשָׁה אַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁהִיא (דברים יא יג) ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ״ סְתוּמָה:
3
One must be careful regarding [the spelling of the words in these passages] with regard to the short or full form. [The manner in which] these four passages are written [in tefillin] should resemble the manner they are written in a Torah scroll that has been checked [for accuracy in this regard].
When one writes a word which requires a short form using a full form, it is invalid until one erases the extra letter. If one writes a word which requires a full form using a short form, it is invalid and may not be corrected.
These are [the correct spellings of the words that could present difficulties] with regard to the short and full forms in these four passages.
גוְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר בְּמָלֵא וְחָסֵר עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אַרְבַּעְתָּן כְּתוּבוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵן כְּתוּבוֹת בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה הַבָּדוּק. שֶׁאִם כָּתַב הֶחָסֵר מָלֵא פָּסוּל עַד שֶׁיִּמְחֹק הַיָּתֵר. וְאִם כָּתַב הַמָּלֵא חָסֵר פָּסוּל וְאֵין לוֹ תַּקָּנָה. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַחֲסֵרוֹת וְהַמְּלֵאוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּאַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת אֵלּוּ:
4
[In] the first passage, Kadesh li kol b'chor, [the word] b'chor [is written using] the full form; the word zachor [using] the full form; the word b'chozek [using] the short form; the word hotzi [using] the full form; the word yotzi'em without a vav;1 the word y'viacha [using] the full form; the word v'ha'emori [using] the short form; the word v'hay'vusi [using] the full form; the word la'avotecha without a vav; the word ha'avodah [using] the short form; the word matzot [using] the short form; the word hash'vi'i [using] the full form; the word matzot [using] the full form; the word s'or [using] the short form; the word g'vulecha [using] the short form; the word ba'avur [using] the full form; the word l'ot [using] the full form; the word ul'zikaron [using] the full form; the word einecha [using] the full form; the word torat [using] the full form; the word hotziacha without a yud; the word hachukkah [using] the short form; and the word l'moadah [using] the full form.
דפָּרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה (שמות יג ב) ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי כָל בְּכוֹר״ מָלֵא. זָכוֹר מָלֵא. בְּחֹזֶק חָסֵר. [הוֹצִיא מָלֵא. יֹצְאִים חָסֵר וָא״ו.] יְבִיאֲךָ מָלֵא. וְהָאֱמֹרִי חָסֵר. וְהַיְבוּסִי מָלֵא. לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָסֵר וָא״ו. הָעֲבֹדָה חָסֵר. מַצֹּת חָסֵר. הַשְּׁבִיעִי מָלֵא. מַצּוֹת מָלֵא. שְׂאֹר חָסֵר. גְּבֻלֶךָ חָסֵר. בַּעֲבוּר מָלֵא. לְאוֹת מָלֵא. וּלְזִכָּרוֹן מָלֵא. עֵינֶיךָ מָלֵא. תּוֹרַת מָלֵא. הוֹצִאֲךָ חָסֵר יוּ״ד. הַחֻקָּה חָסֵר. לְמוֹעֲדָהּ מָלֵא:
5
[In] the second passage, V'hayah ki y'viacha, [the word] y'viacha [is written] without a yud; the word chamor [using] the short form; the word b'chor [using] the full form; the word b'chozek [using] the short form; the word hotzianu [using] the full form; the word vayaharog [using] the short form; the word b'chor [using] the full form; the word mib'chor [using] the short form; the words v'ad b'chor [using] the full form; the word zove'ach without a vav; the word b'chor in v'chol b'chor [using] the full form; the word l'ot [using] the full form; the word yadecha is written with a hey;2 the word ul'totafot without the final vav; the word einecha [using] the full form; the word b'chozek [using] the short form; and the word hotzianu [using] the full form.
הפָּרָשָׁה שְׁנִיָּה (שמות יג ה) ״וְהָיָה כִּי יְבִאֲךָ״ חָסֵר יוּ״ד. וְלַאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָסֵר וָא״ו. חֲמֹר חָסֵר. בְּכוֹר מָלֵא. בְּחֹזֶק חָסֵר. הוֹצִיאָנוּ מָלֵא. וַיַּהֲרֹג חָסֵר. בְּכוֹר מָלֵא. מִבְּכֹר חָסֵר. וְעַד בְּכוֹר מָלֵא. זֹבֵחַ חָסֵר וָא״ו. וְכָל בְּכוֹר מָלֵא. לְאוֹת מָלֵא. יָדְכָה כָּתוּב בְּהֵ״א. וּלְטוֹטָפֹת חָסֵר וָא״ו תִּנְיָנָא. עֵינֶיךָ מָלֵא. בְּחֹזֶק חָסֵר. הוֹצִיאָנוּ מָלֵא:
6
[In] the third passage, Shema, the ayin of [the word] Shema and the dalet of [the word] echad are enlarged.3
The word m'odecha [is written using] the short form; the word l'vanecha [using] the full form; the wordb'vetecha without a second yud; the word uv'kumecha [using] the full form; the word l'ot [using] the full form; the word yadecha [using] the short form; the word l'totafot without both vavim; the word einecha [using] the full form; the word mezuzot without the first vav; the word beitecha without a second yud; the word uvish'arecha [using] the full form.
ופָּרָשָׁה שְׁלִישִׁית (דברים ו ד) ״שְׁמַע״ עַיִ״ן שֶׁל שְׁמַע גְּדוֹלָה. דָּלֶ״ת שֶׁל אֶחָד גְּדוֹלָה. מְאֹדֶךָ חָסֵר. לְבָנֶיךָ מָלֵא. בְּבֵיתֶךָ בְּלֹא יוּ״ד שְׁנִיָּה. וּבְקוּמֶךָ מָלֵא. לְאוֹת מָלֵא. יָדֶךָ חָסֵר. לְטֹטָפֹת חָסֵר שְׁנֵי וָאוִי״ן. עֵינֶיךָ מָלֵא. מְזֻזוֹת חָסֵר וָא״ו רִאשׁוֹנָה. בֵּיתֶךָ בְּלֹא יוּ״ד שְׁנִיָּה. וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ מָלֵא:
7
[In] the fourth passage, V'hayah im shamo'a, [the word] shamo'a [is written using] the short form; the word mitzvotai with only one vav; the word yoreh [using] the full form; the word umalkosh [using] the full form; the word v'tiroshcha without a vav; the word v'hishtachavitem [using] the full form; the word y'vulah [using] the full form; the word hatovah [using] the short form; the word notein [using] the short form; the word otam [using] the short form; the word l'ot [using] the full form; the word l'totafot lacking the second vav; the word einechem [using] the full form; the word otam [using] the short form; the wordb'vetecha without a second yud; the word uv'kumecha [using] the full form; the word mezuzot [using] the full form; the word beitecha without a second yud; the word uvish'arecha [using] the full form; the word la'avoteichem without a vav.
זפָּרָשָׁה רְבִיעִית (דברים יא יג) ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ״ חָסֵר. מִצְוֹתַי בְּוָא״ו אַחַת. יוֹרֶה מָלֵא. וּמַלְקוֹשׁ מָלֵא. וְתִירשְׁךָ חָסֵר וָא״ו. וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם מָלֵא. יְבוּלָהּ מָלֵא. הַטֹּבָה חָסֵר. נֹתֵן חָסֵר. אֹתָם חָסֵר. לְאוֹת מָלֵא. לְטוֹטָפֹת חָסֵר וָא״ו שְׁנִיָּה. עֵינֵיכֶם מָלֵא. אֹתָם חָסֵר. בְּבֵיתֶךָ בְּלֹא יוּ״ד שְׁנִיָּה. וּבְקוּמֶךָ מָלֵא. מְזוּזוֹת מָלֵא. בֵּיתֶךָ בְּלֹא יוּ״ד שְׁנִיָּה. וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ מָלֵא. לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם חָסֵר וָא״ו:
8
Care must be taken regarding the placement of crowns on the letters. They are formed like [small] zeiynin on the [tops of the] letters which possess crowns as in a Torah scroll. These are the letters which possess crowns in these four passages.
חוְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר בְּתָגִין שֶׁל אוֹתִיּוֹת וְהֵן כְּמוֹ זַיִנִּין זְקוּפוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן תָּג כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵן כְּתוּבִין בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַמְתֻיָּגוֹת שֶׁבְּאַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת אֵלּוּ:
9
There is only one letter [with a crown] in the first passage: the final mem of miyamim. There are three zeiynin upon it. In the second passage, there are five letters [with crowns]. Each of these is a heh, and four zeiynin are placed on each of them. They are: the heh of un'tanah, the first and final heh in the word hikshah, the heh of vayaharog, and the heh of yadecha.
In the third passage, there are five letters [with crowns.] They are: the kof of uv'kumecha; it has three zeiynin; the kof of uk'shartam; it has three zeiynin; the two tetim and the pei of l'totafot; each of these letters has four zeiynin.
In the fourth passage, there are five letters [with crowns.] They are: the peh of v'asafta; it has three zeiynin; the tov of v'asafta has one zayin; the two tetim and the peh of l'totafot; each of these letters has four zeiynin.
There are a total of sixteen letters which require crowns.4 If one did not place crowns above them, added other crowns, or reduced the number of zeiynin, the passages are not invalid.5
טפָּרָשָׁה רִאשׁוֹנָה יֵשׁ בָּהּ אוֹת אַחַת בִּלְבַד וְהִיא מֵ״ם סְתוּמָה שֶׁל (שמות יג י) ״מִיָּמִים״ עָלֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ זַיִנִּי״ן. פָּרָשָׁה שְׁנִיָּה יֵשׁ לָהּ חָמֵשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת וְכָל אַחַת מֵהֶן הֵ״א וְעַל כָּל הֵ״א מֵחֲמִשְׁתָּן אַרְבַּע זַיִנִּי״ן. וְהֵן הֵ״א שֶׁל (שמות יג יא) ״וּנְתָנָהּ״. וְהֵ״א רִאשׁוֹנָה וְהֵ״א אַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁל (שמות יג טו) ״הִקְשָׁה״. וְהֵ״א שֶׁל (שמות יג טו) ״וַיַּהֲרֹג״. וְהֵ״א שֶׁל (שמות יג טז) ״יָדְכָה״. פָּרָשָׁה שְׁלִישִׁית יֵשׁ בָּהּ חָמֵשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת וְאֵלּוּ הֵן קוּ״ף שֶׁל (דברים ו ז) ״וּבְקוּמֶךָ״ יֵשׁ עָלֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ זַיִנִּי״ן. וְקוּ״ף שֶׁל (דברים ו ח) ״וּקְשַׁרְתָּם״ יֵשׁ עָלֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ זַיִנִּי״ן. וְטֵי״ת טֵי״ת פֵ״א שֶׁל (דברים ו ח) ״לְטֹטָפֹת״ עַל כָּל אוֹת מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן אַרְבַּע זַיִנִּי״ן. פָּרָשָׁה רְבִיעִית יֵשׁ בָּהּ חָמֵשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת. פֵ״א שֶׁל (דברים יא יד) ״וְאָסַפְתָּ״ יֵשׁ עָלֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ זַיִנִּי״ן. וְתָי״ו שֶׁל וְאָסַפְתָּ יֵשׁ עָלֶיהָ זַיִ״ן אַחַת. וְטֵי״ת טֵי״ת פֵ״א שֶׁל (דברים יא יח) ״לְטוֹטָפֹת״ עַל כָּל אַחַת מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן אַרְבַּע זַיִנִּי״ן. כָּל הָאוֹתִיּוֹת הַמְתֻיָּגוֹת שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. וְאִם לֹא עָשָׂה הַתָּגִין אוֹ הוֹסִיף וְגָרַע בָּהֶן לֹא פָּסַל:
10
A person who purchases tefillin from a person who is not an expert is required to inspect them. If he purchased 100 tefillin, he should inspect three, either two head tefillin and one arm tefillin, or two arm tefillin and one head tefillin. If he finds them acceptable, [from this time onward,] he can assume the scribe [to be proficient]. Thus, they are all considered to be acceptable and need not be checked.
If, however, one purchases them in different packages, they must all be checked, because it can be presumed that each package was purchased from a different scribe.
יהַלּוֹקֵחַ תְּפִלִּין מִמִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֻמְחֶה צָרִיךְ לְבָדְקָן. לָקַח מִמֶּנּוּ מֵאָה קְצִיצוֹת בּוֹדֵק מֵהֶן שָׁלֹשׁ קְצִיצוֹת. אוֹ שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁל רֹאשׁ וְאַחַת שֶׁל יָד אוֹ שְׁתַּיִם שֶׁל יָד וְאַחַת שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. אִם מְצָאָם כְּשֵׁרִים הֻחְזַק זֶה הָאִישׁ וַהֲרֵי כֻּלָּן כְּשֵׁרִים וְאֵין הַשְּׁאָר צָרִיךְ בְּדִיקָה. וְאִם לְקָחָם צְבָתִים צְבָתִים כֻּלָּן צְרִיכוֹת בְּדִיקָה שֶׁחֶזְקַת הַצְּבָתִים מֵאֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה לְקוּחִים:
11
After a person writes tefillin himself, purchases them from an expert, or purchases them from another person and has them inspected, and places them in their leather [compartments], they need not ever be checked again.
As long as their compartments are intact, they are assumed to be acceptable even though several years have passed. We do not suspect that a letter has faded out or been perforated. Hillel the elder stated: "These [tefillin] are from my maternal grandfather."
יאהַכּוֹתֵב תְּפִלִּין בִּכְתַב יָדוֹ אוֹ שֶׁלְּקָחָן מִן הַמֻּמְחֶה אוֹ מִשְּׁאָר אָדָם וּבְדָקָן וְהֶחֱזִירָן לְעוֹרָן לְעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְבָדְקָם פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת וַאֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר כַּמָּה שָׁנִים. כָּל זְמַן שֶׁחִפּוּיָן שָׁלֵם הֲרֵי הֵן בְּחֶזְקָתָן. וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לָהֶן שֶׁמָּא נִמְחֲקָה אוֹת מִתּוֹכָן אוֹ שֶׁנִּקְּבָה. הִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן הָיָה אוֹמֵר אֵלּוּ מִשֶּׁל אָבִי אִימָא:
Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Three
1
There are eight requirements in the making of tefillin. All of them are halachot transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai and, therefore, it is necessary to fulfill them all. If one deviates with regard to any of them, the [tefillin] are unacceptable. They are:
a) The tefillin must be square and must be sewn closed in a square. [Both] diagonals must be equal, and thus all four angles will be equal.
b) The leather of the head [tefillin] should have a shin embossed on both its right and left sides.
c) The passages should be wrapped in fabric.
d) A hair should be wound around that fabric. Afterwards, they should be placed in their compartment.
e) They should be sewn [closed] with the sinews [of an animal].
f) The leather compartment in which they are placed should have a place for the straps to pass through so that they can be moved through the [tefillin's] handle.
g) The straps should be black.
h) The knot with which they are tied should be the renowned knot that is formed like a dalet.
שְׁמוֹנֶה הֲלָכוֹת יֵשׁ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַתְּפִלִּין כֻּלָּן הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי. וּלְפִיכָךְ כֻּלָּן מְעַכְּבוֹת וְאִם שִׁנָּה בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן פָּסַל. וְאֵלּוּ הֵם. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מְרֻבָּעוֹת. וְכֵן תְּפִירָתָן בְּרִבּוּעַ. וַאֲלַכְסוֹנָן בְּרִבּוּעַ עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶן אַרְבַּע זָוִיּוֹת שָׁווֹת. וְשֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּעוֹר שֶׁל רֹאשׁ צוּרַת שִׁי״ן מִיָּמִין וּמִשְּׂמֹאל. וְשֶׁיִּכְרֹךְ הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בְּמַטְלִית. וְשֶׁיִּכְרֹךְ אוֹתָן בְּשֵׂעָר מֵעַל הַמַּטְלִית. וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַכְנִיסָן בְּבָתֵּיהֶן. וְשֶׁיִּהְיוּ תּוֹפְרִין אוֹתָן בְּגִידִין. וְשֶׁעוֹשִׂין לָהֶן מַעְבֹּרֶת מֵעוֹר הַחִפּוּי שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס בָּהּ הָרְצוּעָה עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא עוֹבֶרֶת וְהוֹלֶכֶת בְּתוֹךְ תּוֹבָר שֶׁלָּהּ. וְשֶׁיִּהְיוּ הָרְצוּעוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת. וְשֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַקֶּשֶׁר שֶׁלָּהֶן קֶשֶׁר יָדוּעַ כְּצוּרַת דָּלֶ״ת:
2
How are the head tefillin made? We take a cubic wooden block. [It need not, however, be a perfect cube]. If its height is [slightly] more or less than its width, it is of no consequence. We are required to take care only that its width and length are alike.
Three grooves are carved into it so that four projections will be made as depicted. Leather is taken and soaked in water, and then, the mold is placed within it. The leather is inserted in between the grooves.
While [the leather] is still wet, it is plucked and squeezed until the shape of a shin with three heads is formed on the right side of the tefillin as they will be worn, and the shape of a shin with four heads is formed on the left side of the tefillin as they will be worn.
בכֵּיצַד עוֹשִׂים תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. לוֹקְחִין עֵץ מְרֻבָּע אָרְכּוֹ כְּרָחְבּוֹ וּכְגָבְהוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה גָּבְהוֹ יוֹתֵר עַל רָחְבּוֹ אוֹ פָּחוֹת מִמֶּנּוּ אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם. וְאֵין מַקְפִּידִין אֶלָּא עַל אָרְכּוֹ שֶׁיְּהֵא כְּרָחְבּוֹ. וְחוֹפְרִין בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲרִיצִין כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה לוֹ אַרְבַּע רָאשִׁים כְּגוֹן זֶה: וְלוֹקְחִין עוֹר וּמַרְטִיבִין אוֹתוֹ בְּמַיִם וּמְשִׂימִין בּוֹ אֶת הָעֵץ וּמַכְנִיסִין אֶת הָעוֹר בֵּין כָּל חָרִיץ וְחָרִיץ וּמְכַמְּשִׁים אוֹתוֹ וְהוּא רָטֹב מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן עַד שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בּוֹ דְּמוּת שִׁי״ן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ שְׁלֹשָׁה רָאשִׁין מִיָּמִין הַמֵּנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין וּדְמוּת שִׁי״ן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים מִשְּׂמֹאל הַמֵּנִיחַ:
3
The leather is then left on the mold until it dries, and then it is removed. Thus, the leather will be [formed into a block] with four empty compartments.
One of the passages from the Torah is placed in each compartment, and then a portion of the leather is folded over beneath them, and then they are sewn closed on all four corners.
Within this lower piece of leather, a place should be left for the straps to be inserted, like a handle. It is called a ma'aboret.
גוּמַנִּיחִין אֶת הָעוֹר עַל הָעֵץ עַד שֶׁיִּיבַשׁ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹלֵץ הָעוֹר מֵעַל גַּבֵּי הָאִמּוּם שֶׁל עֵץ וְנִמְצָא הָעוֹר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ אַרְבָּעָה בָּתִּים פְּנוּיִין. וּמַכְנִיסִין פָּרָשָׁה בְּכָל בַּיִת וּבַיִת. וּמַחְזִירִין מִקְצָת הָעוֹר מִלְּמַטָּה וְתוֹפְרִין אוֹתוֹ מֵאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתָיו. וּמַנִּיחִין מִן הָעוֹר שֶׁלְּמַטָּה מָקוֹם שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס בּוֹ הָרְצוּעָה כְּמוֹ תּוֹבָר וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא מַעְבֹּרֶת:
4
How are the tefillin of the arm made? We take a wooden block whose length is equal to its width and is a fingerbreadth - or slightly more or slightly less - high, and place wet leather around it.
The leather is left on this mold until it has dried, and then it is removed. The four passages are deposited in the place left by the mold. A portion of the leather is folded over beneath them, and then they are sewn closed on all four corners. A piece of leather, like a handle, should be left for the straps [to be inserted].
דוְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד. לוֹקְחִין עֵץ מְרֻבָּע אָרְכּוֹ כְּרָחְבּוֹ וְיִהְיֶה גָּבְהוֹ כְּאֶצְבַּע אוֹ יָתֵר עַל זֶה מְעַט אוֹ פָּחוֹת מְעַט וּמְחַפִּין אוֹתוֹ בְּעוֹר רָטֹב וּמַנִּיחִין אֶת הָעוֹר עַל הָאִמּוּם עַד שֶׁיִּיבַשׁ וְחוֹלֵץ אֶת הָעוֹר וּמַנִּיחַ אֶת אַרְבַּע הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בִּמְקוֹם הָעֵץ וּמַחֲזִיר מִקְצָת הָעוֹר מִלְּמַטָּה וְתוֹפְרוֹ מֵאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹתָיו. וּמַנִּיחִין מִן הָעוֹר תּוֹבָר מְקוֹם הָרְצוּעוֹת:
5
What is the order of the passages? For the head tefillah, the final passage, V'hayah im shamo'a, is placed in the first compartment on the right side of the person putting on the tefillin. Shema is placed next to it. V'hayah ki y'viacha is placed in the third compartment next to Shema, and Kadesh Li is placed in the fourth compartment, on the left side of the person putting on the tefillin.
Thus, a person who is facing the person wearing the tefillin will read them in the following order. If their order is altered, they are not acceptable.
הכֵּיצַד סִדּוּר הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בִּתְפִלָּה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. מַכְנִיס פָּרָשָׁה אַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁהִיא (דברים יא יג) ״וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ״ בְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהוּא עַל יְמִין הַמֵּנִיחַ. וּ (דברים ו ד) ״שְׁמַע״ סְמוּכָה לָהּ. (שמות יג יא) ״וְהָיָה כִי יְבִיאֲךָ״ בְּבַיִת שְׁלִישִׁי סְמוּכָה לִשְׁמַע. וְ(שמות יג ב) ״קַדֶּשׁ לִי״ בְּבַיִת רְבִיעִי שֶׁהוּא לִשְׂמֹאל הַמֵּנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא הַקּוֹרֵא שֶׁלְּפָנָיו כְּנֶגֶד פְּנֵי הַמֵּנִיחַ קוֹרֵא עַל הַסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה כְּגוֹן זֶה: וְאִם הֶחֱלִיף סִדּוּר זֶה פְּסוּלוֹת:
6
[The passages for] the arm tefillin are written on four columns on a single piece of parchment like a Torah scroll, according to the order in which these passages are found in the Torah, in the following manner:
If they were written on four separate pieces of parchment and placed in the same compartment, one fulfills one's obligation. There is no need to glue them together.
ותְּפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד כּוֹתְבָם בְּאַרְבָּעָה דַּפִּין בְּעוֹר אֶחָד אָרֹךְ כְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה עַל סִדּוּרָן בַּתּוֹרָה כְּגוֹן זֶה אִם כְּתָבָן עַל אַרְבַּע עוֹרוֹת וְהִכְנִיסָן בְּבַיִת אֶחָד יָצָא וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְדַבְּקָם:
7
When the passages - both of the head and the arm tefillin - are rolled closed, they should be rolled from the end to the beginning, so that were the passage to be rolled open, it would be possible to read each portion from the beginning to the end.
זכְּשֶׁהוּא גּוֹלֵל הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בֵּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ בֵּין שֶׁל יָד גּוֹלֵל אוֹתָן מִסּוֹפָן לִתְחִלָּתָן עַד שֶׁתִּמְצָא כְּשֶׁתִּפְתַּח הַפָּרָשָׁה תִּקְרָא כָּל פָּרָשָׁה וּפָרָשָׁה מִתְּחִלָּתָהּ עַד סוֹפָהּ:
8
Before the passages are placed in their compartments, they should be wrapped in a fabric, and hair should be wound around them. Afterwards, they may be placed in their compartments.
This hair should be from a kosher species of animal or beast. Even when these animals died without being ritually slaughtered or were treifah, [their hair is nevertheless acceptable]. It has already become a universally accepted custom to wind hair from the tail of a calf [around these parchments].
חוּכְשֶׁמַּכְנִיסִין אֶת הַפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת בַּבָּתִּים שֶׁלָּהֶם כּוֹרְכִין אוֹתָן בְּמַטְלִית וְעַל הַמַּטְלִית שֵׂעָר וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַכְנִיסִין אוֹתָן בְּבָתֵּיהֶן. וְשֵׂעָר זֶה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת שְׂעַר בְּהֵמָה אוֹ שֶׁל חַיָּה טְהוֹרָה וַאֲפִלּוּ מִנְּבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן. וּכְבָר נָהֲגוּ כָּל הָעָם (לְבָרְכָן) [לְכָרְכָן] בִּשְׂעַר זְנַב הָעֲגָלִים:
9
When the tefillin are sewn closed, they may be sewn only with sinews from a kosher species of animal or beast. [Sinews taken from] animals which died without being ritually slaughtered or which were treifah [are nevertheless acceptable].
It is customary to take sinews from the heels of kosher animals and beasts. They are white in color. If they are too firm, they are softened by [pounding them with] stones and the like until they become like flax. Afterwards, they are spun and twisted into threads and used to sew together tefillin and the sheets of Torah scrolls.
טכְּשֶׁתּוֹפְרִין אֶת הַתְּפִלִּין אֵין תּוֹפְרִין אֶלָּא בְּגִידִין שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה אוֹ שֶׁל חַיָּה טְהוֹרָה וַאֲפִלּוּ מִנְּבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן. לוֹקְחִין הַגִּידִין שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּעֲקֵב הַבְּהֵמָה אוֹ הַחַיָּה טְהוֹרִים וְהֵם לְבָנִים. וְאִם הֵם קָשִׁים מְרַכְּכִין אוֹתָן בַּאֲבָנִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁיֵּעָשׂוּ כְּפִשְׁתָּן וְטוֹוִין אוֹתָן וְשׁוֹזְרִין אוֹתָן וּבָהֶן תּוֹפְרִין הַתְּפִלִּין וִירִיעוֹת סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה:
10
When the tefillin are sewn closed, they should be sewn as a square. It is a widely accepted practice for there to be three stitches on each side, so that there will be twelve stitches in all. This applies for both the arm tefillin and the head tefillin. If, however, one made ten or fourteen stitches, there is no difficulty.
For each of the stitches, the thread must pass through from both sides.
יכְּשֶׁתּוֹפְרִין הַתְּפִלִּין תּוֹפְרִין אוֹתָן בְּרִבּוּעַ. וַהֲלָכָה רוֹוַחַת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בְּכָל צַד שָׁלֹשׁ תְּפִירוֹת עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַכּל שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה תְּפִירוֹת בֵּין שֶׁל יָד בֵּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וְאִם עָשָׂה הַתְּפִירוֹת עֶשֶׂר אוֹ אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה עוֹשֶׂה. וְכָל הַתְּפִירוֹת יִהְיֶה הַחוּט שֶׁלָּהֶן סוֹבֵב מִשְּׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת:
11
The groove between [each of the compartments] of the head tefillin should reach the stitches [which sew the tefillin closed]. [Nevertheless,] if the groove is discernible, so that the [division into] four compartments is openly visible, [the tefillin] are acceptable even if the groove does not extend until the stitches. If, however, the groove is not discernible, [the tefillin] are not acceptable.
It is necessary to pass a thread or cord through each of the grooves on [the outer side of] the leather [compartments] to separate between the compartments. It is common custom to pass one of the sinews used to sew [the tefillin closed] between each of these three grooves.
יאוְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הֶחָרִיץ שֶׁל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ עַד מְקוֹם הַתֶּפֶר. וְאִם הָיָה הֶחָרִיץ נִכָּר כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁין נִרְאִין לַכּל וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הֶחָרִיץ מַגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹם הַתֶּפֶר כְּשֵׁרוֹת. וְאִם אֵין חָרִיץ נִכָּר פְּסוּלוֹת. וְצָרִיךְ לְהַעֲבִיר בְּתוֹךְ כָּל חָרִיץ וְחָרִיץ עַל גַּבֵּי הָעוֹר חוּט אוֹ מְשִׁיחָה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין בַּיִת לְבַיִת. וּמִנְהָג פָּשׁוּט לְהַעֲבִיר גִּיד מִגִּידֵי הַתְּפִירָה בְּכָל חָרִיץ וְחָרִיץ מִשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן:
12
How are the straps made? We take leather straps [at least] the length of a barley-corn in width. If they are wider than that, they are acceptable. The length of the straps of the head tefillin should be sufficient to surround the head, tie the knot, and extend on either side of the head until they reach the navel or slightly above it.
The length of the strap of the arm should be sufficient to surround the forearm, tie its knot, and extend until it can be wound three times around the middle finger and tied. If the straps are longer than this, they are acceptable.
יבוְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין הָרְצוּעוֹת. לוֹקְחִין רְצוּעָה שֶׁל עוֹר רְחָבָה כְּאֹרֶךְ הַשְּׂעוֹרָה. וְאִם הָיְתָה רְחָבָה מִזּוֹ הַשִּׁעוּר כְּשֵׁרָה. וְאֹרֶךְ רְצוּעָה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּקִּיף אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וְיִקְשֹׁר מִמֶּנָּה הַקֶּשֶׁר וְתִמְתַּח שְׁתֵּי הָרְצוּעוֹת מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לַטַּבּוּר אוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ מְעַט. וְאֹרֶךְ רְצוּעָה שֶׁל יָד כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּקִּיף אֶת הַזְּרוֹעַ וְיִקְשֹׁר מִמֶּנָּה הַקֶּשֶׁר וְתִמָּתַח רְצוּעָה אַחַת עַל אֶצְבַּע אֶמְצָעִית וְיִכְרֹךְ מִמֶּנָּה עַל אֶצְבָּעוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ כְּרִיכוֹת וְיִקְשֹׁר. וְאִם הָיוּ הָרְצוּעוֹת אֲרֻכּוֹת יָתֵר עַל שִׁעוּרִים הָאֵלּוּ כְּשֵׁרוֹת:
13
One places the straps through their handle, leaving space for the [circumference of] one's head, and ties a square knot, which resembles a dalet. Every Torah scholar should learn how to tie this knot. It is impossible to describe this knot in writing. Rather, it must be seen.
The straps of the hand tefillin should be tied with a knot that resembles a yud. This knot should allow the strap to pass through it so that it can be widened or narrowed while one is tying the tefillin on one's arm.
יגוּמַכְנִיס רְצוּעָה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ בַּתּוֹבָר שֶׁלָּהּ. וּמַקִּיף בְּמִדַּת רֹאשׁוֹ וְקוֹשֵׁר קֶשֶׁר מְרֻבָּע כְּמִין דָּלֶ״ת. וְקֶשֶׁר זֶה צָרִיךְ כָּל תַּלְמִיד חָכָם לְלָמְדוֹ וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהוֹדִיעַ צוּרָתוֹ בִּכְתָב אֶלָּא בִּרְאִיַּת הָעַיִן. וְכֵן בְּשֶׁל יָד קוֹשֵׁר קֶשֶׁר כְּמִין יוּ״ד. וְתִהְיֶה הָרְצוּעָה שֶׁל יָד עוֹלָה וְיוֹרֶדֶת בְּתוֹךְ הַקֶּשֶׁר כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּרְחִיב וִיקַצֵּר בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לִקְשֹׁר עַל יָדוֹ:
14
The outer surface of the straps of both the head and the arm tefillin must be black. This is a halachah transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai.
In contrast, with regard to the inner surface, since it faces the inside, it is acceptable if it is green or white. One should not make this [side of the straps] red, since it will be embarrassing for him if they become overturned.
The back of the straps should be the same color as the compartment; if it is green, they should be green; if it is white, they should be white. It is attractive for tefillin to be entirely black, the compartments and the entire strap.
ידהָרְצוּעוֹת שֶׁל תְּפִלִּין בֵּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ בֵּין שֶׁל יָד פְּנֵיהֶם הַחִיצוֹנִים שְׁחוֹרִים וְזוֹ הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי. אֲבָל אֲחוֹרֵי הָרְצוּעוֹת הוֹאִיל וּמִבִּפְנִים הֵן אִם הָיוּ יְרֻקּוֹת אוֹ לְבָנוֹת כְּשֵׁרוֹת. אֲדֻמּוֹת לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁמָּא תֵּהָפֵךְ הָרְצוּעָה וּגְנַאי הוּא לוֹ. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה אֲחוֹרֵי הָרְצוּעָה לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא כְּעֵין הַקְּצִיצָה אִם יְרֻקָּה יְרֻקִּין וְאִם לְבָנָה לְבָנִים. וְנוֹי הוּא לַתְּפִלִּין שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כֻּלָּן שְׁחוֹרוֹת הַקְּצִיצָה וְהָרְצוּעָה כֻּלָּהּ:
15
The leather used to cover the tefillin and from which the straps are made should come from a kosher species of animal, beast, or fowl. Even when these animals died without being ritually slaughtered or were treifah, [their hides are nevertheless acceptable]. If, however, leather from a non-kosher species was used or if they were covered with gold, they are not acceptable.
The leather used for the straps must be processed with the intent that it be used for the mitzvah. In contrast, the leather used to cover the tefillin need not be processed at all. It is even acceptable if it is made from matzah. [Indeed,] this is the practice in many communities.
טוהָעוֹר שֶׁמְּחַפִּין בּוֹ הַתְּפִלִּין וְשֶׁעוֹשִׂין מִמֶּנּוּ הָרְצוּעוֹת הוּא עוֹר שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה אוֹ חַיָּה אוֹ עוֹף הַטְּהוֹרִים וַאֲפִלּוּ נְבֵלוֹת וּטְרֵפוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן. וְאִם עָשָׂה מֵעוֹר טְמֵאִים אוֹ שֶׁחִפָּה תְּפִלִּין בְּזָהָב פְּסוּלוֹת. וְעוֹר הָרְצוּעָה צָרִיךְ עִבּוּד לִשְׁמָהּ. אֲבָל בְּעוֹר שֶׁמְּחַפִּין בּוֹ אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ עִבּוּד כְּלָל אֲפִלּוּ עֲשָׂהוּ מַצָּה כָּשֵׁר. וּמְקוֹמוֹת הַרְבֵּה נָהֲגוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָן בְּעוֹר מַצָּה:
16
tefillin may be made only by a Jew, since making them is equivalent to writing [the passages], because of the shin [embossed] in the leather [compartment] mentioned above. Therefore, if they were made by a gentile or sewn closed by him, they are unacceptable.
Similarly, they may not be made by any others whose writing [of the passages] is not acceptable.
טזאֵין עוֹשִׂין הַתְּפִלִּין אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעֲשִׂיָּתָן כִּכְתִיבָתָן מִפְּנֵי הַשִּׁי״ן שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בָּעוֹר כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ. לְפִיכָךְ אִם חִפָּן הַכּוּתִי אוֹ תְּפָרָן פְּסוּלוֹת וְהוּא הַדִּין לְכָל הַפָּסוּל לְכָתְבָן שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָן:
17
A head tefillah may not be made into an arm tefillah, but an arm tefillah may be made into a head tefillah, because an article should not be lowered from a higher level of holiness to a lesser one. Similarly, the strap of a head tefillah should not be used for an arm tefillah.
When does the above apply? After one has worn them. However, if head tefillin have never been worn, one may make them into arm tefillin. How is this done? One drapes leather around them until they become a single [compartment] and [then, one can] tie them on his hand.
יזתְּפִלָּה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ אֵין עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ שֶׁל יָד וְשֶׁל יָד עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מוֹרִידִין מִקְּדֻשָּׁה חֲמוּרָה לִקְדֻשָּׁה קַלָּה. וְכֵן רְצוּעָה שֶׁל תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ אֵין עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ לִתְפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים כְּשֶׁלְּבָשָׁן. אֲבָל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ שֶׁלֹּא לְבָשָׁן אָדָם מֵעוֹלָם אִם רָצָה לְהַחֲזִירָן לְיָד מֻתָּר. וְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין. טוֹלֶה עָלֶיהָ עוֹר עַד שֶׁתֵּעָשֶׂה אַחַת וְקוֹשְׁרָהּ עַל יָדוֹ:
18
[The following laws apply when] the stitches of the tefillin become torn: If two stitches which are located next to each other become torn, or three stitches become torn even though they are not located next to each other, [the tefillin] are unacceptable.
When does the above apply? With regard to old [tefillin]. With regard to new [tefillin], however, if their base remains intact, they are acceptable. [tefillin are considered] to be "new" as long as the leather remains strong and does not tear when one takes hold of a portion of the leather where the stitch was torn and hangs the tefillin. If the leather is not fit to hang the tefillin because it will tear, the [tefillin are considered] "old."
יחתְּפִלִּין שֶׁנִּפְסְקוּ הַתְּפִירוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן אִם הָיוּ שְׁתֵּי הַתְּפִירוֹת זוֹ בְּצַד זוֹ אוֹ שֶׁנִּפְסְקוּ שָׁלֹשׁ תְּפִירוֹת אֲפִלּוּ זוֹ שֶׁלֹּא כְּנֶגֶד זוֹ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ פְּסוּלוֹת. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּישָׁנוֹת אֲבָל בַּחֲדָשׁוֹת כָּל זְמַן שֶׁפְּנֵי טַבְלָן קַיָּמוֹת כְּשֵׁרוֹת. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַחֲדָשׁוֹת כָּל שֶׁאוֹחֲזִין מִקְצָת הָעוֹר שֶׁנִּקְרַע תִּפְרוֹ וְתוֹלִין בּוֹ הַתְּפִלִּין וְהוּא חָזָק וְאֵינוֹ נִכְרָת הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ חֲדָשׁוֹת. וְאִם אֵין רָאוּי לִתְלוֹת בּוֹ אֶלָּא הוּא נִפְסָק הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יְשָׁנוֹת:
19
Should a strap be torn, [the pieces] should not be tied or sewn together. Rather, it should be removed and entombed, and another one [substituted for it].
The remnants of [torn] straps are not acceptable unless their length and width meets - or exceeds - the minimum requirements.
At all times, a person should be careful that the external surface of the straps faces upward when he ties them on his arm and head.
יטרְצוּעָה שֶׁנִּפְסְקָה אֵין קוֹשְׁרִין אוֹתָהּ וְאֵין תּוֹפְרִין אוֹתָהּ אֶלָּא מוֹצִיאָהּ וְגוֹנְזָהּ וְעוֹשִׂין אַחֶרֶת. וְשִׁיּוּרֵי הָרְצוּעָה פְּסוּלִין עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא אָרְכָּהּ וְרָחְבָּהּ כַּשִּׁעוּר אוֹ יָתֵר עָלָיו. וּלְעוֹלָם יִזָּהֵר לִהְיוֹת פְּנֵי הָרְצוּעָה לְמַעְלָה בְּעֵת שֶׁקּוֹשֵׁר אוֹתָן עַל יָדוֹ וְעַל רֹאשׁוֹ:
Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Four
1
Where are the head tefillin placed? They should be placed at the point of the skull, the end of the hairline towards the face, the place where a child's brain [can be felt] to pulsate.
Care must be taken to position them in the center, so that they will be "between the eyes." The knot should be at the top portion of the neck, the bottom of the skull.
אהֵיכָן מְנִיחִין תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. מְנִיחִין אוֹתָן עַל הַקָּדְקֹד שֶׁהוּא סוֹף הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁכְּנֶגֶד הַפָּנִים וְהוּא הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁמּוֹחוֹ שֶׁל תִּינוֹק רוֹפֵס בּוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לְכַוֵּן אוֹתָם בָּאֶמְצַע כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בֵּין הָעֵינַיִם. וְיִהְיֶה הַקֶּשֶׁר בְּגֹבַהּ הָעֹרֶף שֶׁהוּא סוֹף הַגֻּלְגּלֶת:
2
The arm [tefillin] should be tied to one's left arm at the muscle - i.e., the bulging flesh of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Thus, if one presses his arm to his ribs, the tefillah will be opposite his heart, thus fulfilling the directive [Deuteronomy 6:6], "And these words... shall be upon your heart."
בוְשֶׁל יָד קוֹשֵׁר אוֹתָהּ עַל שְׂמֹאלוֹ עַל הַקִּבֹּרֶת וְהוּא הַבָּשָׂר הַתּוֹפֵחַ שֶׁבַּמַּרְפֵּק שֶׁבֵּין פֶּרֶק הַכָּתֵף וּבֵין פֶּרֶק הַזְּרוֹעַ שֶׁנִּמְצָא כְּשֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּק מַרְפֵּקוֹ לִצְלָעָיו תִּהְיֶה תְּפִלָּה כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ וְנִמְצָא מְקַיֵּם (דברים ו ו) ״וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה״ (דברים ו ו) ״עַל לְבָבֶךָ״:
3
A person who places the arm tefillah on his palm, or the head tefillah on his forehead, follows the way of the Sadducees. A person who makes his tefillin rounded like a nut does not fulfill the mitzvah at all.
A left-handed person puts tefillin on his right hand, since [figuratively,] it is his left hand. If he is ambidextrous, he should place them on his left hand - i.e., his left hand in a literal sense.
The places where to tie and place the tefillin were received as part of the oral tradition.
גהַמֵּנִיחַ תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד עַל פַּס יָדוֹ אוֹ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ עַל מִצְחוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה דֶּרֶךְ צְדוֹקִים. הָעוֹשֶׂה תְּפִלָּתוֹ עֲגֻלָּה כֶּאֱגוֹז אֵין בָּהּ מִצְוָה כְּלָל. אִטֵּר מֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁהוּא שְׂמֹאל שֶׁלּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה שׁוֹלֵט בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו מֵנִיחַ אוֹתָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ שֶׁהוּא שְׂמֹאל כָּל אָדָם. וּמְקוֹם קְשִׁירַת הַתְּפִלִּין וּמְקוֹם הֲנָחָתָן מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לְמָדוּם:
4
The [absence of the] head tefillah does not preclude [wearing tefillin] on the arm, and similarly, the [absence of the] arm tefillah does not preclude [wearing tefillin] on the head. They are two mitzvot, each one to be considered independently.
What blessings are recited? On the head tefillin, one recites: "[Blessed are You...] who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin." On the arm tefillin, one recites: "[Blessed are You...] who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefillin."
דתְּפִלָּה שֶׁל רֹאשׁ אֵינָהּ מְעַכֶּבֶת שֶׁל יָד וְשֶׁל יָד אֵינָהּ מְעַכֶּבֶת שֶׁל רֹאשׁ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן שְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת זוֹ לְעַצְמָהּ וְזוֹ לְעַצְמָהּ. וְכֵיצַד מְבָרְכִין. עַל שֶׁל רֹאשׁ מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין. וְעַל שֶׁל יָד מְבָרֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהָנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין:
5
When does the above apply? When one puts on only one of them. If, however, one puts them both on, one recites only a single blessing, "...to put on tefillin."
One should tie the tefillin on one's arm, and afterwards put on the head tefillin. When one removes them, the head tefillin should be removed, and then the arm tefillin.
הבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים כְּשֶׁהֵנִיחַ אַחַת מֵהֶן אֲבָל אִם הֵנִיחַ שְׁתֵּיהֶן מְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה אַחַת וְהִיא לְהָנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין. וְקוֹשֵׁר שֶׁל יָד וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵנִיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וּכְשֶׁהוּא חוֹלֵץ חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל יָד:
6
[After] reciting the blessing, "...to put on tefillin," and tying the tefillin on one's arm, one is forbidden to talk - even to respond to a greeting from one's teacher - until he puts on the head tefillin. If he talks, it is considered to be a transgression. [In such an instance,] one is required to recite the second blessing, "...concerning the mitzvah of tefillin," and then put on the head tefillin.
ומִי שֶׁבֵּרֵךְ לְהָנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין וְקָשַׁר תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד אָסוּר לוֹ לְסַפֵּר וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהָשִׁיב שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ עַד שֶׁיָּנִיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וְאִם שָׂח הֲרֵי זוֹ עֲבֵרָה וְצָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵנִיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ:
7
Whenever a person puts on tefillin - even if he removes them and puts them on several times throughout the day - he should recite a blessing for them.
With regard to all mitzvot: one recites a blessing for them before performing them. Therefore, one should recite the blessing for the arm tefillah after placing it on one's muscle, before tying it, since tying it comprises the fulfillment of the mitzvah.
זתְּפִלִּין כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמְּנִיחָן מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן וַאֲפִלּוּ חוֹלֵץ וְלוֹבֵשׁ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים בְּיוֹם. וְכָל הַמִּצְוֹת כֻּלָּן מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶם קֹדֶם לַעֲשִׂיָּתָן. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ עַל הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד אַחַר הֲנָחָה עַל הַקִּבֹּרֶת קֹדֶם קְשִׁירָתָן. שֶׁקְּשִׁירָתָן זוֹ הִיא עֲשִׂיָּתָן:
8
When a person removes his tefillin to place them in a container, he should not place the arm tefillah below and the head tefillah above, because when he wants to put them on, he will encounter the head tefillah first. Thus, he will [be forced to] ignore it and take out the arm tefillah, since one should not put on the head tefillah before the arm tefillah.
[This is undesirable because] it is forbidden for a person to ignore one mitzvah and proceed to the fulfillment of another mitzvah. Rather, as soon as a mitzvah comes to a person's hand, he should occupy himself with it. Therefore, a person should place the arm tefillin above, so that he will encounter it first, and thus put on the tefillin in the proper sequence.
חכְּשֶׁחוֹלֵץ אָדָם תְּפִלָּיו לְהַצְנִיעָן בִּכְלִי לֹא יַנִּיחַ שֶׁל יָד מִלְּמַטָּה וְשֶׁל רֹאשׁ מִלְּמַעְלָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לְלָבְשָׁן יִפְגַּע בְּשֶׁל רֹאשׁ תְּחִלָּה וְנִמְצָא שֶׁמַּנִּיחָהּ וּמוֹצִיא שֶׁל יָד לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹבְשִׁין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ קֹדֶם שֶׁל יָד. וְאָסוּר לָאָדָם לְהַנִּיחַ מִצְוָה וְלַעֲבֹר מִמֶּנָּה לְמִצְוָה אַחֶרֶת אֶלָּא מִצְוָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא לְיָדוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם בַּתְּחִלָּה בָּהּ הוּא מִתְעַסֵּק. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לְהַנִּיחַ שֶׁל יָד לְמַעְלָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְגַּע בָּהּ תְּחִלָּה וְיִלְבַּשׁ עַל הַסֵּדֶר:
9
A container that was made for tefillin to be placed in and which was used for that purpose becomes holy. It is forbidden to use it for mundane purposes.
If a container was prepared for that purpose, but never used for it, or if a container was temporarily used for tefillin, but was not prepared for that purpose, it does not become holy. Rather, it is considered an ordinary article as before.
It is forbidden to suspend tefillin. [This applies regardless of whether one suspends them] by their straps or from the tefillah itself. One may, however, suspend the bag in which they are placed.
טכְּלִי שֶׁהֱכִינוֹ לְהַנִּיחַ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין וְהִנִּיחָם בּוֹ נִתְקַדֵּשׁ וְאָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי חֹל. הֱכִינוֹ וְלֹא הִנִּיחַ בּוֹ אוֹ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ בּוֹ עַרְאַי וְלֹא הֱכִינוֹ לֹא נִתְקַדֵּשׁ וַהֲרֵי הוּא חֹל כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה. וְאָסוּר לִתְלוֹת אֶת הַתְּפִלִּין בֵּין בָּרְצוּעָה בֵּין בַּתְּפִלָּה עַצְמָהּ אֲבָל תּוֹלֶה הוּא אֶת הַכִּיס שֶׁהַתְּפִלִּין מֻנָּחִין בּוֹ:
10
The time for wearing tefillin is the day and not the night, as [Exodus 13:10] states: "And you shall observe this statute in its appointed time, from day to day." "This statute" refers to the mitzvah of tefillin.
Similarly, Sabbaths and holidays are not days on which tefillin [are worn], as [Exodus 13:9] states: "And they shall be a sign for you." Since the Sabbaths and the holidays are themselves signs, [the sign of tefillin is unnecessary].
When does the time to put them on begin? When one can see a colleague standing four cubits away and recognize him. [It continues] until sunset.
יזְמַן הֲנָחַת הַתְּפִלִּין בַּיּוֹם וְלֹא בַּלַּיְלָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג י) ״מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה״. (שמות יג י) ״חֻקָּה״ זוֹ הִיא מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין. וְכֵן שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים אֵינָן זְמַן תְּפִלִּין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג טז) ״וְהָיָה לְאוֹת״ וְשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים הֵן עַצְמָן אוֹת. וּמֵאֵימָתַי זְמַן הֲנָחָתָן מִשֶּׁיִּרְאֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ בְּרִחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְיַכִּירֵהוּ, עַד שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה:
11
It is permitted for a person who put on tefillin before sunset to continue wearing them after nightfall. They may even remain upon him the entire night.
This law, however, is not to be taught in public. Instead, everyone should be taught not to wear tefillin at night and to remove them before sunset.
A person who puts on tefillin after sunset transgresses a Scriptural prohibition, as [implied by Exodus 13:10]: "And you shall observe this statute... from day to day."
יאמִי שֶׁהֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה וְחָשְׁכָה עָלָיו אֲפִלּוּ הֵן עָלָיו כָּל הַלַּיְלָה מֻתָּר. וְאֵין מוֹרִין דָּבָר זֶה לָרַבִּים אֶלָּא מְלַמְּדִין אֶת הַכּל שֶׁלֹּא יָנִיחוּ תְּפִלִּין עֲלֵיהֶן בַּלַּיְלָה אֶלָּא יַחְלְצוּ אוֹתָן מִשֶּׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה. וְכָל הַמֵּנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין לְכַתְּחִלָּה אַחַר שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג י) ״וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת הַחֻקָּה הַזֹּאת״ וְגוֹ׳ (שמות יג י) ״מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה״:
12
When a person is wearing tefillin in the midst of a journey and the sun sets, marking the commencement of the Sabbath, he should cover them with his hand until he reaches his home and then, remove them.
If he is sitting in the house of study and the sun sets, marking the commencement of the Sabbath, he should cover them with his hand until he reaches his home, and then remove them.
If there is a house located near the wall [of a city] where they would be safe, he should place them there. If, however, he did not remove his tefillin after sunset because he did not have a place where they would be safe, it is permissible for him to continue wearing them in order to protect them.
יבהָיָה בָּא בַּדֶּרֶךְ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְשָׁקְעָה עָלָיו הַחַמָּה וְקָדַשׁ הַיּוֹם מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁהוּא מַגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ וְחוֹלֵץ. הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְקָדַשׁ עָלָיו הַיּוֹם מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ וְחוֹלֵץ. וְאִם יֵשׁ בַּיִת סָמוּךְ לַחוֹמָה שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּמְּרִין בּוֹ מַנִּיחָן שָׁם. וְאִם לֹא חָלַץ תְּפִלָּיו מִשֶּׁשָּׁקְעָה הַחַמָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹ מָקוֹם לְשָׁמְרָן וְנִמְצָאוּ עָלָיו כְּדֵי לְשָׁמְרָן מֻתָּר:
13
All those who are exempt from the obligation to recite the Shema are exempt from the obligation to wear tefillin. If a minor knows [the importance of] guarding his tefillin, his father should obtain tefillin for him, to educate him regarding the performance of mitzvot.
A person with stomach problems and anyone who can contain his excretory functions only with difficulty are exempt from the obligation to wear tefillin. [In contrast,] all those ritually impure are obligated to wear tefillin like one who is pure.
A person who suffers discomfort, or someone who is disturbed and cannot concentrate his thoughts, is exempt from the obligation to wear tefillin, since a person who wears tefillin is forbidden to divert his attention from them.
Priests who are in the midst of [the Temple] service, Levites who chant on the platform, and Israelites while they are attending the Temple [ceremonies] are exempt from the obligation to pray and to wear tefillin.
יגכָּל הַפָּטוּר מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע פָּטוּר מִתְּפִלִּין. קָטָן שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁמֹר תְּפִלָּיו אָבִיו לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ תְּפִלִּין כְּדֵי לְחַנְּכוֹ בְּמִצְוֹת. חוֹלֵי מֵעַיִם וְכָל מִי שֶׁלֹּא יָכוֹל לִשְׁמֹר אֶת נְקָבָיו אֶלָּא בְּצַעַר פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִלִּין. וְכָל הַטְּמֵאִים כֻּלָּן חַיָּבִין בִּתְפִלִּין כִּטְהוֹרִים. מִצְטַעֵר וּמִי שֶׁאֵין דַּעְתּוֹ מְיֻשֶּׁבֶת וּנְכוֹנָה עָלָיו פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִלִּין שֶׁהַמֵּנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין אָסוּר לוֹ לְהַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מֵהֶן. כֹּהֲנִים בִּשְׁעַת הָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַלְוִיִּם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאוֹמְרִים הַשִּׁיר עַל הַדּוּכָן וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹמְדִים בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ פְּטוּרִין מִן הַתְּפִלָּה וּמִן הַתְּפִלִּין:
14
A person should touch his tefillin [from time to time] during the entire time he is wearing them, so that he will not divert his attention from them even for a single moment, for their holiness surpasses that of the tzitz. The tzitz has God's name [written] upon it only once, while the head tefillin - and similarly, the arm tefillin - contain the name י-ה-ו-ה 21 times.
ידחַיָּב אָדָם לְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בִּתְפִלָּיו כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵם עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מֵהֶם אֲפִלּוּ רֶגַע אֶחָד. שֶׁקְּדֻשָּׁתָן גְּדוֹלָה מִקְּדֻשַּׁת הַצִּיץ. שֶׁהַצִּיץ אֵין בּוֹ אֶלָּא שֵׁם אֶחָד וְאֵלּוּ יֵשׁ בָּהֶם אֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים שֵׁם שֶׁל יוּ״ד הֵ״א בְּשֶׁל רֹאשׁ וּכְמוֹתָן בְּשֶׁל יָד:
15
tefillin require a clean body; i.e., that one should be careful not to release gas while wearing them.
Accordingly, it is forbidden to sleep while wearing them - neither a long sleep nor a nap. If, however, one places a cloth over them and a woman is not with him, one may nap while wearing them. What should he do? Place his head between his knees and sleep while sitting.
טותְּפִלִּין צְרִיכִין גּוּף נָקִי שֶׁיִּזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ רוּחַ מִלְּמַטָּה כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵם עָלָיו. לְפִיכָךְ אָסוּר לִישָׁן בָּהֶם לֹא שְׁנַת קֶבַע וְלֹא שְׁנַת עַרְאַי אֶלָּא אִם הִנִּיחַ עֲלֵיהֶן סוּדָר וְלֹא הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ אִשָּׁה יָשֵׁן בָּהֶם שְׁנַת עַרְאַי. וכֵּיצַד הוּא עוֹשֶׂה. מַנִּיחַ רֹאשׁוֹ בֵּין בִּרְכָּיו וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְיָשֵׁן:
16
A person who has tefillin wound around his hand is permitted to sleep with them. [This applies] even to a long sleep.
He may eat only a snack while wearing them. If, however, he enters to partake of a regular meal, he should remove them and place them on the table until after he washes his hands [at the conclusion of the meal]. Afterwards, he should put them on and recite grace over his meal while wearing them.
טזהָיוּ תְּפִלָּיו כְּרוּכִין בְּיָדוֹ מֻתָּר לִישֹׁן בָּהֶם אֲפִלּוּ שְׁנַת קֶבַע. וְאֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל בָּהֶם אֶלָּא אֲכִילַת עַרְאַי. אֲבָל אִם נִכְנַס לִסְעֻדַּת קֶבַע חוֹלְצָן וּמַנִּיחָן עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּטּל יָדָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ יְנִיחֵם וִיבָרֵךְ עַל מְזוֹנוֹ וְהוּא לָבוּשׁ בָּהֶן:
17
[The following rules apply with regard to a person] wearing tefillin who must use the lavatory: [He should remove his tefillin but,] while he enters, he should not place them in the holes [of the outer wall of the lavatory] which are near the public domain, lest they be taken by passersby.
What should he do? Even if he [merely] has to urinate, he should remove his tefillin four cubits away [from the lavatory] and roll them in his clothes like a Torah scroll, holding them near his heart with his right hand. He must take care that the strap does not protrude more than a handbreadth from his hand. Afterwards, he should enter and relieve himself. After leaving the lavatory and walking more than four cubits away, he should put them on.
יזהָיָה לָבוּשׁ תְּפִלִּין וְהֻצְרַךְ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא לֹא יַנִּיחַ הַתְּפִלִּין בַּחוֹרִין הַסְּמוּכִין לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְיִכָּנֵס שֶׁמָּא יִטְּלוּם עוֹבְרֵי דְּרָכִים. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה. אֲפִלּוּ הֻצְרַךְ לְהַשְׁתִּין מַיִם חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו בְּרִחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְגוֹלְלָן בְּבִגְדוֹ כְּמִין סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וְאוֹחֲזָן בִּימִינוֹ כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ. וְיִזָּהֵר כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא רְצוּעָה יוֹצֵאת מִתַּחַת יָדוֹ טֶפַח. וְנִכְנָס וְעוֹשֶׂה צְרָכָיו. וּכְשֶׁיֵּצֵא מַרְחִיק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת מִבֵּית הַכִּסֵּא וְלוֹבְשָׁן:
18
When does the above apply? In a permanent lavatory where drops [of urine] will not sprinkle upon him. In contrast, in a place that is temporarily being used as a lavatory, one should not enter, [holding tefillin] wound up in one's hand. Instead, one should remove them [outside the lavatory] and give them to a colleague to guard.
Urine cannot be expelled [without drops sprinkling] even in a permanent lavatory unless one squats. If [the floor is covered] with soft dust, [drops will not sprinkle] even when one stands. If the floor is hard, one should stand on an incline [and urinate], so that drops will not sprinkle on him.
יחבַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא הַקָּבוּעַ שֶׁאֵין נִיצוֹצוֹת נִתָּזוֹת עָלָיו. אֲבָל בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא עַרְאַי לֹא יִכָּנֵס בָּהֶן כְּשֶׁהֵם גְּלוּלִים אֶלָּא חוֹלֵץ אוֹתָן וְנוֹתְנָן לַחֲבֵרוֹ לְשָׁמְרָן. וְאֵין מֵי רַגְלַיִם כָּלִין אֲפִלּוּ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא קָבוּעַ אֶלָּא בִּישִׁיבָה. וְאִם הָיָה עָפָר תָּחוּחַ אֲפִלּוּ בַּעֲמִידָה. הָיָה בְּמָקוֹם קָשֶׁה יַעֲמֹד בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִנָּתְזוּ נִיצוֹצוֹת עָלָיו:
19
When a person is wearing tefillin and must relieve himself in the evening, when there would be no time left in the day to put them on again after he finishes,1 he should not enter a lavatory, [holding them] rolled up in his clothes.
What should he do [instead]? He should remove them and place them in their container if it is a handbreadth in size,2 or in another container which is not specific for them even though it is not a handbreadth in size. He should hold the container in his hand when he enters the lavatory. Similarly, if he needs to relieve himself at night, he should place them in a container and enter the lavatory, holding the tefillin in his hand.
יטהָיָה לָבוּשׁ בִּתְפִלִּין וְהֻצְרַךְ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא לְעֵת עֶרֶב וְלֹא נִשְׁאַר מִן הַיּוֹם כְּדֵי לְלָבְשָׁן אַחַר שֶׁיֵּצֵא לֹא יִכָּנֵס בָּהֶם גְּלוּלִים בְּבִגְדוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהַשְׁתִּין מַיִם בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא קָבוּעַ. אֶלָּא כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה. חוֹלְצָן וּמַנִּיחָן בְּכֶלְיָן אִם הָיָה בּוֹ טֶפַח אוֹ בִּכְלִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ כֶּלְיָן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ טֶפַח וְאוֹחֵז הַכְּלִי בְּיָדוֹ וְנִכְנָס. וְכֵן אִם הֻצְרַךְ בַּלַּיְלָה מַנִּיחָן בִּכְלִי וְאוֹחֵז הַכְּלִי בְּיָדוֹ וְנִכְנָס:
20
If a person forgot and entered a lavatory while wearing tefillin, he should cover them with his hand until he completes expelling the first issue of feces or urine, and then leave the lavatory, remove the tefillin, return, and complete relieving himself. Were one to interrupt in the midst of expelling the first outburst of feces or urine, he might become very dangerously ill.
כשָׁכַח וְנִכְנַס לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא וְהוּא לָבוּשׁ תְּפִלִּין מֵנִיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁיִּגְמֹר עַמּוּד רִאשׁוֹן וְיוֹצֵא וְחוֹלֵץ. אַחַר כָּךְ נִכְנָס וְעוֹשֶׂה צְרָכָיו. שֶׁאִם יַפְסִיק בְּעַמּוּד רִאשׁוֹן בֵּין בִּגְדוֹלִים בֵּין בִּקְטַנִּים יָבוֹא לִידֵי חֳלָאִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן סַכָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה:
21
If a person forgot and had intercourse while wearing tefillin,3 he should not hold either the straps or the compartments themselves until he washes his hands. [Then, he should] remove them. [This restriction was instituted] because hands are active.4
כאשָׁכַח וְשִׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ בִּתְפִלִּין הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יֹאחַז לֹא בָּרְצוּעָה וְלֹא בַּקְּצִיצָה עַד שֶׁיִּטּל יָדָיו וְיִטְּלֵם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַיָּדַיִם עַסְקָנִיּוֹת:
22
[The following rules apply to] a person who enters a bathhouse:5 In the rooms where people stand clothed, it is permitted to put on tefillin. In the rooms where some of the people stand naked and some clothed, one need not remove one's tefillin, nor, at the outset, should one put tefillin on there. In the rooms where [everyone] stands naked, one should remove one's tefillin and, needless to say, one should not put them on.6
כבהַנִּכְנָס לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ מָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִין לְבוּשִׁין מֻתָּר לְהָנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִין שָׁם מִקְצָתָן עֲרוּמִים וּמִקְצָתָן לְבוּשִׁין אֵינוֹ חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו וְאֵינוֹ מֵנִיחַ שָׁם תְּפִלִּין לְכַתְּחִלָּה. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִים עֲרוּמִים חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵנִיחַ:
23
A person should not walk in a cemetery wearing his head tefillin. Even [outside a cemetery], a person should remove his tefillin if he comes within four cubits of a corpse or a grave, until he distances himself four cubits from them.
A person should not put on tefillin [when he is naked]. He must first cover his genitalia and put on his clothes.
A person who is carrying a load on his head should remove his head tefillin [and not put it on again] until he puts down his load. It is even forbidden to wear a handkerchief around one's head when wearing tefillin. One may, however, wear a hat over the tefillin.
כגלֹא יְהַלֵּךְ אָדָם בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת שֶׁל מֵת אוֹ בְּתוֹךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת שֶׁל קֶבֶר צָרִיךְ לַחֲלֹץ תְּפִלָּיו עַד שֶׁיַּרְחִיק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת. וְלֹא יִלְבַּשׁ אָדָם תְּפִלִּין עַד שֶׁיְּכַסֶּה עֶרְוָתוֹ וְיִלְבַּשׁ בְּגָדָיו. הַנּוֹשֵׂא מַשּׂאוֹי עַל רֹאשׁוֹ חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו שֶׁל רֹאשׁ עַד שֶׁיָּסִיר הַמַּשּׂאוֹי מֵעָלָיו וַאֲפִלּוּ מִטְפַּחַת אָסוּר לְהַנִּיחַ עַל הָרֹאשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין. אֲבָל צוֹנֵף הוּא מִצְנַפְתּוֹ עַל תְּפִלָּיו:
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When tefillin or a Torah scroll are in a room, it is forbidden to engage in sexual relations, unless they are removed or placed into a container, and that container placed into a second container which is not specific to them. If, however, the second container designated for them, even ten containers are considered as a single container.
Should a person place [the sacred articles] in two containers, he may place them at the head of his bed, between a cushion and a pillow, as long as they are not under his head, so that he can protect them. [This applies] even if his wife is together with him in bed.
כדבַּיִת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין אוֹ סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה אָסוּר לְשַׁמֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִטָּתוֹ עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיאֵם אוֹ יַנִּיחֵם בִּכְלִי וְיַנִּיחַ הַכְּלִי בִּכְלִי אַחֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ כֶּלְיָן. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַכְּלִי הַשֵּׁנִי מְזֻמָּן לָהֶם אֲפִלּוּ עֲשָׂרָה כֵּלִים כִּכְלִי אֶחָד הֵן חֲשׁוּבִין. וְאִם הִנִּיחָן כְּלִי בְּתוֹךְ כְּלִי מֻתָּר לְהַנִּיחָן תַּחַת מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו בֵּין כַּר לְכֶסֶת שֶׁלֹּא כְּנֶגֶד רֹאשׁוֹ כְּדֵי לְשָׁמְרָן וַאֲפִלּוּ אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ בַּמִּטָּה:
25
The holiness associated with tefillin is very great. As long as a person is wearing tefillin on his head and arm, he will be humble and God-fearing and will not be drawn to frivolous behavior or empty speech. He will not turn his thoughts to evil matters, but rather will direct his heart to words of truth and justice.
Accordingly, a person should try to wear [tefillin] throughout the entire day, for this is the mitzvah associated with them. Among the praises conveyed upon Rav, the student of Rabbenu Hakadosh, was that he was never seen walking four cubits without [reciting words of] Torah, without tzitzit, and without tefillin.
כהקְדֻשַּׁת תְּפִלִּין קְדֻשָּׁתָן גְּדוֹלָה הִיא. שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַתְּפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם וְעַל זְרוֹעוֹ הוּא עָנָו וִירֵא שָׁמַיִם וְאֵינוֹ נִמְשָׁךְ בִּשְׂחוֹק וּבְשִׂיחָה בְּטֵלָה וְאֵינוֹ מְהַרְהֵר מַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת אֶלָּא מְפַנֶּה לִבּוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי הָאֱמֶת וְהַצֶּדֶק. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹתָן עָלָיו כָּל הַיּוֹם שֶׁמִּצְוָתָן כָּךְ הִיא. אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַב תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁכָּל יָמָיו לֹא רָאוּהוּ שֶׁהָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת בְּלֹא תּוֹרָה אוֹ בְּלֹא צִיצִית אוֹ בְּלֹא תְּפִלִּין:
26
Although it is a mitzvah to wear [tefillin] throughout the entire day, it is most important during prayer. Our Sages declared: "Whoever recites the Shema without tefillin is considered as if he is giving false testimony."
Whoever does not wear tefillin transgresses eight positive commandments, for in each of the four passages contained in the tefillin we are commanded to wear both head and arm tefillin. [The rewards for wearing tefillin are also great.] Whoever wears tefillin regularly will live long, as [implied by Isaiah 38:16]: "God is upon them, they shall live."
כואַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִּצְוָתָן לְלָבְשָׁן כָּל הַיּוֹם, בִּשְׁעַת תְּפִלָּה יוֹתֵר מִן הַכּל. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים כָּל הַקּוֹרֵא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע בְּלֹא תְּפִלִּין כְּאִלּוּ מֵעִיד עֵדוּת שֶׁקֶר בְּעַצְמוֹ. וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁמוֹנָה עֲשֵׂה שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּאַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת צִוָּה עַל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ וְעַל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד. וְכָל הָרָגִיל בִּתְפִלִּין מַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו לח טז) ״ה׳ עֲלֵיהֶם יִחְיוּ״:
Test Yourself on Tefillin Chapter 2
Test Yourself on Tefillin Chapter 3
Test Yourself on Tefillin Chapter 4
Footnotes for Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Two
1.
The Rambam does not use the expression, "short form," because the chirik of the alef possesses a yud. Similarly, the Rambam states "without a vav" or "without a yud" in several other instances in these halachot, because the form of the word is neither short or full in its entirety.
2.
Generally, the word is written ידך. Menachot 37a explains that this departure from the norm was intended to teach us that tefillin are worn on the left hand, as explained in the commentary on Chapter 4, Halachah 2.
3.
There are three sizes of letters in the Torah - the normal size, an enlarged size, and a reduced size - as mentioned in Chapter 7, Halachah 8. The Baal HaTurim notes that ayin and dalet spell the word eid, which means "witness." The Shema describes God's oneness. By reciting this verse and placing it in their tefillin and mezuzot, the Jews serve as witnesses, testifying to that oneness.
4.
The Rambam also discusses the subject of crowns in Chapter 7, Halachot 8-9. When discussing this matter, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 36:3) mentions the obligation to place crowns on the letters, שעטנ"ז ג"ץ. The obligation of placing crowns on these letters is explicitly mentioned in the Talmud, Menachot 29b. Hence, they are regarded with greater stringency.
Afterwards, the Shulchan Aruch also states that there are scribes who customarily place crowns on other letters. Significantly, even in Yemen, where the Rambam's directives are usually adhered to precisely, an exception is made in this instance, and there are different customs with regard to the crowns placed upon letters.
5.
Shulchan Aruch HaRav (36:5) and the Mishnah Berurah (36:15) require that one add any crowns that are lacking in the passages. This refers, however, to the crowns on the letters, שעטנ"ז ג"ץ, and not to the crowns required by the Rambam.
Footnotes for Tefillin, Mezuzah and Sefer Torah - Chapter Four
1.
See Halachah 11, which prohibits putting on tefillin after sunset.
2.
As explained in Halachah 24, a container which is always used for tefillin or other sacred articles is considered as an accessory to the tefillin with no importance of its own. Thus, it is as if the tefillin are being held without any covering at all. Nevertheless, if it is a handbreadth in size, it is given halachic significance as an ohel. Hence, it is considered to be a separation between the tefillin and the lavatory.
Needless to say, these laws apply only when the person does not have a safe place where he can deposit his tefillin. If such a place is available, he may not bring tefillin into a lavatory (Kessef Mishneh).
3.
See Halachah 24, which forbids engaging in intercourse in a room which contains tefillin that are open.
4.
Thus, it is feared that they may have touched the genitalia (Rashi, Sukkah 26b). Note the Ramah (Orach Chayim 40:7), who prohibits a person from wearing tefillin if he has any traces of semen on his body.
5.
This halachah is dependent on the description of a bathhouse inShabbat 10a. There were three rooms: a waiting room, a dressing room, and the actual bathing room.
6.
Shulchan Aruch HaRav 45:3 and the Mishnah Berurah 45:5 explain that this applies even when no one there is actually naked. Those sources also state that these laws apply only in bathhouses which contain filth. In contrast, there are no restrictions against wearing tefillin in the bathing room of a mikveh if no people are standing there naked. Compare also to Hilchot Kri'at Shema 3:3-4, 16.
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Vowelized Hebrew text courtesy Torat Emet under CC 2.5 license.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
