Yohanon's ramblings: A few more words About tefillin/ תפילין

The following was intended to be part of the tefillin entry Tefillin תפילין for July 28, but the blog software decided to turn the normal background into a dark color and the text into unreadable blue.

Are all tefillin the same?

Yes . . . and no.

There are two (2) major "tefillin types": Rashi and Tam. Both contain the same words from the Torah, but R. Tam - Rashi's grandson, placed the commandments in a different order.

The lettering of the commandments differs by tradition (vs. Rashi or Tam order).

A few differences in customs

The following is NOT "all inclusive."

The following is from קצור שלחן ערוך השלם (של מרדכי אליהו); this kitzur includes the Ashkenazi kitzur of R. Shlomo Ganzfried with Sefardi/Mizrachi customs added by the former Rishon l'Zion/Hakham Bakshe Mordechai Eliyahu as footnotes.

Checking tefillin

ASSUMING the tefillin were purchased from a reliable sofer stam (a person who is qualified and writes Sefer Torah, Tefillin, and Mezzot), and IF the tefillin are used daily (excluding Shabatot and holidays) they need not be checked on a regular basis. HOWEVER, if the tefillin are not worn daily and not kept in a controlled environment, they should be checked (at least) twice in seven (7) years. The ideal time to check tefillin, according to Sefardi custom, is during the month of Elul, particularly during the 10 days.

When to put on tefillin

According to Ashkenazi custom, the time to lay tefillin is from the time a person can recognize an acquaintance at a short (4 amot) distance. According to Sefardi custom, tefillin - and before that the tallit (tzit-tzit) - may be put on one hour before HaNetz. (When is "HaNetz?" Go to http://www.myzmanim.com/ for your location. This site gives you important times throughout the day for your selected location.)
According to most authorities, tefillin must be removed before dark.

Three steps

Tefillin are put on in three steps.

Step 1 Place the hand tefillin box on the bicep. Wrap the strap around the arm (from the beneath elbow to the wrist) seven (7) complete turns (half turn, then seven turns, then one more half turn)

Step 2 Place the head tefillin on the head and center the box.

Step 3 Wrap the hand tefillin around the hand and finger(s) - see images, above.

To stand or sit?

Ashkenazim stand to put on both hand and head tefillin. Most Sefardim sit to lay the hand tefillin and stand to place the head tefillin. The tefillin are removed the same way; what was put on standing is taken off standing; what was put on sitting is taken off sitting.

Note Sefardim need not be מקפיד (extremist) about sitting to put on/take off the hand tefillin; most sit, but if this is inconvenient then the hand tefillin may be put on standing.) Source: ילקות שמ''ש Page 24.
With all customs, the hand tefillin is put on first/taken off last; the head tefillin is put on before the three wraps around the finger(s). See Three steps, above.

One blessing or two?

Ashkenazim say separate blessings over the hand tefillin and the head tefillin. Sefardim say only the blessing over the hand tefillin IF THERE IS NO INTERRUPTION BETWEEN THE TWO ACTIONS; if there is an interruption between putting on the hand tefillin and the head tefillin, the Sefardi says the separate blessing for the head tefillin as well.

Note North African Sefardim, and perhaps others as well, make a point to say the blessing for the tallit/tzit-tzit and tefillin aloud so that others can participate in the mitzvot by saying ברוך הוא וברוך שמו and אמן.

May a Sefardi wear Ashkenazi tefillin?

According to R. Eli Mansour, As for the practical Halacha, Hacham Bension Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998), in his Or Le’sion (3:7), writes that if a Sepharadi has access only to Ashkenazi Tefillin, he should wear those Tefillin because he has nothing else to use, but he does recite a Beracha. It should be noted that an Ashkenazi can fulfill his requirement by wearing Sepharadi Tefillin. The reason is that.Halacha requires that the fourth paragraph of the text in the Tefillin be written “Setuma” (“closed”), and there is a difference of opinion among the Halachic authorities as to what exactly this means . According to the Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 32:36), an empty space the length of nine letters is left in between the third and fourth paragraphs, whereas according to the Taz (Rabbi David Segal, Poland, 1586-1667), empty space is left both at the end of the third paragraph and at the beginning of the fourth paragraph. In the view of Maran, leaving additional empty space, beyond what is required, invalidates the Tefillin, and thus Tefillin prepared in accordance with the view of the Taz are invalid according to Maran..

Intermediate days of festivals.

Sefardim praying in Sefardi congregations do not wear tefillin on the intermediate days of a festival. (Ashkenazim and Sefardim normally do not wear tefillin on the first and last days of a festival; Ashkenazim wear them on the intermediate days.) Sefardim making minyan in an Ashkenazi congregation should follow the majority or find another minyan. Ashkenazim making minyan in a Sefardi congregation should, likewise, follow the majority and not lay tefillin during the intermediate days - or find an Ashkenazi minyan for the duration. The basic rule: The majority rules. In Israel Ashkenazim also omit tefillin during Hol HaMoed (intermediate days of a festival.)