tefillin

He replied, "I have laid the Tefillin."

But for the sons of the West who on removing the Tefillin say the benediction, "[Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe] Who didst sanctify us with Thy commandments and commanded us to observe Thy statutes," what is it to exclude ?

Our Rabbis have taught : Who is an 'Am ha'ares? Whoever does not read the Shema' evening and morning — these are the words of R. Eliezer; but R. Joshua says : Whoever does not lay Tefillin. Ben 'Azzai says : Whoever has no Sisit on his garment. R. Nathan says : Whoever has no Mezuzah on his door. R. Nathan b. Joseph says : Whoever has sons and does not rear them to the study of Torah. Others declare : Even if one has studied Torah and Mishnah but has not ministered to the disciples of the wise, he is an 'Am ha'ares. Rab Huna said : The Halakah is in accord with the last mentioned.

They said to him : We saw [in a dream] a young ass standing by the side of our pillow and braying. To Abbai he said : Thou wilt become the President of the College and an Amora will stand by thee. To Raba he said : The words "the firstling of an ass" (Exod. xiii. 13) have been erased from thy Tefillin. Raba said to him : I have myself seen that the words are there. He replied : The letter waw in the word hamor "ass" has certainly been erased from thy Tefillin.

They said to him : We saw [in a dream] a young ass standing by the side of our pillow and braying. To Abbai he said : Thou wilt become the President of the College and an Amora will stand by thee. To Raba he said : The words "the firstling of an ass" (Exod. xiii. 13) have been erased from thy Tefillin. Raba said to him : I have myself seen that the words are there. He replied : The letter waw in the word hamor "ass" has certainly been erased from thy Tefillin.

Who dreams that he lays the Tefillin may hope for greatness ; as it is said, "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon thee, and they shall fear thee" (Deut. xxviii. 10); and there is a teaching : R. Eliezer the Great says : This refers to the Tefillin worn on the head. Who dreams that he is saying the Tefillah, it is a good omen for him ; but this applies only when he does not conclude it.

Who dreams that he lays the Tefillin may hope for greatness ; as it is said, "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon thee, and they shall fear thee" (Deut. xxviii. 10); and there is a teaching : R. Eliezer the Great says : This refers to the Tefillin worn on the head. Who dreams that he is saying the Tefillah, it is a good omen for him ; but this applies only when he does not conclude it.

When he wraps himself with the Sisit let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to enwrap ourselves in the fringed garment." When he places the Tefillin upon his arm let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us to lay the Tefillin" ; upon the head let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us concerning the precept of the Tefillin." When he has washed his hands let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands." When he has washed his face let him say : "Blessed... Who removest the bands of sleep from mine eyes and slumber from mine eyelids. May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, to accustom me to Thy Torah and cause me to cleave to Thy commandments, and lead me not into the power of sin, iniquity, temptation or contempt ; and subdue my will that it be subservient to Thee ; and keep me far from an evil man and evil companion ; and cause me to cleave to the good impulse and a good companion in Thy universe ; and let me obtain this day, and every day, grace, favour and mercy in Thine eyes and in the eyes of all who behold me; and bestow loving kindnesses upon me. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who bestowest lovingkindnesses upon Thy people, Israel."

When he wraps himself with the Sisit let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to enwrap ourselves in the fringed garment." When he places the Tefillin upon his arm let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us to lay the Tefillin" ; upon the head let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us concerning the precept of the Tefillin." When he has washed his hands let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands." When he has washed his face let him say : "Blessed... Who removest the bands of sleep from mine eyes and slumber from mine eyelids. May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, to accustom me to Thy Torah and cause me to cleave to Thy commandments, and lead me not into the power of sin, iniquity, temptation or contempt ; and subdue my will that it be subservient to Thee ; and keep me far from an evil man and evil companion ; and cause me to cleave to the good impulse and a good companion in Thy universe ; and let me obtain this day, and every day, grace, favour and mercy in Thine eyes and in the eyes of all who behold me; and bestow loving kindnesses upon me. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who bestowest lovingkindnesses upon Thy people, Israel."

When he wraps himself with the Sisit let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and hast commanded us to enwrap ourselves in the fringed garment." When he places the Tefillin upon his arm let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us to lay the Tefillin" ; upon the head let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments, and hast commanded us concerning the precept of the Tefillin." When he has washed his hands let him say : "Blessed... Who hast sanctified us by Thy commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands." When he has washed his face let him say : "Blessed... Who removest the bands of sleep from mine eyes and slumber from mine eyelids. May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, to accustom me to Thy Torah and cause me to cleave to Thy commandments, and lead me not into the power of sin, iniquity, temptation or contempt ; and subdue my will that it be subservient to Thee ; and keep me far from an evil man and evil companion ; and cause me to cleave to the good impulse and a good companion in Thy universe ; and let me obtain this day, and every day, grace, favour and mercy in Thine eyes and in the eyes of all who behold me; and bestow loving kindnesses upon me. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who bestowest lovingkindnesses upon Thy people, Israel."

But this last is only meant when he is not carrying a load ; should he, however, be carrying a load, there is no objection. It is only meant when there is no other entrance ; but should there be another entrance, there is no objection. It is further only meant when he is not riding upon an ass ; but should he be riding upon an ass, there is no objection. It is likewise only meant when he is not wearing Tefillin ; but if he is wearing Tefillin, there is no objection.

But this last is only meant when he is not carrying a load ; should he, however, be carrying a load, there is no objection. It is only meant when there is no other entrance ; but should there be another entrance, there is no objection. It is further only meant when he is not riding upon an ass ; but should he be riding upon an ass, there is no objection. It is likewise only meant when he is not wearing Tefillin ; but if he is wearing Tefillin, there is no objection.

Why should we not wipe with the right hand but only with the left? Raba said : Because the Torah was given with the right hand ; as it is said, "At His right hand was a fiery law unto them" (Deut. xxxiii. 2). Rabbah b. Bar Hannah said : Because it is near the mouths. R. Simeon b. Lakish said : Because he binds the Tefillin with it. Rab Nahman b. Isaac said: Because he points to the accents of the Torah with it.

And all who are preoccupied, they too should be exempt? But from that, one who is preoccupied from losing his ship at sea, he should also be exempt. And would you say here also? But Rav Abba bar Zavda said in the name of Rav: A mourner is obligated in all of the mitzvot in the Torah, except for tefillin, as behold, they are spoken of as splendor.

[Going back to] the main text: R. Abba b. Zavda said in the name of Rav: A mourner is obligated in all the commandments of the Torah with the exception of tefillin since the word "beauty" is applied to them’. Since the God said to Ezekiel, "Bind your beauty upon yourself," (Ezekiel 24:17) you are obligated in this, but all other people are exempt.’

Our rabbis taught: The bridegroom, and the groomsmen and all the wedding guests are exempt from prayer and tefillin, but are obligated to read the Shema.

It has been taught: R. Hanania b. Akavya said: Scribes writing [Torah] scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot, their agents and their agents’ agents, and all who are engaged in holy work including sellers of blue [for tzitzit] are exempt from the obligation of prayer and tefillin and all the commandments mentioned in the Torah, to confirm the words of R. Yose the Galilean, for R. Yose the Galilean used to say: He who is occupied with the performance of a mitzvah is [at that time] exempt from other mitzvot

It has been taught: R. Hanania b. Akavya said: Scribes writing [Torah] scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot, their agents and their agents’ agents, and all who are engaged in holy work including sellers of blue [for tzitzit] are exempt from the obligation of prayer and tefillin and all the commandments mentioned in the Torah, to confirm the words of R. Yose the Galilean, for R. Yose the Galilean used to say: He who is occupied with the performance of a mitzvah is [at that time] exempt from other mitzvot

One [baraita] teaches, One may sleep casually in tefillin but not regular sleep, and another [baraita] teachers, Both casual sleep and regular sleep [are permitted] while a third baraita teaches: Neither a casual sleep nor a regular sleep [is allowed]! There is no difficulty: One refers to where he holds them in his hand, one to where they rest on his head, and one refers to where he spreads a cloth over them.

How long is casual sleep? Rami b. Ezekiel taught: The time it takes to walk one hundred cubits. It has also been taught in a baraita: He who sleeps in tefillin and [on waking] observes a seminal emission, should [remove the tefillin by taking] hold of the strap

How long is casual sleep? Rami b. Ezekiel taught: The time it takes to walk one hundred cubits. It has also been taught in a baraita: He who sleeps in tefillin and [on waking] observes a seminal emission, should [remove the tefillin by taking] hold of the strap

but he should not hold the box, the words of R. Yaakov. The sages say: one may sleep casual sleep in his tefillin but not a regular sleep. And what constitutes a casual sleep? The time it takes to walk one hundred cubits.

Our Rabbis taught: One who wishes to go to sleep by day, if he wants he may remove [his tefillin] and if he wants he may leave them on. At night, he must remove them and he may not leave them on, the words of R. Natan. R. Yose said Youth must always remove them and never leave them on, for they are regular in uncleanness.

Shall we say that R. Yose is of the opinion that a man who has seminal emission may not wear his tefillin? Abaye answered: We are dealing here with the case of young men in the company of their wives, lest they grow accustomed to the practice.

Our Rabbis taught: If he forgot and had sexual intercourse while wearing his tefillin he should not [remove them] by holding either the strap or the capsule until he wash his hands to take them off, since hands are busy.

Mar bar Amemar said to R. Ashi: My father used to recite his prayers [while holding the lulav]. They objected: One should not hold his tefillin in his hand or a Torah scroll in his bosom and pray, nor should he urinate [while wearing them], or doze or sleep.

A minor who knows how to shake the [lulav]. Our Rabbis taught, A minor who knows how to shake [the lulav] is subject to the obligation of the lulav; [if he knows how] to wrap himself [with a tallit] he is subject to the obligation of tzitzit; [if he knows how] to look after tefillin, his father must buy tefillin for him; if he is able to speak, his father must teach him Torah and the reading of the Shema.

A minor who knows how to shake the [lulav]. Our Rabbis taught, A minor who knows how to shake [the lulav] is subject to the obligation of the lulav; [if he knows how] to wrap himself [with a tallit] he is subject to the obligation of tzitzit; [if he knows how] to look after tefillin, his father must buy tefillin for him; if he is able to speak, his father must teach him Torah and the reading of the Shema.

The question is one in dispute between Tannas, as it has been taught, Whenever a man puts on his tefillin he must recite the blessing, the words of Rabbi. But the Sages say, He recites the blessing in the morning only.

It was stated: Abaye said he law is in agreement with Rabbi. But Rava said: The law is in agreement with the sages. R. Mari the son of Shmuel’s daughter, I noticed that Rava himself did not act in accordance with his own ruling but rising early, he would go to the toilet, come out and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the blessing, and when he had to go a second time he would go to the toilet, come out and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the blessing again. We too act in accordance with the ruling of Rabbi and recite the blessing all seven days.

It was stated: Abaye said he law is in agreement with Rabbi. But Rava said: The law is in agreement with the sages. R. Mari the son of Shmuel’s daughter, I noticed that Rava himself did not act in accordance with his own ruling but rising early, he would go to the toilet, come out and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the blessing, and when he had to go a second time he would go to the toilet, come out and wash his hands, put on his tefillin and recite the blessing again. We too act in accordance with the ruling of Rabbi and recite the blessing all seven days.

Mar Zutra said: I noticed that R. Papi recited the blessing whenever he put on his tefillin. The sages of the school of R. Ashi recited the blessing whenever they touched their tefillin.

Mar Zutra said: I noticed that R. Papi recited the blessing whenever he put on his tefillin. The sages of the school of R. Ashi recited the blessing whenever they touched their tefillin.

There is no difference between scrolls [of the Tanakh] and tefillin and mezuzahs except that scrolls may be written in any language whereas tefillin and mezuzahs may be written only in Assyrian.

There is no difference between scrolls [of the Tanakh] and tefillin and mezuzahs except that scrolls may be written in any language whereas tefillin and mezuzahs may be written only in Assyrian.

But if it is the view of R. Shimon b. Gamaliel, what about Greek? Rather there is no contradiction; the one statement [in the Mishnah] refers to scrolls, the other to tefillin and mezuzahs.

What is the reason [why] tefillin and mezuzahs [must be written in Hebrew]? — Because in reference to them it is written, “And they shall be”, (Deuteronomy 6:6) which implies, they shall be as they originally were. What cases are there of Aramaic which can be written in Hebrew? I grant you we find in the Torah “yegar sahaduta” (Genesis 31:47); but here [in the case of tefillin, and mezuzot] what Aramaic is there?

What is the reason [why] tefillin and mezuzahs [must be written in Hebrew]? — Because in reference to them it is written, “And they shall be”, (Deuteronomy 6:6) which implies, they shall be as they originally were. What cases are there of Aramaic which can be written in Hebrew? I grant you we find in the Torah “yegar sahaduta” (Genesis 31:47); but here [in the case of tefillin, and mezuzot] what Aramaic is there?

R. Ashi said: That statement [in the baraita] was made in reference to other books [of the Scripture], And it follows the view of R. Judah, as it has been taught: Tefillin and mezuzahs are to be written only in Assyrian, but our Rabbis allowed them to be written in Greek also.

“Honor” means tefillin, and so it says, “And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they shall be afraid of you” (Deuteronomy 28:10); and it has been taught: R. Elazar the Great says that this refers to the tefillin of the head.

“Honor” means tefillin, and so it says, “And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they shall be afraid of you” (Deuteronomy 28:10); and it has been taught: R. Elazar the Great says that this refers to the tefillin of the head.

Abaye allowed the members of the household of Bar Habu to write tefillin and mezuzot without a copy. Whose authority did he follow? The following Tanna, as it has been taught: R. Jeremiah says in the name of our Teacher: Tefillin and mezuzot may be written out without a copy, and do not require to be written upon ruled lines.

Abaye allowed the members of the household of Bar Habu to write tefillin and mezuzot without a copy. Whose authority did he follow? The following Tanna, as it has been taught: R. Jeremiah says in the name of our Teacher: Tefillin and mezuzot may be written out without a copy, and do not require to be written upon ruled lines.

The law, however, is that tefillin do not require lines, but mezuzot do require lines, and both may be written without a copy. What is the reason? — They are frequently recited.

One who makes his tefillin [for the head] round, it is dangerous and has no religious value. If he put them on his forehead or on the palm of his hand, behold this is the way of heresy. If he overlaid them with gold or put [the one for the hand] on his sleeve, behold this is the manner of the outsiders.

One who makes his tefillin [for the head] round, it is dangerous and has no religious value. Shall we say that that we have already taught this, as our Rabbis taught: [The obligation for] tefillin to be square is a law set down by Moses at Sinai. And Rava explained [this refers] to their stitching and their diagonal.

One who makes his tefillin [for the head] round, it is dangerous and has no religious value. Shall we say that that we have already taught this, as our Rabbis taught: [The obligation for] tefillin to be square is a law set down by Moses at Sinai. And Rava explained [this refers] to their stitching and their diagonal.

Our rabbis taught: Accessories used in a mitzvah [when worn out] may be thrown away; accessories of holiness are must be placed in a geniza. The following are accessories used in a mitzvah: A sukkah, a lulav, a shofar, tzitzit. The following are accessories of holiness: large sacks for scrolls of Scripture, tefillin and mezuzot, a mantle for a Sefer Torah, and a tefillin bag and tefillin straps.

Our rabbis taught: Accessories used in a mitzvah [when worn out] may be thrown away; accessories of holiness are must be placed in a geniza. The following are accessories used in a mitzvah: A sukkah, a lulav, a shofar, tzitzit. The following are accessories of holiness: large sacks for scrolls of Scripture, tefillin and mezuzot, a mantle for a Sefer Torah, and a tefillin bag and tefillin straps.

Our rabbis taught: Accessories used in a mitzvah [when worn out] may be thrown away; accessories of holiness are must be placed in a geniza. The following are accessories used in a mitzvah: A sukkah, a lulav, a shofar, tzitzit. The following are accessories of holiness: large sacks for scrolls of Scripture, tefillin and mezuzot, a mantle for a Sefer Torah, and a tefillin bag and tefillin straps.

Zera was asked by his disciples: How have you lived such a long life? He replied: Never in my life have I been overly demanding with my household, nor have I walked in front of one greater than myself, nor have I meditated on the Torah in filthy alleys, nor have I gone four cubits without Torah and tefillin, nor have I slept in the bet hamidrash, either a long or a short sleep, nor have I rejoiced in the downfall of my fellow, nor have I called my fellow by a disgraceful name, or, as some say, his family nickname.

According to the opinion that it is invalid [the reason is] that the Torah says (Exodus 13, 9) "In order that the Torah of God should be in your mouth" which compares the whole Torah to Tefillin. Just as Tefillin is a law from Moshe at [Mt.] Sinai to tie them with sinews, so too the whole [Torah] has to be tied with sinews. And the other [opinion holds], in what aspect was it compared? That it must be [from an animal] permitted to the mouth. For the rest of it's laws, it wasn't compared.

According to the opinion that it is invalid [the reason is] that the Torah says (Exodus 13, 9) "In order that the Torah of God should be in your mouth" which compares the whole Torah to Tefillin. Just as Tefillin is a law from Moshe at [Mt.] Sinai to tie them with sinews, so too the whole [Torah] has to be tied with sinews. And the other [opinion holds], in what aspect was it compared? That it must be [from an animal] permitted to the mouth. For the rest of it's laws, it wasn't compared.

Rav says, I saw the Tefillin of my uncle [Rebbi Chia], that they were tied with flax, but the law is not in accordance with him.