Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

What name is formed through the shin and the knots of the tefillin?

The shel rosh should be knotted in the shape of the letter daled. The shel yad’s knot should be formed to look like the letter yud. These two letters, along with the shin which is formed on the bayis of the shel rosh, form the name Sha-dai. Rema writes that the letters should be formed in the order of the spelling: the shin followed by the daled and yud. One who realizes that his knots were not formed properly must retie them and lay tefillin again.

[סעיף נב וס"ק רלב-רלג]

What is the proper way to tie the knot of the shel rosh?

There are three different customs regarding the proper form for the knot on the shel rosh: 1) the shape of a typical daled, 2) the shape of an “ende” mem (viewed through the straps that come out of the knot, this knot looks like a daled), and 3) a double knot which looks like two daleds. A simple reading of the Mishnah Berurah gives the impression that he rules according to the first custom. Some suggest that he would agree that it is best to make the knot in the form of an “ende” mem.

[סעיף נב וס"ק רלג; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 259 ;וראה ביה"ל ד"ה ויעשה]

Is it permissible to glue the tefillin?

The batim of the tefillin should be sewn with one gid (sinew from a kosher animal). On the shel rosh, the thread should be sewn through its separate compartments. The gid is sewn into the four sides of the titura, with three double stiches on each of its sides. The bayis should not be glued shut before it is sewn. The poskim disagree about whether it may be glued after it is sewn shut.

[סעיף נא, ס"ק רכח-רל, וביה"ל ד"ה יתפור; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 257 ;ובהתאם למקובל]

The parshios should be inserted upright in their compartments. B’dieved, the tefillin are still kosher if the parshios are lying horizontally. If they were placed upside down, some opinions hold that they are pasul.

The parshios of the shel rosh should be written on four separate pieces of klaf. The parshios of the shel yad are written on the same piece of parchment. If, b’dieved, the parshios of the shel rosh were written on one piece of klaf, the tefillin are still kosher. If there is a slight space between the parshios, they should be sliced into four separate pieces and placed into their individual compartments. If there is not enough space to slice them, a string or sinew should be placed between each of the parshios.

The bayis must be sewn to the titura using a sinew from a kosher animal, preferably an ox. The sinew is removed from the ankle of the animal and doubly spun into a string-like material.

Can ripped batim be repaired?

Are tefillin that were cut with a knife kosher?

Determining the age of a pair 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.