What Are Tefillin?

By Hershey Sufrin

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What Are Tefillin?

What are we to make of this ancient Jewish ritual and what do they mean to us today?

Topics:

Tefillin Campaign, The Rebbe's, Tefillin

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Why Do We Light Shabbat Candles?

What Is Kosher?

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12 Comments

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Jane Minion Wilton January 20, 2025

Love the tradition I am not Jewish but I had a Jewish husband who was not observant
If he had been I think his life would have been better
Shalom! Reply

Mendel Melbourne June 8, 2023

Hi,
Thank you so much for your videos!! They are the best! I love and watch all of them!

Just one point, in this video it isn’t mentioned about the 3 straps for the beginning of the Tefillin wrapping…

Thank again! Keep them going!
I can’t wait for the next one! Reply

Ian June 1, 2023

Great video Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel June 1, 2023

The sizes of the boxes of tefillin that were used by my father and his father too (of Polish family descent), were much smaller than the somewhat larger sized ones we use today. Is there any explanation as to why this is so? Reply

Ian Levene Boca Raton June 1, 2023

in response to David Harold Chester:

Chabad use 40-43mm very large boxes.I think it is believed that our righteous ancestors used these. Next size down is 33-35mm and is standard for most.
Then we have small size 28mm used for a travel set or for those with small arms.
There are also tiny 22mm which some Sephardi use as they can fit Rashi and Rebbeinu Tam together on their heads. These are however very difficult for the scribes to make kosher as the scrolls are so tiny that need to fit in them.
All my limited knowledge is thanks to Rabbi Kas from the Sofer Center form his wonderful videos on youtube. Reply

Marc G Long Island, NY via chabadsouthbay.com June 2, 2023

in response to David Harold Chester:

Tiny tefillin were often used by european jews around the time of the Shoah as they were easier to hide in a boot or somewhere else. Reply

Duke Arizona, USA May 31, 2023

I am not a very religious man, but I did grow up in a traditional home in Israel. Some twenty five years ago, when things were not going well in my life on just about every front, my younger brother (who is very religious) suggested that start putting on tefillin... and I did.

Somehow, things have gotten better -- both emotionally and practically -- in my life. Since then, I have been putting on tefillin every morning (except for Shabbat and holidays, of course), and I cannot imagine my life without this tradition.

I thank my brother and God for this privilege every day. Reply

Stephanie Wilson West Chicago May 31, 2023

This is way cool & I'd love to do it, but I'm a female. Reply

Rochel Chein for Chabad.org June 12, 2023

in response to Stephanie Wilson:

Due to a woman's innate spirituality, the connection of heart and mind to G-d that men achieve through the donning of Tefillin comes more naturally to women, and they can achieve this spiritual elevation without the external aid of Tefillin.

From the perspective of halacha (Jewish law), wearing Tefillin is a time-bound mitzvah, a category that women are exempt from fulfilling. While there are many such mitzvot that women fulfill voluntarily, the Code of Jewish Law tells us that women should not wear Tefillin for several reasons. You can read about this here. For a personal perspective, see here. Reply