תפילין Tefillin

What are Tefillin?

Tefillin are two small black leather boxes with straps, worn during weekday morning prayers—one on the arm (Tefillin shel Yad) and one on the head (Tefillin shel Rosh). Inside each is a parchment scroll with four Torah passages: Shemot (Exodus) 13:1-10, Shemot 13:11-16, Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-9, and Devarim 11:13-21. These include the Shema—“Hear, O Israel, Hashem is our God, Hashem is One”—and verses about the Exodus, loving Hashem, and keeping His commandments. Made from kosher animal hide, the boxes and straps bind these holy words to the body.

Why Do We Wear Tefillin?

The Torah commands in Devarim 6:8: “And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” Tefillin fulfill this mitzvah, reminding us daily of Hashem’s oneness and our covenant with Him. The Talmud (Menachot 43b) states: “Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: Anyone who has Tefillin on his head, Tefillin on his arm, tzitzit on his garment, and a mezuzah on his doorway… will not sin quickly, and his days will be prolonged.” They’re a living sign of our bond with the Creator.

How are Tefillin worn?

  • Tefillin are worn during weekday morning prayers and are not used on Shabbat or Jewish holidays (since these days themselves serve as "signs" of the covenant with God).

  • The shel yad is placed first, followed by the shel rosh. The straps are carefully wrapped around the arm, hand, and fingers in a specific way, with each step accompanied by kavanah (intention).

  • A blessing (bracha) is recited before donning each tefillin.

Blessings for Tefillin: Shel Yad and Shel Rosh

  • When putting on Tefillin Shel Yad (the arm tefillin), one recites:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהָנִיחַ .תְּפִלִּין
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’haniach tefillin.
(Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefillin.)

  • When putting on Tefillin Shel Rosh (the head tefillin), one recites:

  • בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין
    Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al mitzvat tefillin.
    (Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin.)

  • After putting on the Shel Rosh, one recites silently:
    בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
    Baruch shem kevod malchuto l’olam va’ed .
    (Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity.) 

Halachic requirements:

  • Tefillin must be written and prepared according to strict halachic guidelines to ensure they are kosher.

  • The straps must be black, and the boxes must be perfectly square.

  • Periodically check your tefillin to ensure the scrolls and boxes remain in good condition. 

The Protective Power of Tefillin

The Zohar (Parshat Bo, Part 2, 43a) teaches that Tefillin repel evil forces—when the klipot see Hashem’s sign on a person’s head and arm, they flee. The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 17a) states: “Rabbi Yochanan said: Repentance, prayer, and charity avert the harsh decree, and Rav added: So too the mitzvah of Tefillin.” Like the Mezuzah guards a home, Tefillin guard the individual—Hashem watches over those who bear His sign, as it says, “The Lord is your guardian… He will guard your soul” (Psalms 121:5-7).

The Talmud (Menachot 36b) warns: “Rabbi Yose says: One who does not lay Tefillin transgresses eight positive commandments… and his days may be shortened.” Conversely, diligence brings blessing and longevity (Deuteronomy 11:18-21). The name “Shaddai” in Tefillin—seen in the straps and knots—stands for Shomer Daltei Yisrael (Guardian of Israel’s Doors), protecting body and soul.

Inside of 2000 year old Tefillin shel rosh found in Qumran