When must tefillin be removed?

One who is wearing tefillin and wants to tend to his bodily needs must remove his tefillin at least four amos from where he plans to use the facilities. If he just feels the need to urinate, he must remove his tefillin if he will be using a place which functions as a beis hakiseh kavua (an established bathroom). There is an opinion which holds that he must remove his tefillin (four amos away) even if he will be using a beis hakiseh arai (an area not regularly used as a bathroom). This view should be followed unless there is a pressing need, in which case he may leave on his shel yad.

סעיף א-ג, ס"ק ט ו־יב, וביה"ל ד"ה בית־הכסא קבוע; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 5



When is one permitted to bring tefillin into the bathroom?

A person who needs the bathroom and is worried that his tefillin may be stolen if he leaves them outside may bring them in if they are tied to his clothing (so that he does not need to hold them) and if they are covered. If they are not tied, they may be placed under the clothing, supported by the right hand near the heart. If there is a concern that in the course of using the bathroom his legs may become unclean, it is forbidden to bring in the tefillin. He may not clean himself with the hand that is holding the tefillin.

סעיף א ו־ג וס"ק ב-ח, טז ו־יז; וראה סעיף ז וביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 1




When should the straps of the shel yad be unwound?



According to many Rishonim, a person who merely needs to urinate may do so while wearing tefillin if he is not in a beis hakiseh kavua. A minority view is stringent, and one should follow this opinion. If one does remove them, they may be held, as long as the above-mentioned concern of becoming unclean does not apply. If he will be leaving the tefillin on, he should be careful to unravel the straps of the shel yad around his hand before tending to his needs.  


סעיף א-ג, ס"ק י-טו, וביה"ל ד"ה בית־הכסא קבוע

  • A bag which was not designated for tefillin and is only occasionally used to carry them does not become a tashmish d’kedushah. If, however, it was previously designated or is used on a steady basis, it is classified as a tashmish d’kedusha.


  • If one expressly stated at the outset that he may choose to remove the tefillin from his tefillin bag and store mundane items in it instead, the bag does not become sacred even if it was used many times. 


  • When the tefillin are in the bag, it should not be used to store non-kodesh objects. Therefore, if someone would like to put money together with his tefillin, he should prepare a separate pouch. 



  • Can a dollar bill be brought into a bathroom?






  • Can printed seforim be brought into the bathroom?






  • May tefillin be worn while walking past a dumpster?


PLEASE NOTE:  The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
Daf Hayomi B'Halacha Shiur
Rav Asher Eisenberger
Listen to Shiur
Synopsis of Today's Halachos
Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield
Listen to Shiur
This Week's Limud