Tefillin

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Tefillin
A set of Tefillin.jpg
A set of tefillin includes the arm-tefillah (left) and the head-tefillah
Halakhic texts relating to this article
Torah:
Mishnah: Menachot 3:7
Babylonian Talmud:
  • Zevachim 37b
  • Sanhedrin 4b
  • Menachot 34b
  • Kiddushin 36a
Mishneh Torah: Tefillin, Mezuzah, veSefer Torah ch 5-6
Shulchan Aruch: Orach Chayim 25-48

Tefillin (Israeli Hebrew: תְּפִלִּין‎ / תְּפִילִּין‎; Ashkenazic pronunciation: [tfiˈlin] ; Modern Hebrew pronunciation: [tefiˈlin] ), or phylacteries, are a set of small black leather boxes with leather straps containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. Tefillin are worn by adult Jews during weekday and Sunday morning prayers. In Orthodox and traditional communities, they are worn solely by men, while some Reform and Conservative (Masorti) communities allow them to be worn by Jewish adults regardless of gender. In Jewish law (halacha), women are exempt from most time-dependent positive commandments, which include tefillin, and unlike other time-dependent positive commandments, most halachic authorities prohibit them from fulfilling this commandment. [1]

Contents

Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form (the singular being "tefillah"), it is often used as a singular as well. [2] The arm-tefillah (or shel yad [literally "of the hand"]) is placed on the upper (non-dominant) arm, and the strap wrapped around the forelimb, hand and middle finger; while the head-tefillah (or shel rosh [literally "of the head"]) is placed between the eyes at the boundary of the forehead and hair. They are intended to fulfill the Torah's instructions to maintain a continuous "sign" and "remembrance" of the Exodus from Egypt. While it is technically permitted for one to wear tefillin all day, [3] this is not common: it is customary to remove them following services. [4]

The biblical verses often cited as referring to tefillin are obscure. Deuteronomy 11:18, for instance, does not designate explicitly what specifically to "bind upon your arm", and the definition of "totafot between your eyes" is not obvious. These details are delineated in the Oral Torah. At least as early as the 1st century  CE, many Jews understood the verses literally and wore physical tefillin, as shown by archaeological finds at Qumran [5] and a reference in Matthew 23 of the Christian New Testament. However, Karaite Judaism understands the verses to be metaphorical.

Man wearing arm- and head-tefillin at the Western Wall in 2009 Tefillin worn by a man at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.jpg
Man wearing arm- and head-tefillin at the Western Wall in 2009

Biblical source

The obligation of tefillin is mentioned four times in the Torah: twice when recalling The Exodus from Egypt:

And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did the LORD bring you out of Egypt.

—  Exodus 13:9

And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and as totafot between your eyes; for with a mighty hand did the LORD bring us forth out of Egypt.

— Exodus 13:16

and twice in the shema passages:

And you shall bind them as a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as totafot between your eyes.

— Deuteronomy 6:8

You shall put these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall tie them for a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as totafot between your eyes.

— Deuteronomy 11:18

Etymology

Levantine man wearing arm wrappings and headband similar to tefillin (c. 1300 BCE, Tomb of Horemheb in Saqqara) Asiatic captive depicted in Tomb of Horemheb in Saqqara.png
Levantine man wearing arm wrappings and headband similar to tefillin (c. 1300 BCE, Tomb of Horemheb in Saqqara)

The word "tefillin" is not found in the Bible, which calls them אות (ot, "sign"), זיכרון (zikaron, "memorial"), or טוטפת (ṭoṭafot). The first texts to use "tefillin" are the Targumim and Peshitta [6] and it is also used in subsequent Talmudic literature, although the word "ṭoṭafah" was still current, being used with the meaning of "frontlet". [6]

The ultimate origin of Hebrew "tefillin" is uncertain. [7] "Tefillin" may have derived from the Aramaic palal, "to plead, pray", a word closely related to the Hebrew tefillah , "prayer". [7] Jacob ben Asher (14th century) suggests that "tefillin" is derived from the Hebrew pelilah, "justice, evidence", for tefillin act as a sign and proof of God's presence among the Jewish people. [8]

The Biblical word ṭoṭafot, too, is of disputed etymology. The Septuagint renders "ṭoṭafot" as ἀσάλευτον in Greek (asáleuton, "something immovable"). [6] [9] Some believe it refers to a charm, similar to the Hebrew neṭifot, "round jewel". [6] The Talmud [10] explains that the word ṭoṭafot is combination of two foreign words: Tot means "two" in the "Katpi" [a] language (Jastrow proposes: Coptic) and Fot means "two" in the "Afriki" language, [11] hence, tot and fot means "two and two", corresponding to the four compartments of the head-tefillin. [12] Menahem ben Saruq explains that the word is derived from the Hebrew Ve'hateif and Tatifoo, both expressions meaning "speech", "for when one sees the tefillin it causes him to remember and speak about the Exodus from Egypt". [13] [14] According to Jeffrey H. Tigay the word meant "headband" and was derived from a root meaning "to encircle", as ornamental bands encircling the head were common among Levantine populations in the biblical period. [15]

The English word "phylactery" ("phylacteries" in the plural) derives from Ancient Greek φυλακτήριονphylaktērion (φυλακτήριαphylaktēria in the plural), meaning "guarded post, safeguard, security", and in later Greek, "amulet" or "charm". [16] [17] The word "phylactery" occurs once (in ACC PL ) in the Greek New Testament, [18] whence it has passed into the languages of Europe. [6] Neither Aquila nor Symmachus uses "phylacteries" in their translations. [6] The choice of this particular Greek equivalent to render the Heb. tefillin bears witness to the ancient functional interpretation of the said device as a kind of an amulet. The other Greek words for "amulet" are periapton or periamma, [19] which literally signifies "things tied around", analogously to the Hebrew qame‘a derived from the root קמע meaning "to bind". [20]

Purpose

The tefillin are to serve as a reminder of God's intervention at the time of the Exodus from Egypt. [21] Maimonides details of the sanctity of tefillin and writes that "as long as the tefillin are on the head and on the arm of a man, he is modest and God-fearing and will not be attracted by hilarity or idle talk; he will have no evil thoughts, but will devote all his thoughts to truth and righteousness". [22] The Sefer ha-Chinuch (14th century) adds that the purpose of tefillin is to help subjugate a person's worldly desires and encourage spiritual development. [23] Joseph Caro (16th century) explains that tefillin are placed on the arm adjacent to the heart and on the head above the brain to demonstrate that these two major organs are willing to perform the service of God. [24]

Many have the custom to have high-quality tefillin and beautiful tefillin bags as a hiddur mitzvah. This idea comes from the verse "This is my God and I will glorify Him" (Exodus 15:2). The Jewish Sages explain: "Is it possible for a human being to add glory to his Creator? What this really means is: I shall glorify Him in the way I perform mitzvot. I shall prepare before Him a beautiful lulav, beautiful sukkah, beautiful fringes (Tsitsit), and beautiful phylacteries (Tefilin)." [25] [26] [27]

Some non-Orthodox scholars think that tefillin may play an apotropaic function. For instance, Yehudah B. Cohn argues that the tefillin should be perceived as an invented tradition aimed at counteracting the popularity of the Greek amulets with an "original" Jewish one. [28] Joshua Trachtenberg considered every ornament worn on the body (whatever its declared function) as initially serving the purpose of an amulet. [29] In addition, the early Rabbinic sources furnish more or less explicit examples of the apotropaic qualities of tefillin. For instance, Numbers Rabbah 12:3 presents tefillin as capable of defeating "a thousand demons" emerging on "the left side", rabbis Yohanan and Nahman used their sets to repel the demons inhabiting privies, [30] whereas Elisha the Winged, who was scrupulous in performing this mitzvah, was miraculously saved from the Roman persecution. [31] [32] Also, tefillin are believed to possess life-lengthening qualities, [33] and they are often listed in one breath among various items which are considered amuletic in nature. [34] [35]

Manufacture and contents

Ashkenazi head tefillin, Jerusalem, Israel 4BranchShinTefillinJosephSherman.jpg
Ashkenazi head tefillin, Jerusalem, Israel
Leather moulded into shape for the head-tefillin Tefillin leather box.jpg
Leather moulded into shape for the head-tefillin
Silver and leather teffilin case made in Germany in 1885 Phylactery (teffilin) case Brooklyn Museum open.jpg
Silver and leather teffilin case made in Germany in 1885

The manufacturing processes of tefillin are intricate and governed by hundreds of detailed rules. [36]

Boxes

In earlier Talmudic times, tefillin were either cylindrical or cubical, but later the cylindrical form became obsolete. [37] Nowadays the boxes should be fashioned from a single piece of animal hide and form a base with an upper compartment to contain the parchment scrolls. [38] They are made in varying levels of quality. The most basic form, called peshutim ("simple"), are made using several pieces of parchment to form the inner walls of the head tefillin. The higher quality tefillin, namely dakkot ("thin"), made by stretching a thin piece of leather, and the more durable gassot ("thick") are both fashioned from the single piece of hide. [39]

The main box which holds the tefillin scrolls, known as ketzitzah (קציצה), is cubical. Below it is a wider base known as the titura (תיתורא). At the back of the titura is a passageway (ma'avarta, מעברתא) through which the tefillin strap is threaded, to tie the tefillin in place.

On both sides of the head-tefillin, the Hebrew letter shin (ש‎) is moulded; the shin on the wearer's left side has four branches instead of three.

Nowadays it is customary to paint the tefillin black, but archaeological findings show that it is not certain that it was always this way. [40]

Straps

Black leather straps (retsu'ot) pass through the rear of the base and are used to secure the tefillin onto the body. [6] The knot of the head-tefillin strap forms the letter dalet (ד‎) or double dalet (known as the square-knot) while the strap that is passed through the arm-tefillin is formed into a knot in the shape of the letter yud (י‎). Together with the shin on the head-tefillin box, these three letters spell Shaddai (שדי‎), one of the names of God. [6]

The straps must be black on their outer side, but may be any color except red on their inner side. [41] A stringent opinion requires them to be black on the inner side too, [42] but more commonly the inner side is left the color of leather.

The Talmud specifies that tefillin straps must be long enough to reach one's middle finger, and records the practice of Rav Aha bar Jacob to tie and then "matleit" (plait? wind three times?) them. [43] However, the passage leaves unclear where the measuring is done from, whether the reference is to hand- or head-tefillin, and what exactly the meaning of "matleit" is. Combining and interpreting the Talmud's statements, Maimonides, Tur, and Shulchan Aruch ruled that the strap of hand-tefillin must reach from where the tefillin is placed on the arm, as far as the middle finger, where it must be wound three times around the middle finger. [44] Rema wrote that it is not necessary to wind around the finger (rather, the straps must be long enough that one could wind around the finger); [45] however, this leniency does not appear in his comments to the Shulchan Aruch. In addition to the windings around the finger, the Shulchan Aruch states that the custom is to wind six or seven times around the forearm. [46]

Parchment scrolls

Man makes boxes for tefillin, Jerusalem, 1964 Jeruzalem. Oude man maakt doosjes voor gebedssnoeren (tefellin) achter een voll..., Bestanddeelnr 255-2339.jpg
Man makes boxes for tefillin, Jerusalem, 1964
Man makes tefillin, Jerusalem, 1949. Photo by Boris Carmi Jerusalem (997009326115605171.jpg
Man makes tefillin, Jerusalem, 1949. Photo by Boris Carmi

The four biblical passages which refer to the tefillin, mentioned above, are written on scrolls and placed inside the leather boxes. [6] The arm-tefillin has one large compartment, which contains all four biblical passages written upon a single strip of parchment; the head-tefillin has four separate compartments in each of which one scroll of parchment is placed. [6] [47] This is because the verses describe the hand-tefillin in the singular ("sign"), while in three of four verses, the head-tefillin is described in the plural ("totafot").

The passages are written by a scribe with special ink on parchment scrolls ( klaf ). [6] These are: "Sanctify to me ..." (Exodus 13:1–10); "When YHWH brings you ..." (Exodus 13:11–16); "Hear, O Israel ..." (Deuteronomy 6:4–9); and "If you observe My Commandments ..." (Deuteronomy 11:13-21). [6] The Hebrew Ashuri script must be used and there are three main styles of lettering used: Beis Yosef – generally used by Ashkenazim; Arizal – generally used by Hasidim; Velish – used by Sefardim. [48]

The texts have to be written with halachically acceptable (acceptable according to Jewish law) ink on halachically acceptable parchment. There are precise rules for writing the texts and any error invalidates it. For example, the letters of the text must be written in order - if a mistake is found later, it cannot be corrected as the replacement letter would have been written out of sequence. There are 3188 letters on the parchments, and it can take a sofer (scribe) as long as 15 hours to write a complete set. [49]

Ordering of scrolls (Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam tefillin)

Talmudic commentators debated the order in which scrolls should be written in the hand tefillin and inserted into the four compartments of the head-tefillin. [6] Rashi held that the passages are placed according to the chronological order as they appear in the Torah (Kadesh Li, Ve-haya Ki Yeviehcha, Shema, Ve-haya Im Shemoa), while according to Rabbeinu Tam, the last two passages are switched around. [50] There are two additional opinions of the Shimusha Rabba and the Raavad, who hold that like Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam respectively, but they hold that the scrolls are placed in the head tefillin in mirror image of those opinions. [51]

It is often claimed that of the tefillin dating from the 1st-century CE discovered at Qumran in the Judean Desert, some were made according to the order understood by Rashi and others in the order of Rabbeinu Tam; [50] however, they in fact do not follow either opinion. [52] [53]

Nowadays, the prevailing custom is to arrange the scrolls according to Rashi's view, but some pious Jews are also accustomed to briefly lay the tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam as well, [50] a custom of the Ari adopted by the Hasidim, many Sephardic communities, and individuals within the Ashkenazic community. [54] The Vilna Gaon, who wore the tefillin of Rashi, rejected the stringency of also laying Rabbeinu Tam, pointing out that there were 64 possible arrangements of the tefillin scrolls, and it would not be practical to put on 64 different sets of tefillin to account for all possibilities. [55] The Shulchan Aruch rules that only "one who is known and famous for his piety" should put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, [56] while the Mishnah Brurah explains that if any other person puts on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, it is a sign of arrogance. [57]

The placement of the protrusion of a tuft of calf hairs (se'ar eigel) identifies as to which opinion the tefillin were written. [58]

Obligation and sex

A Jewish woman praying with a tallit and tefillin Jewish Woman Praying.jpg
A Jewish woman praying with a tallit and tefillin

The legal duty of laying tefillin rests solely upon Jewish males above the age of thirteen years, women are exempt from this obligation. [6] Though no such prohibition existed in ancient times, [6] since at least the Rema in the 16th century, [59] the prevalent practice among religious Jews has strongly discouraged women from wearing tefillin.

The codes view the commandment of tefillin as important, and call those who neglect to observe it "transgressors". [60] Maimonides counts the commandment of laying the arm-tefillin and head-tefillin as two separate positive mitzvot . [22] The Talmud cites Rav Sheshet, who said that by neglecting the precept, one transgresses eight positive commandments. [61] A report of widespread laxity in its observance is reported by Moses of Coucy in 13th-century Spain. It may have arisen from the fear of persecution, similar to what had occurred to the Jews living in the Land of Israel under Roman rule in the second century, [21] or possibly due to expense, lack of skill in manufacture, or other social pressures upon Jews in the middle ages.

A mourner during the first day of his mourning period is exempt from wrapping tefillin; according to Talmudic law, a bridegroom on his wedding-day is also exempt, [6] but this later exemption is not practiced today. The reason for these exemptions is that the wearer of tefilin must have a constant state of mind intent on the commandment of tefilin, and distractions due to recent death or marriage would be problematic. A sufferer from stomach-trouble who thus can not maintain a clean body, or one who is otherwise in pain and cannot concentrate their mind is also exempt. [6] One who is engaged in the study of the Law and scribes of and dealers in tefillin and mezuzahs while engaged in their work if it cannot be postponed, are also free from this obligation. [6]

Historically, the mitzvah of tefillin was not performed by women, but the ritual was possibly kept privately by some women in medieval France and Germany. [62] [63] It has been popularly claimed that Rashi's daughters (12th century) and the wife of Chaim ibn Attar (18th century) wore tefillin, [64] but there is little historical evidence for these claims. [65] There was not a widely accepted practice of women wearing tefilin prior to 20th century progressive Judaism, though historical sources suggest it was done in some communities prior to the advent of progressive Judaism. [66] [67]

In modern times, men have not been the only ones to elect to wear tefillin. [68] In 2018, a group of students from Hebrew College, a non-denominational rabbinical school in Boston, created a series of YouTube videos to help female and transgender Jews learn how to wrap tefillin. [69] Within the Orthodox movement, it remains a male-only religious obligation, but in egalitarian movements, others may observe this practice as a social statement. Women affiliated with the Conservative movement often wrap tefillin. [70] Since 2013, SAR High School in Riverdale, New York, has allowed girls to wrap tefillin during morning prayer; it is probably the first Modern Orthodox high school in the U.S. to do so. [71] The wearing of tefillin by members of Women of the Wall at the Western Wall caused consternation from the rabbi in charge of the site until a Jerusalem District Court judge ruled in 2013 that doing so was not a violation of "local custom". [72]

Use

Old man with a tefillin in Podolsk, c. 1870-1880 Jew in Podolsk.jpg
Old man with a tefillin in Podolsk, c. 1870–1880
Arm-tefillin with SH (shin) pattern, according to one of the Ashkenazi opinions Tefillin-shel-yad.jpg
Arm-tefillin with ש (shin) pattern, according to one of the Ashkenazi opinions

Sometimes tefillin were worn all day, but not during the night. Nowadays the prevailing custom is to wear them only during the weekday morning service, [73] although some individuals wear them at other times during the day as well. Observant Jews make a tremendous effort to don Tefillin at the appropriate time every morning, [74] even in crowded airports. Tefillin are not donned on Shabbat and the major festivals because these holy days are themselves considered "signs" which render the need of the "sign" of tefillin superfluous.

On the fast day of Tisha B'Av, Ashkenazim and some Sephardim do not wear tefillin during the morning (Shacharit) service and they are worn instead at the afternoon service (Mincha). [75] Other Sephardim (following the Kabbalah) wear tefillin at Shacharit as usual. [76]

Chol HaMoed

On Chol HaMoed (intermediate days) of Pesach and Sukkot, there is a great debate among the early halachic authorities as to whether tefillin should be worn or not. Those who forbid it consider the "sign" of intermediate days as having the same status as the festival itself, making the ritual of tefillin redundant. [77] Others argue and hold that Chol HaMoed does not constitute a "sign" in which case tefillin must be laid. [77] Three customs evolved resulting from the dispute:

In light of the conflicting opinions, the Mishna Berura (early 20th-century), following the second compromise practice above, recommends Ashkenazim make the following stipulation before donning tefillin: "If I am obligated to don tefillin I intend to fulfill my obligation and if I am not obligated to don tefillin, my doing so should not be considered as fulfilling any obligation" and that the blessing not be recited. [78]

Laws and customs regarding putting on tefillin

Israel Defense Forces soldier Asael Lubotzky prays with tefillin. IDF soldier put on tefillin.jpg
Israel Defense Forces soldier Asael Lubotzky prays with tefillin.

Standard Ashkenazi practice is to put on and remove the arm tefillin while standing in accordance to the Shulchan Aruch, while most Sephardim do so while sitting in accordance with the Ari. All, however, put on and remove the head tefillin while standing. [79] Halacha forbids speaking or being distracted while putting on the tefillin. [79] An Ashkenazi says two blessings when laying tefillin, the first before he ties the arm-tefillin: ...lehani'ach tefillin ("to bind tefillin"), and the second after placing the head tefillin: ...al mitzvat tefillin ("as to the commandment of tefillin"); thereafter, he tightens the head straps and says "Baruch Shem Kovod..." ("blessed be the holy name"). [80] The Sephardic custom is that no blessing is said for the head-tefillin, the first blessing sufficing for both. [80] Sephardim, Chabad and followers of the Vilna Gaon only recite the blessing on the head-tefillah if they spoke about something not related to tefillin since reciting the blessing on the arm-tefillah. [81]

The arm-tefillin is laid on the inner side of the bare left arm, right arm if one is left handed, two finger breadths above the elbow, so that when the arm is bent the tefillin faces towards the heart. [6] The arm-tefillin is tightened with the thumb, the blessing is said, and the strap is immediately wrapped around the upper arm in the opposite direction it came from in order to keep the knot tight without having to hold it. Some wrap it around the upper arm for less than a full revolution (the bare minimum to keep the knot tight) and then wrap it around the forearm seven times, [82] while others wrap it around the upper arm an additional time before wrapping it around the forearm. Many Ashkenazim and Italian Jews wear the knot to be tightened (not to be confused with the knot on the base which is permanently tied and always worn on the inside, facing the heart) on the inside and wrap inward, while most Nusach Sephard Ashkenazim and Sephardim wear it on the outside and wrap outward. [6]

Then the head-tefillin is placed on the middle of the head just above the forehead, so that no part rests below the hairline. A bald or partially bald person's original hairline is used. [83] The knot of the head-tefillin sits at the back of the head, upon the part of the occipital bone that protrudes just above the nape. The two straps of the head-tefillin are brought in front of the shoulders, with their blackened side facing outwards. [6] Now the remainder of the arm-tefillin straps are wound three times around the middle finger and around the hand to form the shape of the Hebrew letter of either a shin (ש‎) according to Ashkenazim, or a dalet (ד‎) according to Sephardim. There are various customs regarding winding the strap on the arm and hand. [80] In fact, the arm strap is looped for counter-clockwise wrapping with Ashkenazi tefillin while it is knotted for clockwise wrapping with Sephardic and Hasidic tefillin. On removing the tefillin, the steps are reversed. [6]

Earlier, Yemenite Jews' custom was to put on arm-Tefillah and wind forearm with strap, making knot on wrist not winding a finger, and then put on head-Tefillah all made in sitting position. [ citation needed ] Later, Yemenite Jews followed by Shulchan Aruch and put on arm-Tefillah, making seven windings on forearm and three on a finger, and then put on head-Tefillah. Because according to the Shulchan Aruch head-Tefillah and arm-Tefillah are two different commandments, if both Tefillin aren’t available, then one can wear the available one alone. [84]

German Jews also did not tie a finger earlier. But later they put on arm-Tefillah with a knot on biceps while standing, then put on head-Tefillah, and after that they wind seven wraps around forearm (counting by the seven Hebrew words of Psalms 145:16), and three wraps around a finger.[ citation needed ]

Tefillin wrapping custom of the Rodrigues-Pereira family Rodrigues-Pereira family Tefillin .jpg
Tefillin wrapping custom of the Rodrigues-Pereira family

Some Western Sephardic families such as the Rodrigues-Pereira family have developed a personalized family wrapping method. [85]

Biblical commandments

Two paragraphs that conclude Parashat Bo are included in the scroll in addition to the first two paragraphs of Shema Yisrael. Tefillin Text.JPG
Two paragraphs that conclude Parashat Bo are included in the scroll in addition to the first two paragraphs of Shema Yisrael.
LocationPassage
Exodus 13:1–10:
Kadesh Li—
the duty of
the Jewish people
to remember the
redemption from
Egyptian bondage.		And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Sanctify to Me all the first-born, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal, it is Mine.' And Moses said to the people: 'Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; no leavened bread shall be eaten. This day you go forth in the Spring month. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore unto your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you, in all your borders. And so shall you tell your son on that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt. You shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
Exodus 13:11–16:
Ve-haya Ki Yeviakha—
the obligation
of every Jew to
inform his or her children
on these matters.		When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the LORD all that opens the womb; every firstborn animal shall be the LORD'S. Every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep, and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and all the first-born of man among your sons shall you redeem. And when your son asks you in time to come, saying: What is this? say to him: By strength of hand the LORD bring us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage; and when Pharaoh found it hard to let us go the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of animals; therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb, and redeem all my first-born sons. And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and as "totafot" between your eyes; for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 6:4–9:
Shema —
pronouncing the
Unity of the
One God.		Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart; and teach them thoroughly to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the road, and when you lie down, and when you get up. And tie them for a sign upon your hand, and let them be "totafot" between your eyes. And write them on the door-posts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 11:13–21:
Ve-haya Im Shamoa—
God's assurance of
reward for observance
of the Torah's
precepts and warning
of retribution for
disobedience.		If you listen to My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give the rain of your land in its season, the early and the late rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil. And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Take care for yourselves, lest your heart be seduced, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and the anger of the LORD be lit against you, and He shut up the heaven, so that there shall be no rain, and the ground not yield her fruit; and you be quickly lost from off the good land which the LORD gives you. Put these words of Mine on your heart and on your soul; tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be "totafot" between your eyes. Teach them to your children, to speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the road, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And write them on the door-posts of your house, and upon your gates; so that your days, and those of your children, may be multiplied upon the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.

See also

Related Research Articles

Halakha, also transliterated as halacha, halakhah, and halocho, is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandments (mitzvot), subsequent Talmudic and rabbinic laws, and the customs and traditions which were compiled in the many books such as the Shulchan Aruch. Halakha is often translated as "Jewish law", although a more literal translation might be "the way to behave" or "the way of walking". The word is derived from the root which means "to behave". Halakha not only guides religious practices and beliefs; it also guides numerous aspects of day-to-day life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tallit</span> Jewish prayer shawl

A tallit is a fringed garment worn as a prayer shawl by religious Jews. The tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. The cloth part is known as the beged ("garment") and is usually made from wool or cotton, although silk is sometimes used for a tallit gadol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sephardic law and customs</span> Practice of Judaism by the Sephardim

Sephardic law and customs are the law and customs of Judaism which are practiced by Sephardim or Sephardic Jews ; the descendants of the historic Jewish community of the Iberian Peninsula, what is now Spain and Portugal. Many definitions of "Sephardic" also include Mizrahi Jews, most of whom follow the same traditions of worship as those which are followed by Sephardic Jews. The Sephardi Rite is not a denomination nor is it a movement like Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism, and other Ashkenazi Rite worship traditions. Thus, Sephardim comprise a community with distinct cultural, juridical and philosophical traditions.

<i>Lulav</i> Closed frond of the date palm tree

Lulav is a closed frond of the date palm tree. It is one of the Four Species used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The other Species are the hadass (myrtle), aravah (willow), and etrog (citron). When bound together, the lulav, hadass, and aravah are commonly referred to as "the lulav".

<i>Mezuzah</i> Piece of parchment in a decorative case

A mezuzah is a piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah, which Jews affix in a small case to the doorposts of their homes. These verses are the Biblical passages in which the use of a mezuzah is commanded ; they also form part of the Shema prayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob ben Asher</span> German rabbinic authority (c. 1269 - c. 1343)

Jacob ben Asher, also known as Ba'al ha-Turim as well as Rabbi Yaakov ben Raash, was an influential Medieval rabbinic authority. He is often referred to as the Ba'al ha-Turim, after his main work in halakha, the Arba'ah Turim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabbeinu Tam</span> Renowned 12th C. Ashkenazi Jewish rabbi, leading French Tosafist, leading halakhic authority

Jacob ben Meir, best known as Rabbeinu Tam, was one of the most renowned Ashkenazi Jewish rabbis and leading French Tosafists, a leading halakhic authority in his generation, and a grandson of Rashi. Known as "Rabbeinu", he acquired the Hebrew suffix "Tam" meaning straightforward; it was originally used in the Book of Genesis to describe his biblical namesake, Jacob.

<i>Tzitzit</i> Knotted threads on the corners of a Tallit Gadol or Tallit Katan in Judaism

Tzitzit are specially knotted ritual fringes, or tassels, worn in antiquity by Israelites and today by observant Jews and Samaritans. Tzitzit are usually attached to the four corners of the tallit gadol, usually referred to simply as a tallit or tallis; and tallit katan. Through synecdoche, a tallit katan may be referred to as tzitzit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orach Chayim</span>

Orach Chayim, is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of Halakha, Arba'ah Turim. This section addresses aspects of Jewish law pertinent to the Hebrew calendar. Rabbi Yosef Karo modeled the framework of the Shulkhan Arukh, his own compilation of practical Jewish law, after the Arba'ah Turim. Many later commentators used this framework, as well. Thus, Orach Chayim in common usage may refer to another area of halakha, separate from Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaf</span> Type of parchment

Klaf or Qelaf is the designation given a particular piece of skin. The Talmudic definition includes both the form of the skin and the way it is processed, in particular, that it must be tanned. Since the innovative ruling of Rabbeinu Tam it is primarily used to refer to parchment or vellum. It is one of the materials upon which a sofer writes certain Jewish liturgical and ritual documents.

<i>Gevil</i> Type of parchment

Gevil or gewil or is a type of parchment made from full-grain animal hide that has been prepared as a writing material in Jewish scribal documents, in particular a Sefer Torah.

Chol HaMoed, a Hebrew phrase meaning "mundane of the festival", refers to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. As the name implies, these days mix features of chol (mundane) and moed (festival).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofer</span> Jewish scribe

A sofer, sopher, sofer SeTaM, or sofer ST"M is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe Sifrei Kodesh, tefillin (phylacteries), mezuzot and other religious writings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bar-Hayim</span> Israeli rabbi

Dawidh Ḥanokh Yissḥaq Bar-Ḥayim is an Israeli rabbi who heads Machon Shilo, a Jerusalem-based rabbinical court and institute of Jewish education dedicated to the Torah of Israel.

Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum, is the Jewish practice of reading the weekly Torah portion in a prescribed manner. In addition to hearing the Torah portion read in the synagogue, a person should read it himself twice during that week, together with a translation usually by Targum Onkelos and/or Rashi's commentary. In addition, while not required by law, there exists an Ashkenazi custom to also read the portion from the Prophets with its targum.

<i>Sifrei Kodesh</i> Collective term for all Jewish religious literature

Sifrei Kodesh, commonly referred to as sefarim, or in its singular form, sefer, are books of Jewish religious literature and are viewed by religious Jews as sacred. These are generally works of Torah literature, i.e. Tanakh and all works that expound on it, including the Mishnah, Midrash, Talmud, and all works of Musar, Hasidism, Kabbalah, or machshavah. Historically, sifrei kodesh were generally written in Hebrew with some in Judeo-Aramaic or Arabic, although in recent years, thousands of titles in other languages, most notably English, were published. An alternative spelling for 'sefarim' is seforim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreleg, cheeks and maw</span> Gift of a kosher-slaughtered animal to a kohen

The gift of the foreleg, cheeks and maw of a kosher-slaughtered animal to a kohen is a positive commandment in the Hebrew Bible. The Shulchan Aruch rules that after the slaughter of animal by a shochet, the shochet is required to separate the cuts of the foreleg, cheek and maw and give them to a kohen freely, without the kohen paying or performing any service.

The commandment to sanctify the progeny of Aaron is a commandment based in the Hebrew Bible, and developed in rabbinical teaching that requires believers in Judaism to sanctify their priests (kohanim) in various ways. These include assisting him to abstain from any prohibitions in the Law that apply to him, and by affording him first rights in areas relating to holiness and the service of God. In the enumeration of Maimonides this is the 32nd positive commandment of the Law.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Judaism:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handwashing in Judaism</span> Jewish ritual of purifying ones hands by washing them

Jewish law and custom prescribe ritual hand washing in a number of situations. This practice is generally known by the Hebrew term נטילת ידיים‎, which literally means taking up of the hands.

References

  1. ↑ Variant: Gadpi
  1. ↑ Rama OC 38:3 and commentaries there.
  2. ↑ Steinmetz, Sol (2005). Dictionary of Jewish usage: a guide to the use of Jewish terms. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. p. 165. ISBN   978-0-7425-4387-4.
  3. ↑ "407. Times to Wear (and Not Wear) Tefillin - HaShoneh Halachos 2: Mishneh Torah". OU Torah. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  4. ↑ Cowen, Alexander. "Some Laws of Tefillin".
  5. ↑ Uncovered in Jerusalem, 9 tiny unopened Dead Sea Scrolls
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Phylacteries, Jewish Encyclopedia (1906).
  7. 1 2 Steinmetz, Sol (August 2005). Dictionary of Jewish usage: a guide to the use of Jewish terms. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 165. ISBN   978-0-7425-4387-4 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Dovid Meisels; Avraham Yaakov Finkel (30 April 2004). Bar mitzvah and tefillin secrets: the mysteries revealed. Dovid D. Meisels. p. 133. ISBN   978-1-931681-56-8 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  9. ↑ ἀσάλευτον . Liddell, Henry George ; Scott, Robert ; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  10. ↑ Sanhedrin 4b
  11. ↑ The Targum often substitutes the word Afriki for Tarshish, see Kings I 10:22;
  12. ↑ Exodus 13:16, s.v. U'letotafot bein ei'neicha
  13. ↑ Rashi to Exodus 13:16, s.v. U'letotafot bein ei'neicha
  14. ↑ Saruq, Mĕnaḥem ben (1854). Maḥberet Menaḥem (in Hebrew). Ḥoveret Yeshanim.
  15. ↑ Jeffrey H. Tigay, "On the Meaning of Ṭ(W)ṬPT", Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 101, No. 3 (Sep., 1982), pp. 321-331
  16. ↑ The Cambridge Bible for schools and colleges. University press. 1908. p. 175. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  17. ↑ φυλακτήριον  in Liddell and Scott.
  18. ↑ Woes of the Pharisees, Matthew 23:5
  19. ↑ περίαπτον, περίαμμα  in Liddell and Scott.
  20. ↑ Crow, John L. (2009). Braak, J. (ed.). Miracle or Magic? The Problematic Status of Christian Amulets. Amsterdam. pp. 97–112.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  21. 1 2 Abraham P. Bloch (1980). The Biblical and historical background of Jewish customs and ceremonies . KTAV Publishing House, Inc. pp.  78–80. ISBN   978-0-87068-658-0 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  22. 1 2 Tefillin, Mezuzah, ve'Sefer Torah ch 5-6.
  23. ↑ Bailey, Stephen (15 June 2000). Kashrut, tefillin, tzitzit: studies in the purpose and meaning of symbolic mitzvot inspired by the commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. Jason Aronson. p. 31. ISBN   978-0-7657-6106-4 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  24. ↑ Mosheh Ḥanina Naiman (June 1995). Tefillin: an illustrated guide to their makeup and use. Feldheim Publishers. p. 118. ISBN   978-0-87306-711-9 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  25. ↑ "Holiday Art Beautiful ritual objects enhance holiday celebration". myjewishlearning.com. 20 January 2024. Beauty enhances the mitzvot by appealing to the senses. Beautiful sounds and agreeable fragrances, tastes, textures, colors, and artistry contribute to human enjoyment of religious acts, and beauty itself takes on a religious dimension. The principle of enhancing a mitzvah through aesthetics is called Hiddur Mitzvah. The concept of Hiddur Mitzvahis derived from Rabbi Ishmael's comment on the verse, "This is my God and I will glorify Him" (Exodus 15:2):
  26. ↑ Greene, Gary. "Shabbat Truma Rosh Hodesh". MARATHON Jewish Community Center. Retrieved 23 July 2014. I think the beauty was important then because it reminded the people of the worth of God in their worship. During the dry and dusty days of desert wanderings, they needed a reminder of God's majesty.
  27. ↑ Silverberg, Rav David. "PARASHAT BESHALACH". The Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash. Yeshivat Har Etzion. Rav Shlomo Ha-kohen of Vilna, in his work of responsa Binyan Shlomo (siman 6), writes that he was once asked why the Gemara never mentions a requirement to purchase beautiful tefillin. Seemingly, tefillin is no less a religious article than a tallit, Sefer Torah or lulav, and thus the obligation of hiddur mitzva should apply equally to tefillin.
  28. ↑ Cohn, Yehuda B. (2008). Tangled Up in Text: Tefillin and the Ancient World. Providence: Brown Judaic Studies. pp. 88–99, 148.
  29. ↑ Trachtenberg, Joshua (1939). Jewish Magic and Superstition: A Study in Folk Religion. New York: Behrman's Jewish Book House. p. 132.
  30. ↑ BT Berakhot 23a-b
  31. ↑ BT Shabbat 49a
  32. ↑ Kosior, Wojciech (2015). "The Name of Yahveh is Called Upon You. Deuteronomy 28:10 and the Apotropaic Qualities of Tefillin in the Early Rabbinic Literature". Studia Religiologica. 48 (2). doi:10.4467/20844077SR.15.011.3557.
  33. ↑ Suggested in BT Menahot 36b, 44a-b and in BT Shabbat 13a-b
  34. ↑ As is the case in M Kelim 23:1, M Eruvin 10:1 and BT Eruvin 96b-97a
  35. ↑ Stollman, Aviad A. (2006). Mahadurah u-Perush 'al Derekh ha-Mehqar le-Pereq "Ha-Motze' Tefillin" mitokh ha-Talmud ha-Bavli ('Eruvin, Pereq 'Eshiri), [PhD thesis, Hebrew] (PDF). Ramat Gan. pp. 51–54.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  36. ↑ Grinṿald, Zeʾev (1 July 2001). Shaarei halachah: a summary of laws for Jewish living. Feldheim Publishers. p. 39. ISBN   978-1-58330-434-1 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  37. ↑ Kiell, Norman (1967). The psychodynamics of American Jewish life: an anthology. Twayne Publishers. p. 334. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  38. ↑ Shimon D. Eider (September 1985). Student Edition of Halachos of Tefillin. Feldheim Publishers. p. 11. ISBN   978-1-58330-050-3 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  39. ↑ Shimon D. Eider (September 1985). Student Edition of Halachos of Tefillin. Feldheim Publishers. pp. 21–22. ISBN   978-1-58330-050-3 . Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  40. ↑ "Ancient tefillin were not dyed black, study finds". www.israelhayom.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  41. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 32:3
  42. ↑ Shut Shevet Halevi 9:16
  43. ↑ Menachot 35b
  44. ↑ Mishneh Torah Hilchot Tefillin 13:12; Tur Hilchot Tefillin 27:8; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 27:8
  45. ↑ Darchei Moshe haKatzar Orach Chaim 27 letter 5
  46. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 27:8
  47. ↑ BT Menachot 34b
  48. ↑ Shimon D. Eider (September 1985). Student Edition of Halachos of Tefillin. Feldheim Publishers. pp. 13–14. ISBN   978-1-58330-050-3 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  49. ↑ What is Tefillin?, www.stam.net. Retrieved 1 July 2011
  50. 1 2 3 Jacobs, Louis (November 1984). The book of Jewish belief. Behrman House, Inc. p. 128. ISBN   978-0-87441-379-3 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  51. ↑ Tefillin: Shimusha Rabba and Ra’avad
  52. ↑ Cohn, Yehudah (11 January 2016). "The Real Origins of the Rashi, Rabbenu Tam Tefillin Dispute". TheGemara.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-14.
  53. ↑ Cohn, Yehudah (2007). "Rabbenu Tam's tefillin : an Ancient Tradition or the Product of Medieval Exegesis?". Jewish Studies Quarterly. 14 (4): 319–327. doi:10.1628/094457007783244619. ISSN   0944-5706. JSTOR   40753443.
  54. ↑ Rabinowicz, Tzvi (1996). The encyclopedia of Hasidism. Jason Aronson. p. 482. ISBN   978-1-56821-123-7 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  55. ↑ Aharon Lichtenstein, '"Mah Enosh": Reflections on the Relation between Judaism and Humanism', The Torah U-Madda Journal, Vol. 14 (2006-07), p.46
  56. ↑ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 34:3
  57. ↑ Mishnah Brurah, Orach Chaim 34:16
  58. ↑ Shimon D. Eider (September 1985). Student Edition of Halachos of Tefillin. Feldheim Publishers. p. 21. ISBN   978-1-58330-050-3 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  59. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim, 38:3. See also Targum Yerushalmi on Deuteronomy 22:5.
  60. ↑ Isaac David Essrig (1932). The fountain of wisdom. p. 18. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  61. ↑ Menahot 44a
  62. ↑ Baumgarten, Elisheva (2004). Mothers and Children: Jewish Family Life in Medieval Europe. Princeton University Press. p. 88. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  63. ↑ Grossman, Avraham (2004). Pious and Rebellious: Jewish Women in Medieval Europe. Waltham, Massachusetts: Brandeis University Press. pp. 178, 194. ISBN   978-1-58465-392-9.
  64. ↑ "Women & Tefillin - Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel". Archived from the original on 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  65. ↑ What’s the Truth About…Rashi’s Daughters?
  66. ↑ "Tefillin 101 - Week Four | Women's League for Conservative Judaism - Jewish Women's GroupWomen's League for Conservative Judaism". 24 January 2019.
  67. ↑ "Tefillin - BJE". 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  68. ↑ Friedman, Will (2014). "Why Women can and Must Lay Tefillin". Forward.
  69. ↑ Feldman, Ari (2018). "Laying Tefillin Isn't Just For Straight Men Anymore". Forward.
  70. ↑ Women and Tefillin : The United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (USCJ) Archived 2009-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
  71. ↑ Briefs, Jewish Press News (20 January 2014). "NYC Orthodox High School Lets Girls Put On Tefillin".
  72. ↑ Western Wall Rabbi: No More Tallit and Tefillin for Women at Kotel haaretz, February 1, 2016
  73. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 37:2
  74. ↑ "Tefillin". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  75. ↑ Shulchan Aruch OC 555:1.
  76. ↑ Rabbi Yirmiyahu Ullman. "The Laws of Tisha B'Av". Ohr Somayach.
  77. 1 2 3 4 5 Jachter, Howard (April 7, 2001). "Tefillin on Hol Hamoed". Kol Torah: Torah Academy of Bergen County. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018.
  78. ↑ Mishna Berura 31:8
  79. 1 2 Grinṿald, Zeʾev (1 July 2001). Shaarei halachah: a summary of laws for Jewish living. Feldheim Publishers. p. 36. ISBN   978-1-58330-434-1 . Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  80. 1 2 3 Kitov, Eliyahu (2000). The Jew and His Home. Feldheim Publishers. p. 488. ISBN   978-1-58330-711-3 . Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  81. ↑ See Shulchan Aruch OC 25:5 and commentaries there.
  82. ↑ "Tefillin". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  83. ↑ Jacobs, Louis (1 June 1987). The book of Jewish practice. Behrman House, Inc. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-87441-460-8 . Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  84. ↑ Shulchan-Aruch 27
  85. ↑ "London Sephardi Minhag - Tephillin". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.

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