Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Why does a lefty lay tefillin on his right hand?

A left-handed person lays tefillin on his right hand. If a person does most of his tasks with his left hand, he is considered a lefty with respect to this halacha. The Gemara uses two different sources in discussing this halacha. First, the word yadcha in the posuk referring to tefillin is written with an extra letter hey at the end. It can thus be broken into two separate words: yad kaha (the weaker hand), conveying that a person should lay tefillin on his non-dominant hand. 2) The Torah juxtaposes the mitzvah of laying tefillin with the mitzvah of writing a mezuzah. Chazal extrapolate that the hand which writes should be the one to lay the tefillin on the other hand. It follows that the non-dominant hand is the place for the tefillin. A person who uses both hands equally should lay them on his left hand.

[שו"ע כז, ו, משנ"ב כג, כה ו־כז]

Does writing play a role in determining who is a lefty?

A practical difference between the two sources can be seen in the case of a person who does most activities with his right hand but writes with his left. According the first reason, the left is still the weaker hand and would therefore be the correct one for the tefillin. The second reason maintains that writing is the primary consideration, so it follows that the tefillin would be laid on the left hand. Most Rishonim rule according to the first reason. A minority view which is followed by Rema rules according to the second reason. There are those who understand the second view as holding that both reasons should be taken into consideration, and therefore a person would not be considered a lefty regarding tefillin unless he does most of his activities--including writing--with his left hand.

[שו"ע כז, ו, משנ"ב כו-כז, וביה"ל ד"ה ויש, וד"ה והכי; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 25]

Can one change his dominant hand?

One who went against his natural tendency and became accustomed to using his non-dominant hand is classified based on how his hands are used currently. A similar halacha applies to a person who had to change his dominant hand due to illness. One who recovered from an illness (or for other reasons can revert to his originally dominant hand) is viewed as ambidextrous and should lay tefillin on his left hand. A minority view maintains that a person’s original natural tendency is the only criteria used for classifying his status. Although the halacha does not follow this view, in some instances it can be considered to reach a halachic conclusion. A person who lost the lower part of his dominant arm should start to lay on the upper part of this arm since it is no longer his dominant side.

[משנ"ב כז, כד ו־כז, וביה"ל ו, ד"ה וְאִטֵּר; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 25]

Many Rishonim hold that both the tefillin shel yad and shel rosh must be fully on the body; there cannot be a chatzitza beneath any part of their surface. Although the tefillin do not directly touch all points around the curve of the head, a chatzitza is not permitted in that area either.

The issue of chatzitza primarily pertains to the batim of the tefillin. However, one should also be stringent in avoiding a chatzizah where the retzuos tighten the bayis to the head. When necessary (e.g. if one has a wound and the area is bandaged), the retzuos may be placed over a bandage.

A person whose head must remain bandaged may lay his tefillin on top of the bandage. A brocha should not be recited in this case. Likewise, one whose arm is bandaged in the place of his tefillin shel yad should lay tefillin on the bandage and only recite the brochos on the shel rosh. If possible, the bandages should be removed just for the time needed to lay tefillin and recite Shema and Shemoneh Esreh.

Where should the tefillin shel rosh be placed?

Where does a bald person place his tefillin?

How high may the tefillin rest on the head?

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.