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Hilchos Tefillin 33 (page 115)
מסעיף ה עד תחילת סימן לד
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Kshira Tama - Proper Knotting
Using a Torn Retzua
A Retzua Which Tore in an Area Beyond the Required Length
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Kshira tama - proper knotting
The Torah's word
uk'shartam can be understood as the phrase
uk'shar tam, meaning that the
retzua required for
tefillin should be prepared properly. According to many
poskim, this is accomplished by having only one knot in the area of the
retzua that is required for the
mitzva. Other
poskim explain that the phrase requires that the
retzua be complete and untorn. How long must the
retzua be? According to some, on the
shel rosh it should be just long enough to wrap around the head and knot it. Others add two
tefachim to that length, and a third opinion holds that the right
retzua should reach the navel and the left one should reach the chest. The
retzua of the
shel yad must be long enough to tie the
bayis to the arm, and should preferably extend far enough to wrap around the middle finger.
(
סעיף ה, וס"ק כו, כח ו־כט; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 24 ו־26)
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Using a torn retzua
A
retzua which tore somewhere along the length that is required for it to be kosher [i.e. enough to wrap around the head] should not be fixed by tying the pieces together or joining them with string. The
poskim debate whether it can be sewn from below in a manner that the stitches are not visible from the top. When no other
retzuos are available, stitched
retzuos may be used without a
beracha. According to some
poskim, there cannot be any stitching on the part that wraps around the finger. Another opinion does not allow any stitching between the knot on the arm and the part wrapped around the finger because that section is essential to holding the top knot in place.
(
סעיף ה, ס"ק כה, כו, כח ו־כט, וביה"ל ד"ה אם; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 27)
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A retzua which tore in an area beyond its required length
According to the opinion above, there cannot be any repairs to the section of
retzua that wraps around the head. If there is a repair in a section which might not be required for the kashrus of the
retzua and no other
retzua is available, the
tefillin may be worn with a
beracha. A
retzua of a
shel rosh which tore below the necessary section does not need to be repaired. A torn
retzua of a
shel yad, however, should be repaired to allow for wrapping the
retzua around the arm seven times. Ideally, it should be sewn from underneath with sinews, in a manner not visible from the outside. It is permissible, however, to sew it in any manner -- including stitching visible from the outside and knotting the two ends together.
(
סעיף ה, ס"ק כט, וביה"ל ד"ה אם וד"ה אין)
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- A halacha l'Moshe m'Sinai teaches that the retzuos must be black. Ideally, they should be deep raven-black, but light black is kosher b'dieved.
- According to the Rambam, it is considered a beautification of the mitzva if the underside of the retzuos is painted to match the color of the batim. According to the Rambam, painting the underside of the retzuos is not obligatory, but recommended.
- The batim, titura, ma'avarta and shins must be made by an adult Jewish male lishma.
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- The order of the parshios according to Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam
- Wearing Rabbeinu Tam tefillin
- Wearing both tefillin at once
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