1. Where are the head tefillin1 placed?2 They should be placed at the point of the skull, the end of the hairline towards the face,3 the place where a child’s brain can be felt to pulsate.4 Care must be taken to position them in the center of the head, so that they will be parallel to the place “between the eyes.”5 The knot6 should be at the top portion of the neck, the bottom of the skull.7אהֵיכָן מַנִּיחִין תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ? מַנִּיחִין אוֹתָן עַל הַקָדְקֹד, שֶׁהוּא סוֹף הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁכְּנֶגֶד הַפָּנִים; וְהוּא הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁמוֹחוֹ שֶׁל תִּינוֹק רוֹפֵס בּוֹ. וְצָרִיךְ לְכַוֵּן אוֹתָם בְּאֶמְצַע, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בֵּין הָעֵינָיִם. וְיִהְיֶה הַקֶשֶׁר בְּגּוֹבַהּ הָעֹרֶף, שֶׁהוּא סוֹף הַגֻּלְגֹלֶת.
2. The arm tefillin should be tied to one’s left arm8 at the muscle9—i.e., the bulging flesh of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow.10 Thus, if one presses his arm to his ribs, the tefillin will be opposite his heart,11 thus fulfilling the directive Deuteronomy 6:6, “And these words... shall be upon your heart.”12בוְשֶׁל יָד – קוֹשֵׁר אוֹתָהּ עַל שְׂמֹאלוֹ עַל הַקִּבֹּרֶת, וְהוּא הַבָּשָׂר (התופח) [הַתָּפוּחַ] שֶׁבַּמַּרְפֵּק, שֶׁבֵּין פֶּרֶק הַכָּתֵף וּבֵין פֶּרֶק הַזְּרוֹעַ; שֶׁנִּמְצָא כְּשֶׁהוּא מְדַּבֵּק מַרְפְּקוֹ לִצְלָעָיו – תִּהְיֶה תְּפִלָּה כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ, וְנִמְצָא מְקַיֵּם וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה עַל לְבָבֶךָ (דברים ו, ו).
3. A person who places the arm tefillin on his palm,13or the head tefillin on his forehead,14 follows the way of the Sadducees.15 A person who makes his tefillin rounded like a nut16 does not fulfill the mitzvah at all.17 A left-handed person puts tefillin on his right hand, since figuratively, it is his left hand.18 If he is ambidextrous, he should place them on his left hand—i.e., his left hand in a literal sense.19 The places where to tie and place20 the tefillin were received as part of the oral tradition.21גהַמַּנִּיחַ תְּפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד עַל פַּס יָדוֹ; אוֹ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ עַל מִצְחוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה דֶּרֶךְ צְדוֹקִים. הָעוֹשֶׂה תְפִלָּתוֹ עֲגֻלָּה כֶּאֱגוֹז – אֵין בָּהּ מִצְוָה כְּלָל. אִטֵּר מַנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין בִּימִינוֹ, שֶׁהוּא שְׂמֹאל שֶׁלּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה שׁוֹלֵט בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו – מַנִּיחַ אוֹתָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ שֶׁהוּא שְׂמֹאל כָּל אָדָם. וּמְקוֹם קְשִׁירַת הַתְּפִלִּין וּמְקוֹם הַנָּחָתָן – מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לְמָדוּם.
4. The absence of the head tefillin does not preclude wearing tefillin on the arm,22 and similarly, the absence of the arm tefillin23 does not preclude wearing tefillin on the head.24 They are two mitzvot, each one to be considered independently.25 What blessings are recited? On the head tefillin, one recites:26Blessed 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.”27דתְּפִלָּה 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 לְהָנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין.
5. When does the above apply? When one puts on only one of them.28If, however, one puts them both on,29 one recites only a single blessing, “...to put on tefillin.”30 One should tie the tefillin on one’s arm,31 and afterwards32 put on the head tefillin. When one removes them, the head tefillin should be removed, and then the arm tefillin.33הבַּמֶּה דְבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? כְּשֶׁהִנִּיחַ אַחַת מֵהֶן; אֲבָל אִם הִנִּיחַ שְׁתֵּיהֶן – מְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה אַחַת, וְהִיא: לְהָנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין; וְקוֹשֵׁר שֶׁל יָד וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַנִּיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וּכְשֶׁהוּא חוֹלֵץ, חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל יָד.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

6. After reciting the blessing, “...to put on tefillin,” and tying the tefillin on one’s arm, one is forbidden to talk34—even to respond to a greeting from one’s teacher35—until he puts on the head tefillin. If he talks, it is considered to be a transgression.36 In such an instance, one is required to recite the second blessing, “...concerning the mitzvah of tefillin,” and then put on the head tefillin.37ומִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ לְהָנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין וְקָשַׁר תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד – אָסוּר לוֹ לְסַפֵּר וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהָשִׁיב שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ, עַד שֶׁיַּנִּיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ. וְאִם שָׂח, הֲרֵי זוֹ עֲבֵרָה; וְצָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה – עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַנִּיחַ שֶׁל רֹאשׁ.
7. Whenever a person puts on tefillin38—even if he removes them and puts them on several times throughout the day39—he should recite a blessing for them.40 With regard to all mitzvot: one recites a blessing for them before performing them.41Therefore, one should recite the blessing for the arm tefillin after placing it on one’s muscle,42 before tying it,43 since tying it comprises the fulfillment of the mitzvah.44זתְּפִלִּין כָּל זְמַן שֶׁמַנִּיחָן מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן. וַאֲפִלּוּ חוֹלֵץ וְלוֹבֵשׁ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים בַּיּוֹם. וְכָל הַמִּצְוֹת כֻּלָּן – מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶם קֹדֶם לַעֲשִׂיָּתָן; לְפִיכָךְ: צָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ עַל הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁל יָד אַחַר הַנָחָה עַל הַקִּבֹּרֶת, קֹדֶם קְשִׁירָתָן, שֶׁקְשִׁירָתָן זוֹ הִיא עֲשִׂיָּתָן.
8. When a person removes his tefillin to place them in a container,45 he should not place the arm tefillin below and the head tefillin above, because when he wants to put them on, he will encounter the head tefillin first.46 Thus, he will be forced to ignore it and take out the arm tefillin, since one should not put on the head tefillin before the arm tefillin.47 This is undesirable because it is forbidden for a person to ignore one mitzvah and proceed to the fulfillment of another mitzvah.48 Rather, as soon as a mitzvah comes to a person’s hand, he should occupy himself with it.49 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.50חכְּשֶׁחוֹלֵץ אָדָם תְּפִלָּיו לְהַצְנִיעָן בִּכְלִי – לֹא יַנִּיחַ שֶׁל יָד מִלְמַטָּה וְשֶׁל רֹאשׁ מִלְמַעְלָה. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לְלוֹבְשָׁן – יִפְגַע בְּשֶׁל רֹאשׁ תְּחִלָּה, וְנִמְצָא שֶׁמַנִּיחָהּ וּמוֹצִיא שֶׁל יָד לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹבְשִׁין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ קֹדֶם שֶׁל יָד; וְאָסוּר לָאָדָם לְהַנִּיחַ מִצְוָה וְלַעֲבוֹר מִמֶּנָּה לְמִצְוָה אַחֶרֶת, אֶלָּא מִצְוָה שֶׁתָּבוֹא לְיָדוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם בַּתְּחִלָּה, בָּהּ הוּא מִתְעַסֵּק. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ לְהַנִּיחַ שֶׁל יָד לְמַעְלָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְגַע בָּהּ תְּחִלָּה וְיִלְבַּשׁ עַל הַסֵּדֶר.
9. A container that was made for tefillin to be placed in and which was used51 for that purpose52 becomes holy. It is forbidden to use it for mundane purposes.53 If a container was prepared for that purpose, but never used for it,54 or if a container was temporarily55 used for tefillin, but was not prepared for that purpose, it does not become holy. Rather, it is considered an ordinary article as before.56 It is forbidden to suspend tefillin.57 This applies regardless of whether one suspends them by their straps or from the tefillin itself.58One may, however, suspend the bag in which they are placed.טכְּלִי שֶׁהֱכִינוֹ לְהַנִּיחַ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין וְהִנִּיחָם בּוֹ – נִתְקַדֵּשׁ וְאָסוּר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵשׁ בּוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי חוֹל. הֱכִינוֹ וְלֹא הִנִּיחַ בּוֹ, אוֹ שֶׁהִנִּיחַ בּוֹ עֲרַאי וְלֹא הֱכִינוֹ – לֹא נִתְקַדֵּשׁ וַהֲרֵי הוּא חוֹל 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,59 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.60Similarly, Sabbaths and holidays61 are not days on which tefillin are worn,62 as Exodus 13:16 states: “And they shall be a sign.63” Since the Sabbaths and the holidays are themselves signs,64 the sign of tefillin is unnecessary.65יזְמַן הַנָּחַת הַתְּפִלִּין בַּיּוֹם וְלֹא בַּלַּיְלָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: 'מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה' (שמות יג, י); 'חֻקָה' זוֹ – הִיא מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין. וְכֵן שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים אֵינָן זְמַן תְּפִלִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה לְאוֹת (שמות שם, ט) – וְשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים הֵן עַצְמָן 'אוֹת'.
When does the time to put them on begin? When one can see66 a colleague standing four cubits away67 and recognize him.68 It continues until sunset.69וּמֵאֵימָתַי זְמַן הַנָּחָתָן? מִשֶׁיִרְאֶה אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ בְּרִחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וְיַּכִּירֵהוּ, עַד שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה.
11. It is permitted for a person who put on tefillin before sunset to continue wearing them after nightfall.70 They may even remain upon him the entire night.71 This law, however, is not to be taught in public.72 Instead, everyone should be taught not to wear tefillin at night and to remove them before sunset.73יאמִי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה וְחָשְׁכָה עָלָיו; אֲפִלּוּ הֵן עָלָיו כָּל הַלַּיְלָה מֻתָּר. וְאֵין מוֹרִין דָּבָר זֶה לָרַבִּים, אֶלָּא מְלַמְּדִין אֶת הַכֹּל שֶׁלֹּא יַנִּיחוּ תְּפִלִּין עֲלֵיהֶן בַּלַּיְלָה, אֶלָּא יַחַלְצוּ אוֹתָן מִשֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה.
A person who puts on tefillin after sunset transgresses a Scriptural prohibition,74 as implied by Exodus 13:10: “And you shall observe75 this statute... From day to day.”76וְכָל הַמַּנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין לְכַתְּחִלָּה אַחַר שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה – עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר 'וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת הַחֻקָה הַזֹּאת וְגוֹ' מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה' (שמות יג, י).
12. When a person is wearing tefillin in the midst of a journey and the sun sets, marking the commencement of the Sabbath,77he should cover them with his hand78 until he reaches his home79 and then, remove them.80 If he is sitting in the house of study81 and the sun sets, marking the commencement of the Sabbath,82 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.83 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.84יבהָיָה בָא בַּדֶּרֶךְ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְשָׁקְעָה עָלָיו הַחַמָּה וְקִדֵשׁ הַיוֹם – מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁהוּא מַגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ וְחוֹלֵץ. הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְקִדֵּשׁ עָלָיו הַיוֹם – מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ וְחוֹלֵץ. וְאִם יֵשׁ בַּיִת סָמוּךְ לַחוֹמָה שֶׁמִשְׁתַּמְרִין בּוֹ – מַנִּיחָן שָׁם. וְאִם לֹא חָלַץ תְּפִלָּיו מִשֶׁשָּׁקְעָה הַחַמָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹ מָקוֹם לְשָׁמְרָן, וְנִמְצְאוּ עָלָיו כְּדֵי לְשָׁמְרָן – מֻתָּר.
13. All those who are free from the obligation to recite the Shema85 are free from the obligation to wear tefillin.86יגכָּל הַפָּטוּר מִקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע, פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִילִין.
If a minor knows the importance of guarding his tefillin,87 his father should obtain tefillin for him,88 to educate him regarding the performance of mitzvot.89קָטָן שֶׁיוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁמוֹר תְּפִילָיו - אָבִיו לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ תְּפִילִין, כְּדֵי לְחַנְכוֹ בְּמִצְוֹת.
A person with stomach problems and anyone who can contain his excretory functions only with difficulty90 are free from the obligation to wear tefillin.91 In contrast, all those ritually impure are obligated to wear tefillin as if they were pure.92חוֹלֵי מֵעַיִים, וְכֹל שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִשְׁמוֹר אֶת נְקָבָיו אֶלָא בְצַעַר - פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִילִין; וְכָל הַטְמֵאִין, כּוּלָן חַיָיבִין בִּתְפִילִין כִּטְהוֹרִין.
A person who is in pain, or someone who is disturbed and cannot concentrate his thoughts, is free from the obligation to wear tefillin,93since a person who wears tefillin is forbidden to divert his attention from them.94מִצְטַעֵר, וּמִי שֶׁאֵין דַעְתּוֹ נְכוֹנָה וּמְיוּשֶׁבֶת עָלָיו - פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִילִין: שֶׁהַמֵנִיח תְּפִילִין, אָסוּר לוֹ לְהָסִיחַ דַעְתּוֹ מֵהֶן.
Priests who are in the midst of the Temple service,95 Levites who chant96 on the platform,97and Israelites while they are attending the Temple ceremonies 98 are free from the obligation to pray and to wear tefillin.99כּוֹהַנִים בִּשְׁעַת הָעַבוֹדָה, וּלְוִיִים בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאוֹמְרִין שִׁיר עַל הַדוּכָן, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׁעַת מַעַמָדָן בַּמִקְדָשׁ - פְּטוּרִין מִן הַתְּפִילָה, וּמִן הַתְּפִילִין.
14. A person should touch his tefillin100 from time to time during the entire time he is wearing them,101 so that he will not divert his attention102 from them even for a single moment,103for104 their holiness surpasses that of the tzitz.105 The tzitz has God’s name written upon it only once,106 while the head tefillin—and similarly, the arm tefillin—contain the name Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey 21 times.107ידחַיָּב אָדָם לְמַשְּׁמֵשׁ בִּתְפִלָּיו כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵם עָלָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יַסִּיחַ דַּעְתּוֹ מֵהֶם אֲפִלּוּ רֶגַע אֶחָד. שֶׁקְּדֻשָּׁתָן גְּדוֹלָה מִקְדֻּשַּׁת 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;108 i.e., that one should be careful not to release gas while wearing them.109 Accordingly, it is forbidden to sleep while wearing them110—neither a long sleep nor a nap. If, however, one places a cloth over them111 and one’s wife is not present,112 one may nap while wearing them. What should he do? Place his head between his knees and sleep while sitting.113טותְּפִלִּין צְרִיכִין גּוּף נָקִי – שֶׁיִּזָהֵר שֶׁלֹּא תֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ רוּחַ מִלְמַטָּה כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהֵם עָלָיו. לְפִיכָךְ, אָסוּר לִישַׁן בָּהֶם לֹא שְׁנַת קֶבַע וְלֹא שְׁנַת עֲרָאי; אֶלָּא אִם הִנִּיחַ עֲלֵיהֶן סוּדָר וְלֹא הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ אִשָּׁה – יָשֵׁן בָּהֶם שְׁנַת עֲרָאי. וְכֵיצַד הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, מַנִּיחַ רֹאשׁוֹ בֵּין בִּרְכָּיו וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְיָשֵׁן.
16. A person who has tefillin wound around his hand114 is permitted to sleep with them. This applies even to a long sleep.115 He may eat only a snack116 while wearing them. If, however, he enters to partake of a regular meal, he should remove them117 and place them on the table until after he washes his hands at the conclusion of the meal.118 Afterwards, he should put them on and recite grace over his meal while wearing them.119טזהָיוּ תְפִלָּיו כְּרוּכִין בְּיָדוֹ – מֻתָּר לִישַׁן בָּהֶם אֲפִלּוּ שְׁנַת קֶבַע. וְאֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל בָּהֶם אֶלָּא אֲכִילַת עֲרָאי; אֲבָל אִם נִכְנַס לִסְעֻדַּת קֶבַע – חוֹלְצָן וּמַנִּיחָן עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּטֹּל יָדָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ יַנִּיחֵם. וִיבָרֵךְ עַל מְזוֹנוֹ וְהוּא לָבוּשׁ בָהֶן.
17. The following rules apply with regard to a person wearing tefillin who must use the lavatory:120 He should remove his tefillin121 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.122יזהָיָה לָבוּשׁ תְּפִלִּין וְהֻצְרַךְ לְבֵית הַכִסֵּא – לֹא יַנִּיחַ הַתְּפִלִּין בַּחוֹרִין הַסְּמוּכִין לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְיִכָּנֵס; שֶׁמָּא יִטְּלֻם עוֹבְרֵי דְּרָכִים.
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,123 holding them near his heart with his right hand.124 He must take care that the strap does not protrude more than a handbreadth from his hand.125 Afterwards, he should enter and relieve himself. After leaving the lavatory and walking more than four cubits away,126 he should put them on.127כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה? אֲפִלּוּ הֻצְרַךְ לְהַשְׁתִּין מַיִם – חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו בְּרִחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וְגּוֹלְלָן 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, while 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.יחבַמֶּה דְבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא הַקָבוּעַ, שֶׁאֵין נִיצוֹצוֹת נִתָּזוֹת עָלָיו. אֲבָל בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא עֲרַאי – 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 בַעֲמִידָה. הָיָה בְמָקוֹם קָשֶׁה – יַעֲמוֹד בִּמְקוֹם מִדְרוֹן, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִנָּתְּזוּ 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,128 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,129 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.יטהָיָה לָבוּשׁ בִּתְפִלִּין וְהֻצְרַךְ לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא לְעֵת עֶרֶב וְלֹא נִשְׁאָר מִן הַיוֹם כְּדֵי לְלָבְשָׁן אַחַר שֶׁיֵּצֵא – לֹא יִכָּנֵס בָּהֶם גְּלוּלִים בְּבִגְדוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהַשְׁתִּין מַיִם בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא קָבוּעַ. אֶלָּא כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה? חוֹלְצָן וּמַנִּיחָן בְּכִלְיָן אִם הָיָה בּוֹ טֶפַח; אוֹ בִּכְלִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ כִּלְיָן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ טֶפַח; וְאוֹחֵז הַכְּלִי בְּיָדוֹ וְנִכְנָס.
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.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; מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עֲלֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁיִגְמוֹר עַמּוּד רִאשׁוֹן וְיוֹצֵא וְחוֹלֵץ. אַחַר כָּךְ נִכְנָס וְעוֹשֶׂה צְרָכָיו. שֶׁאִם יַפְסִיק בְּעַמּוּד רִאשׁוֹן בֵּין בִּגְּדוֹלִים בֵּין בִּקְטַנִּים – יָבוֹא לִידֵי חֳלָאִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן סַכָּנָה גְּדוֹלָה.
21. If a person forgot and had intercourse while wearing tefillin,130 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.131כאשָׁכַח וְשִׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ בַּתְּפִלִּין – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יֹאחַז לֹא בִרְצוּעָה וְלֹא בַקְּצִיצָה עַד שֶׁיִּטּוֹל יָדָיו וְיִטְּלֵם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַיָּדַיִם עַסְקָנִיּוֹת.
22. The following rules apply to a person who enters a bathhouse:132 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.133כבהַנִּכְנָס לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ: מָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִין לְבוּשִׁין – מֻתָּר לְהַנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִין שָׁם מִקְצָתָן עֲרֻמִּים וּמִקְצָתָן לְבוּשִׁין – אֵינוֹ חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו וְאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ שָׁם תְּפִלִּין לְכַתְּחִלָּה. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁבְּנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִים עֲרֻמִּים חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ.
23. A person should not walk in a cemetery134 wearing his head tefillin.135 Even outside a cemetery, a person should remove his head tefillin if he comes within four cubits of a corpse or a grave,136 until he distances himself four cubits from them.137 A person should not put on tefillin when he is naked. He must first cover his genitalia138 and put on his clothes.139כגלֹא יְהַלֵּךְ אָדָם בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת שֶׁל מֵת אוֹ בְּתוֹךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת שֶׁל קֶבֶר – צָרִיךְ לַחֲלוֹץ תְּפִלָּיו עַד שֶׁיַרְחִיק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת. וְלֹא יִלְבַּשׁ אָדָם תְּפִלִּין עַד שֶׁיְּכַסֶּה עֶרְוָתוֹ וְיִלְבַּשׁ בְּגָדָיו.
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.140הַנּוֹשֵׂא מַשְּׂאוֹי עַל רֹאשׁוֹ – חוֹלֵץ תְּפִלָּיו שֶׁל רֹאשׁ עַד שֶׁיָּסִיר הַמַשְׂאוֹי מֵעָלָיו.
It is even forbidden to wear a handkerchie141around one’s head when wearing tefillin. One may, however, wear a hat over the tefillin.142וַאֲפִלּוּ מִטְפַּחַת אָסוּר לְהַנִּיחַ עַל הָרֹאשׁ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין. אֲבָל צוֹנֵף הוּא מִצְנַפְתּוֹ עַל תְּפִלָּיו.
24. 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 container143 which is not specific to them.144כדבַּיִת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תְּפִלִּין אוֹ סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה – אָסוּר לְשַׁמֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִטָּתוֹ עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיאֵם; אוֹ יַנִּיחֵם בִּכְלִי וְיַנִּיחַ הַכְּלִי בִּכְלִי אַחַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ כִּלְיָן.
If, however, the second container is specific to them, even ten145 containers are considered as a single container.146אֲבָל אִם הָיָה הַכְּלִי הַשֵּׁנִי מְזֻמָּן לָהֶם – אֲפִלּוּ עֲשָׂרָה כֵּלִים כִּכְלִי אֶחָד הֵן חֲשׁוּבִין.
Should a person place the sacred articles in two containers, he may place them at the head of his bed,147 between a cushion and a pillow,148 as long as they are not under his head,149 so that he can protect them.150 This applies even if his wife is together with him in bed.151וְאִם הִנִּיחָן כְּלִי בְּתוֹךְ כְּלִי – מֻתָּר לְהַנִּיחָן תַּחַת מְרַאֲשׁוֹתָיו בֵּין כַּר לְכֶסֶת שֶׁלֹּא כְּנֶגֶד רֹאשׁוֹ כְּדֵי לְשָׁמְרָן, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ בַּמִּטָּה.
25. The holiness associated with tefillin is very great.152 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.153 He will not turn his thoughts to evil matters, but rather will direct his heart to words of truth and justice.154כהקְדֻשַּׁת תְּפִלִּין (קדשתן) [קְדֻשָּׁה] גְּדוֹלָה הִיא. שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַתְּפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם וְעַל זְרוֹעוֹ – הוּא עָנָיו וִירֵא שָׁמַיִם וְאֵינוֹ נִמְשַׁךְ בִּשְׂחוֹק וּבְשִׂיחָה בְּטֵלָה וְאֵינוֹ מְהַרְהֵר מַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת אֶלָּא מְפַנֶּה לִבּוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי הָאֱמֶת וְהַצֶּדֶק.
Accordingly, a person should try to wear tefillin throughout the entire day,155 for this is the mitzvah associated with them.156לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹתָן עָלָיו כָל הַיוֹם; שֶׁמִצְוָתָן כָּךְ הִיא.
Among the praises conveyed upon Rav, the student of Rabbenu Hakadosh,157 was that he was never seen walking four cubits without reciting words of Torah, without tzitzit, and without tefillin.158אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַב תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל רַבֵּינוּ הַקָדוֹשׁ, שֶׁכָּל יָמָיו לֹא רָאוּהוּ שֶׁהָלַךְ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת בְּלֹא תוֹרָה אוֹ בְּלֹא צִיצִית אוֹ בְּלֹא תְפִלִּין.
26. Although it is a mitzvah to wear tefillin throughout the entire day,159 it is most important during prayer.160כואַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמִצְוָתָן לְלָבְשָׁן כָּל הַיוֹם – בִּשְׁעַת תְּפִלָּה יוֹתֵר מִן הַכֹּל.
Our Sages declared: “Whoever recites the Shema without tefillin is considered as if he is giving false testimony.”161אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: כָּל הַקּוֹרֵא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע בְּלֹא תְפִלִּין, כְּאִלּוּ מֵעִיד עֵדוּת שֶׁקֶר בְּעַצְמוֹ.
Whoever does not wear tefillin transgresses eight positive commandments,162 for in each of the four passages contained in the tefillin we are commanded to wear both head and arm tefillin.163וְכָל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁמוֹנֶה עֲשֵׂה, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְאַרְבַּע פַּרְשִׁיּוֹת צִוָּה עַל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל רֹאשׁ וְעַל תְּפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד.
The rewards for wearing tefillin are also great. Whoever wears tefillin regularly will live long, as implied by Isaiah 38:16: “God164 is upon them, they shall live.”165וְכָל הָרָגִיל בִּתְפִלִּין מַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר 'ה' עֲלֵיהֶם יִחְיוּ' (ישעיה לח, טז).