1 678
     .    .             .  .

Hilchos Tefillin 25 (page 64)


Wearing Talis and Tefillin to Shul
Reciting Shema with Talis and Tefillin
Fulfilling the Mitzva of Loving Hashem

Wearing talis and tefillin to shul 

The Zohar emphasizes the importance of donning talis and tefillin at home and then going to shul wrapped in one's talis and crowned with tefillin. When possible, it is appropriate to do so. One exception is someone who leaves his house before the time for putting on tefillin. Someone who must pass areas where tefillin may not be worn (e.g. foul-smelling) should don his talis and tefillin in the shul's lobby. If it is not possible to put them on outside the shul, one can put them on at home and keep them covered when passing through a foul area. Contemporary poskim discuss whether passing the garbage receptacles in modern cities presents a problem.

(סעיף ב וס"ק ח; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 13-14)

 

 

 

 

 

Reciting Shema with talis and tefillin 

Chazal considered the recitation of Shema without tefillin to be like bearing false witness. The Rishonim explain that reciting the verses about tefillin without having them on implies that it is unnecessary to fulfill this commandment. Similarly, it is important to wear tzitzis when reciting the pesukim that mention them. A person should not wait for tzitzis or tefillin if it is possible that zman kriyas Shema will pass before he has a chance to put them on.

(סעיף ד וס"ק יד; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 20 ו־22)

 

 

 

Fulfilling the mitzva of loving Hashem

The Acharonim also extend the previous idea to the mitzva of loving Hashem, which is mentioned towards the beginning of Shema. A person should focus on fulfilling this mitzva before reciting the verse of v'ahavta es Hashem so as to keep his speech commensurate with his beliefs. One way to arouse oneself to this mitzva is to contrast Hashem's greatness with the insignificance of man, and then to consider that despite this, Hashem is infinitely kind to us, hiding our sins and waiting for us to do teshuva. If it difficult to concentrate on this thought during Shema, it can be postponed until after davening. Ideally, one should attend to this mitzva before eating.

(ס"ק יד; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 19)


 

 

 
  • It is forbidden to embroider pesukim on a talis because a person frequently brings his talis into the bathroom and also because it is forbidden to write pesukim out of the context of Tanach.

  • When one has to choose between tefillin and tzitzis (e.g. someone can afford to perform only one), tefillin take precedence.

  • There is a halachic principle not to bypass a mitzva (ein ma'avirin al hamitzvos). Once the opportunity to perform a mitzva presents itself, a person may not forgo it for another mitzva. It is permissible for one to bypass a mitzva that he is not ready to fulfill in favor of a mitzva that he wishes to fulfill sooner.

 

 

 

 

 

  • The necessary intentions when donning tefillin

  • The beracha on tefillin

  • Reciting Baruch Shem after a beracha l'vatalah

 

 

 

 

  

 
...


footer