Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

How can one ensure that the kesher remains flush against the bayis?

Each of the tefillin are made up of two parts: 1) the bayis--the square section which contains the parshios of tefillin and 2) the mavarta--the flat surface behind the bayis which has a space for the retzuos (straps). On the tefillin shel yad, at the point where the retzuos come out of the mavarta, the straps should be knotted in a way that looks like the letter yud. The kesher (knot) should be on the right side of the bayis, so that when the arm is lowered the kesher rests alongside the wearer’s heart. Care should be taken to keep the kesher flush against the bayis. Some are even careful to keep the kesher fastened to the bayis when the tefillin are put away in their case. To make sure that the kesher remains next to the bayis, some tie the kesher with a strand of gid (sinew from an animal). If one has this custom, he must be certain that he is not running the gid beneath the bayis. Otherwise, it will be a chatzitzah between the bayis and the arm.

[שו"ע כז, ב, משנ"ב י, וביה"ל ד"ה יש; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 9]

On which side of the bayis should the loop be situated?

To fasten the tefillin shel yad to the arm, a loop is formed at the point where the retzuah comes out of the mavarta. The straps are then pulled through the loop in order to fasten the bayis around the arm. Some Rishonim hold that the loop should be on the right side of the bayis, right next to the kesher. This is the also the opinion of the Rema. Others have the custom of placing the loop to the left of the bayis and running the retzuah in that direction. A side benefit of this custom is that the strap will cover the kesher, keeping the kesher fastened to the bayis.

[משנ"ב כז, ח, וביה"ל ב, ד"ה המנהג]

Can a woman lay tefillin for a man?

A person whose left arm is completely amputated is exempt from tefillin. Some say that he should put the tefillin on his right arm without a brocha. If a part of the upper arm remains, he should put on his shel yad without a brocha. When he recites the brochos over the shel rosh, he should have in mind to exempt the shel yad as well. If the area beneath the elbow remains, he has the same status as a person with a complete hand. A person who is missing his right hand is obligated in tefillin and should have someone else assist him with its placement. The poskim disagree about whether a woman or non-Jew, who are exempt from tefillin, are permitted to assist with the placement.

[שו"ע כז, א, משנ"ב ה-ו, וביה"ל ד"ה שאין, ד"ה יניח, וד"ה בלא ברכה; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 7 ,וראה שם, 6 ו־8]

The tefillin shel yad are placed on the lower half of the left bicep. If one has large tefillin, he may place them over the entire bicep since some hold that the entire bicep is acceptable for placement.

Upon placing the tefillin shel yad, a person generally touches the area of his arm above the elbow. Likewise, a person may scratch or touch his hair when putting on the tefillin shel rosh. The poskim disagree about whether one must wash his hands if he touches these areas when putting on tefillin.

A person who either only owns one of the tefillin or only has the ability to wear one of them (e.g. he has a wound which does not allow him to wrap tefillin in a certain area) should put on whatever he can.

Do the tefillin have to be flush against the body?

Can one wear a watch with his tefillin?

Can tefillin be laid on a bandage?

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.