Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Can a nick disqualify the batim?

The batim of tefillin must be perfectly square. If they develop a significant chip, the tefillin are pasul . It is unnecessary to measure the tefillin every day to be certain that they are square. Once established as kosher, the batim retain their acceptable status unless it is determined that something happened to them. The poskim do not explain what size nick would disqualify tefillin, but they do say that a small, insignificant nick does not render the tefillin pasul. Some hold that as long as the batim appear square, they are kosher.

[סעיף לט, ס"ק קעט ו־קפא, וביה"ל ד"ה נתקלקל; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 216]

How black do tefillin have to be?

The entire bayis, including the lower platform and its base, must be painted black. The poskim disagree about whether this halacha is a halacha l’Moshe m’Sinai or whether it is only derabonon . L’chatchilah it should be a deep shade of black, described by the poskim as black like a raven. B’dieved, though, any shade of black is acceptable. It should be painted in a way that smoothly blends with the leather, without an obvious difference in the texture of the paint. If a layer of paint is peeling off, it is certainly pasul.

[סעיף מ וס"ק קפד-קפה; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 219 ,220 ו־222]

How should the four compartments of the shel rosh be separated?

The bayis of the shel rosh must be made from four compartments. These compartments should be connected enough not to become detached, but there must be a visible separation between them. The separation should be visible all the way to the base of the tefillin. B’dieved, the separation is kosher even if it does not reach the base, as long as there is a visible separation between the compartments.

סעיף מ, ס"ק קפח וביה"ל ד"ה חריץ; וראה ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 227 ,ולעיל ס"ק קעב

There is a halacha l’Moshe m’Sinai that tefillin must be square. The Rishonim have different opinions as to which part must be square. Some say that it refers to the titura, which is the bottom part of the tefillin. Others say that the stitching which sews the bayis closed must be sewn as a perfect square. Many hold that the actual bayis must be square as well. The halacha follows this opinion.

The poskim write that although it is impossible to make a perfect square, one should attempt to make the measurements of the bayis as even as possible. Later poskim say that it is not necessary to use modern techniques to square the bayis perfectly.

The batim should be made from one piece of leather. The poskim disagree about whether two pieces that were sewn or glued together may be used. Some allow a piece that is glued together but do not permit a sewn piece.

How many branches should there be on the shin of the shel rosh?

What is the proper way to form the shin on the bayis?

What are the proper dimensions of tefillin?

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.