Tefillin
Tefillin
are without doubt the most complex constructions of the scribe. This page will looks at the head tefillin
(shel rosh) and arm tefillin (shel yad) in more detail, though can only scratch the surface.
The housings (batim) are cubes (also known as batim) on top of a base, (titura) that is slightly wider. On the side of the titura is an extra extension (ma’avarta) through which the straps (r’tsuot) pass.
The arm housing (bayit), is a single cube inside which there is a single large empty space into which the long roll of the single parchment is placed. The cube should be a perfect square or the tefillin become pasul (invalid) and the squareness should be maintained. The titura breaks into two parts, the upper titura (which is the part that joins to the cube and similarly has an opening) and lower titura (which is the same size as the upper one but is solid and covers up the hole).
The housings (batim) are cubes (also known as batim) on top of a base, (titura) that is slightly wider. On the side of the titura is an extra extension (ma’avarta) through which the straps (r’tsuot) pass.
The arm housing (bayit), is a single cube inside which there is a single large empty space into which the long roll of the single parchment is placed. The cube should be a perfect square or the tefillin become pasul (invalid) and the squareness should be maintained. The titura breaks into two parts, the upper titura (which is the part that joins to the cube and similarly has an opening) and lower titura (which is the same size as the upper one but is solid and covers up the hole).
Above: 1. The squared cube of the handtefillin, resting on thetiturabase. 2. the calf hairs wrapped round. 3. Inside the handtefillin, with a square space for the rolled parchment. 4. The bottom of the handtefillinshowing the sewing and holes. Thek'lafcan just be seen inside as thistiturais quite thin at the base. 5. There are twelve holes spread around thetitura(representing the 12 tribes of Israel).
On the upper side there are slits (above right) in the leather of the titura between each hole so that the thread which lies within the slits forms a perfect straight square. Some tefillin also have slits on the bottom of the titura too.
At the back of the hand tefillin the part of the bayit that protrudes is the ma’avarta derived from ma’avar (pass through) as the straps pass through the hollow channel that is formed. Quarter circle cuts are made into the ma’avarta so that the titura remains square and there is a slightly larger cut on the right side of the hand tefillin to allow for the knot of the hand strap which is near to the ma’avarta. The whole of the the bayit (excluding the very bottom) is then painted black with kasher paint. The strap is then threaded through the channel.
Much of what was written above regarding the hand tefillin applies to the head one. However, there are some very important differences. The main being that the head bayit is made into four separate sections, each of which contains one of the four parshiyot and these are joined together to form the cube.
On the upper side there are slits (above right) in the leather of the titura between each hole so that the thread which lies within the slits forms a perfect straight square. Some tefillin also have slits on the bottom of the titura too.
At the back of the hand tefillin the part of the bayit that protrudes is the ma’avarta derived from ma’avar (pass through) as the straps pass through the hollow channel that is formed. Quarter circle cuts are made into the ma’avarta so that the titura remains square and there is a slightly larger cut on the right side of the hand tefillin to allow for the knot of the hand strap which is near to the ma’avarta. The whole of the the bayit (excluding the very bottom) is then painted black with kasher paint. The strap is then threaded through the channel.
Much of what was written above regarding the hand tefillin applies to the head one. However, there are some very important differences. The main being that the head bayit is made into four separate sections, each of which contains one of the four parshiyot and these are joined together to form the cube.
This was originally done by applying wet parchment over a wooden mold (see diagram above from the Mishneh Torah) but now industrial presses are used.
The grooves must remain discernible even when the batim are painted black (see above) to show that there are four separate compartments in the head tefillin.
three-headed shin.
On two of the sides of the head tefillin there are two letters shin. The three-headed shin is on the right side, but the left sports a strange four-headed shin. These are impressed onto the leather with a mold or more traditionally picked out carefully with tweezers.
Inside the parchments are placed into the 4 sections. The norm is Rashi’s tefillin which from right (from the observer’s viewpoint) to left are:
Kadesh li
V’hayah ki y’viecha
Sh’ma
V’hayah im shamo’a
The grooves must remain discernible even when the batim are painted black (see above) to show that there are four separate compartments in the head tefillin.
three-headed shin.
On two of the sides of the head tefillin there are two letters shin. The three-headed shin is on the right side, but the left sports a strange four-headed shin. These are impressed onto the leather with a mold or more traditionally picked out carefully with tweezers.
Inside the parchments are placed into the 4 sections. The norm is Rashi’s tefillin which from right (from the observer’s viewpoint) to left are:
Kadesh li
V’hayah ki y’viecha
Sh’ma
V’hayah im shamo’a
Unlike the arm tefillin
parchment, the four separate parshiyot
of the head tefillin
are folded over again and again to fit into the four housings. Keset Hasofer
remarks that some of the more expert scribes used to use three thicknesses of parchment in order to fill the spaces equally despite the different lengths of the sections. Others used to use the same parchments but extend the margins on the shorter sections. Calf hairs are tied around the height of the parchment and twisted together. A thin strip of parchment covers this and then more hairs are twisted round.
Sewing the head tefillin is a bit more complex as the giddin is threaded through the channels between the four housings as well as round the titura. As mentioned above the parshiyot are wrapped with calf’s hair and longer hairs are wound round the v’hayah im shamo’a passage so that the tips can be threaded through a hole between the third and fourth compartments (see right). Without it the tefillin are pasul - and since this is easily damaged, one should check carefully for it’s continued presence on the tefillin.
The straps are made of leather form a kasher animal and must be black on the smooth side whilst the internal rough side is left ‘white’ . Straps for the arm should be long enough to be wound round 7 times and for the head to hang in the front down to upper legs (the halachic definition is not quite so delicate). However the key issue with the straps is the form of the knots (k'sharim). The head knot (kesher) is formed into a dalet shape. There are two versions of this, one which is obviously a dalet, but another which is more common - which is a square knot, where the dalet shape is formed by the knots and straps together. The arm knot is in fact two knots - one has the form of the letter yud and one below this allows the loop to emerge so that is can be placed on the forearm. There are also two traditions as to how to tie this lower knot.
Together with the raised shin(s) on the head tefillin the two knots thus spell out one of the names of God, that we have already seen on the reverse of the mezuzah - Shaddai - SHIN, DALET, YUD.
As with the section on a Sefer Torah, no web pages can do justice to such an extensive subject as tefillin and as mentioned there are a number of good books shown in the sources on tefillin which go into more detail. These also cover the various laws of how to put them on and remove them at the end of prayer. Tefillin, once sealed, and providing they have not come into contact with water theoretically never need examining. However like mezuzot it is recommended that they are checked twice every seven years, and as a minimum checking that the outsides remain perfectly square and black. Some check them once a year.
TRANSLATION OF THE FOUR PARSHIYOT
The sections are chosen as each specifically mention the mitsvah of tefillin.
Exodus 13:1-10
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is mine.
3. And Moses said to the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4. This day came you out in the month Aviv.
5. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.
7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters.
8. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9. And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s Torah may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand has the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
10. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
Exodus 13:11-16
11. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,
12. That you shall set apart to the Lord all that opens the matrix, and every firstling that comes of a beast which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.
13. And every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck; and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.
14. And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of slavery;
15. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that opens the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16. And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes; for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4. Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord;
5. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
6. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart;
7. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9. And you shall write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 11:13-21
13. And it shall come to pass, if you shall give heed diligently to my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14. That I will give you the rain of your land in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, and your wine, and your oil.
15. And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle, that you may eat and be full.
16. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17. And then the Lord’s anger be kindled against you, and he closed the skies, that there should be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord gives you.
18. Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19. And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
20. And you shall write them upon the door posts of your house, and upon your gates;
21. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Sewing the head tefillin is a bit more complex as the giddin is threaded through the channels between the four housings as well as round the titura. As mentioned above the parshiyot are wrapped with calf’s hair and longer hairs are wound round the v’hayah im shamo’a passage so that the tips can be threaded through a hole between the third and fourth compartments (see right). Without it the tefillin are pasul - and since this is easily damaged, one should check carefully for it’s continued presence on the tefillin.
The straps are made of leather form a kasher animal and must be black on the smooth side whilst the internal rough side is left ‘white’ . Straps for the arm should be long enough to be wound round 7 times and for the head to hang in the front down to upper legs (the halachic definition is not quite so delicate). However the key issue with the straps is the form of the knots (k'sharim). The head knot (kesher) is formed into a dalet shape. There are two versions of this, one which is obviously a dalet, but another which is more common - which is a square knot, where the dalet shape is formed by the knots and straps together. The arm knot is in fact two knots - one has the form of the letter yud and one below this allows the loop to emerge so that is can be placed on the forearm. There are also two traditions as to how to tie this lower knot.
Together with the raised shin(s) on the head tefillin the two knots thus spell out one of the names of God, that we have already seen on the reverse of the mezuzah - Shaddai - SHIN, DALET, YUD.
As with the section on a Sefer Torah, no web pages can do justice to such an extensive subject as tefillin and as mentioned there are a number of good books shown in the sources on tefillin which go into more detail. These also cover the various laws of how to put them on and remove them at the end of prayer. Tefillin, once sealed, and providing they have not come into contact with water theoretically never need examining. However like mezuzot it is recommended that they are checked twice every seven years, and as a minimum checking that the outsides remain perfectly square and black. Some check them once a year.
TRANSLATION OF THE FOUR PARSHIYOT
The sections are chosen as each specifically mention the mitsvah of tefillin.
Exodus 13:1-10
1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2. Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is mine.
3. And Moses said to the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4. This day came you out in the month Aviv.
5. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.
6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.
7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters.
8. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9. And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s Torah may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand has the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
10. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
Exodus 13:11-16
11. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,
12. That you shall set apart to the Lord all that opens the matrix, and every firstling that comes of a beast which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.
13. And every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck; and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.
14. And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that you shall say to him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of slavery;
15. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that opens the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16. And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes; for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4. Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord;
5. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
6. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart;
7. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9. And you shall write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 11:13-21
13. And it shall come to pass, if you shall give heed diligently to my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14. That I will give you the rain of your land in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, and your wine, and your oil.
15. And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle, that you may eat and be full.
16. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
17. And then the Lord’s anger be kindled against you, and he closed the skies, that there should be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord gives you.
18. Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19. And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
20. And you shall write them upon the door posts of your house, and upon your gates;
21. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
