View source for Details About the Tefillin Boxes and Straps

==Halachot of the Boxes (Batim)==
# The boxes should be black. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 33:3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 12 </ref>
# The Tefillin boxes must be square. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:39, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 13 </ref> 
# In normal circumstances, Sephardim will not have fulfilled their obligation of [[Tefillin]], if they are written according to minhag Ashkenaz. If one has no choice, a halachic authority should be contacted. <ref> Halacha Brurah 32:148. See Yechave Daat 2:3 and 5:3 where Chacham Ovadia explains that LeKulei Alma the script itself is not a problem; rather, the issue is that Ashkenazi sofrim follow the Taz's peshara to be yotzeh both the Rambam and Rosh's opinions of a Parsha Stumah. Since the Shulchan Aruch explicitly rejects this peshara in Hilchot Sefer Torah, it is invalid for Sepharadim, thereby rendering the [[Tefillin]] Pesulim according to the Sephardi custom.</ref>

== Halachot for the Scribe ==
# The passages must be written in the order of the Torah (Kadesh, VeHaya Ki Yiviyecha, Shema, and then VeHaya Im Shamoa). <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:1 </ref> It is preferable to write the passages for the arm [[Tefillin]] before writing the passages for the head [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Rama 32:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 2 </ref> 
# Those in the head [[Tefillin]] are written on four separate pieces of parchment, while those in the arm [[Tefillin]] are written on one piece of parchment. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:2</ref>
#The first three passages are Petuchot and the last one is Setumah. Bediavad, if the parsha which is supposed to be patuach is written satum or the satum parsha is written patuach the [[Tefillin]] are considered pasul.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 34:36, See Taz ibid. Yechave Daat 5:3, Ohr LeTzion vol. 2 pg 35, Iggros Moshe O.C. vol. 1 Siman 12</ref>
# The parchment must be made from the skin of a kosher type of animal or bird. Even if the animal is taref, it is permitted to use as long as the animal is from a kosher species. <ref> [[Shabbos]] 108a, Shulchan Aruch 32:12, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 6 </ref>
# The passages must be written with intent of writting them for the [[kedusha]] of [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:19 </ref>
# Before and while writing the passages for the [[Tefillin]] the sofer should say "I am writing for the sake of the holiness of [[Tefillin]]." <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 7 </ref>
# The passages must be written with one's right hand if one is right-handed or ambidextrous, however, a left-handed person must write the passages with his left hand. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:5. See Mishna Brurah 32:18 who quotes the Pri Megadim that preferably one should not have a sofer who writes with the right hand and does other activities with the left hand or the opposite. </ref>
# The passages must be written with black ink. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 32:3 </ref>
# It is a good habit to test out the pen before beginning to write a passage. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:22 </ref> 
# The passages for [[Tefillin]] must be written by a literate religious adult male Jew. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 32:30 and Shulchan Aruch 39:1 </ref>
# [[Tefillin]] written by a gentile or a Jew who does not believe in the entire Torah and its divinity are not kosher. <ref> Rambam Hilchot [[Tefillin]] 1:13 </ref> Women are exempt from wearing [[Tefillin]] and as such may not write [[Tefillin]]. <ref>Gemara Gittin 45b, Shulchan Aruch 39:1</ref>
# The passages should be written on 4 separate pieces of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh and on the same piece of parchment for the [[Tefillin]] shel yad. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, [[miscellaneous]] laws (of [[Tefillin]]), seif 3 </ref>

==Halachot of the Straps (Retzuot)==
# The strap for the [[Tefillin]] for the arm needs to be at least long enough to be able to be wrapped around the upper arm and extend downwards to the hand and be wrapped around the middle finger three times. Though it would be preferable if it were long enough to additionally be able to wrap around the arm six or seven times. <ref> S:A 27:8. Mishna Brurah 27:31 says the custom nowadays is seven times. </ref>  
# The strap for the [[Tefillin]] of the head needs to be at least long enough to fit around the head plus the two [[Tefachim]] on each side hanging down. <ref> Mishna Brurah 27:44 </ref> The custom is that the right one be longer than the left one and that both go past the midsection. <ref> Mishna Brurah 27:41 </ref>
# The straps should be colored black. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, place of donning and how to don, seif 24, Shulchan Aruch 33:3 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 3 say that this is a halacha leMoshe miSinai. Mishna Brurah 33:19 says they should be as black as a raven and adds that one should be especially careful and make sure it stays black at the spot where one tightens the [[Tefillin]] as the paint there wears off easily. </ref> 
# The coloring should be done for the sake of the mitzva of [[Tefillin]]. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 33:4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 2. Rama writes that they are not even kosher bedieved if they are not colored black for the sake of the mitzva. Beiur Halacha 33:4 maintains they are "pasul" and says they should be repainted with the proper concentration and intent. </ref> 
# The coloring can be done by a women, or a child if the child is supervised by an adult who instructs him to paint it for his sake. <ref> Mishna Brurah 33:23 </ref>
# The coloring can be done at night. <ref> Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg quoted in Mivakshei Torah volume 4 page 415. </ref>
# One should ensure that the black of the straps faces outward. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 27:11. Mishna Brurah 27:38 says that one really only has to make sure that the part around the head and around the arm muscle has the black on the outside, but it looks nicer when the black faces outward everywhere and therefore we make sure to practice that way. </ref>
# The minimum width of the [[Tefillin]] straps is the width of a barley kernel, which is approximately a centimeter. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 10:13 writes that the minimum width of the [[Tefillin]] straps is the width of a barley kernel. Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (comments on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 10:16) writes that the size of a barley is one centimeter.</ref>
# The straps of the [[Tefillin]] should be made from the skin of a kosher animal. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 2 </ref>
# The strap of the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh should contain a knot in the shape of the hebrew letter dalet, and the strap of the [[Tefillin]] shel yad should contain a knot in the shape of the letter yod. In the end, these symbols and the Hebrew letter shin on the [[Tefillin]] shel rosh will complete the spelling of the name of Hashem. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, siman 10, laws of the straps, seif 1 </ref>
==Borrowing Tallit or Tefillin==
# One may borrow somebody's Tallit<ref> Shulchan Aruch OC 14:4, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 64 </ref> or [[Tefillin]] without the owner's permission, if the owner is not there to ask permission from. <ref> Rama OC 14:4, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 64, Chesed La'alafim 14:4 based on the idea that somebody is happy to have his belongings used for a mitzvah. Kaf Hachayim 14:19 says this only applies if the owner is not present to ask for permission. </ref> However, if circumstances dictate that the owner would not want you to borrow it, this does not apply. For example, if the owner placed them in a place where it is obvious he does not want them being used, or if someone uses them on a permanent basis. <ref> Kaf Hachayim 14:27. 
<br> Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 64 gives three other examples: 
# if they are placed in a private locker (Aruch Hashulchan 14:12) 
# If it is brand new (Aruch Hashulchan 14:11) 
# if the borrower is sweaty (Aruch Hashulchan 14:11) <br>
see further [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/756926/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-borrowing-a-sefer-tallis-or-tefillin-without-permission/ Ten Minute Halacha: Borrowing a Sefer Tallis or Tefillin Without Permission]</ref> 
# After borrowing the Tallit or [[Tefillin]], one must place fold them in the same manner they were folded before, and put them back wherever he took them from. <ref> Shulchan Aruch and Rama 14:4, Mishna Brura 14:15, Kaf Hachayim 14:22, Halachos of Other People's Money pg. 64. regarding what to do on Shabbat, see Mishna Brura 14:15 who quotes some who say that you should fold it, just avoid folding on the original creases and some who hold that you don't need to fold it at all. see [[Cleaning_and_Folding_Garments_on_Shabbat#Folding_Garments|Folding Garments on Shabbat]] </ref>
# One may not remove the borrowed [[Tefillin]] from the synagogue or the owner's home without permission. <ref> Chesed La'alafim 14:4 </ref>
# Obviously one may not damage the [[Tefillin]] <ref> Kaf Hachayim 14:22 </ref>
# One does not however fulfill one's obligation of [[Tefillin]] with stolen [[Tefillin]] and may not recite a bracha on them. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 25:12, Mishna Brurah 25:54 </ref>

==Getting Tefillin Checked==
# Even though one is not obligated, it is praiseworthy to have one's [[Tefillin]] checked every year, particularly during the month of [[Elul]] and the aseret yimei teshuva. <ref> Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:49, http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=356 </ref>
# It is proper to check one's Tefillin to make sure that they are still valid twice every seven years. However, if [[Tefillin]] get damaged by water then they should be checked immediately, if that is not possible then one may use them, however without making a bracha. 
<ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu 10:26 </ref>
# If one has not gotten one's [[Tefillin]] checked for a long time and later finds out they were unkosher, one should increase one's Torah learning and some say one should take upon oneself to also wear Rabbeinu Tam [[Tefillin]] if one has not been already doing so. <ref> Sh"t Otzrot Yosef 3:8 </ref>

==Sources==
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[[Category:Orach Chaim]]