Late Tefillin

Question: I woke up late and realised that I had left my tefillin in school. I davened Shacharis without wearing tefillin before sof zeman tefilla. Should I put on my tefillin at the first opportunity, or wait to wear them during mincha? Do I need to repeat Shema?

Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 14b) teaches that a person who recites the Shema in the morning without wearing tefillin is considered as though he is giving false testimony about himself. Tosafos explains that this is because one is reciting the words of the mitzva to wear tefillin while not fulfilling it in practice. Accordingly, Rambam (Tefillin 4:26) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 25:4) rule that one should wear tefillin while reciting the Shema.

The Mishna Berura (25:14) adds that this applies only when one deliberately chooses not to wear tefillin. However, someone who does not have tefillin available, or is unable to wear them due to extreme circumstances, has not transgressed and should nevertheless recite the Shema.

Elsewhere, the Mishna Berura (66:40) writes that one who did not wear tefillin during Shacharis should put them on at the first possible opportunity. If it is already time for Mincha, he should wear them then. The Mishna Berura adds that one should recite a chapter of Tehillim while wearing them.

However, R’ Avraham Yeshaya Pfoifer (Ishei Yisrael 19:n47) explains that this guidance refers specifically to someone who has already missed the time for kerias Shema. If one puts on tefillin earlier, within the time for Shema, he should recite Shema again while wearing them (see Rivevos Ephraim 6:22:11).

The Mishna Berura (70:20; Shaar Hatziyun 66:64) further stresses that one may not eat a meal before wearing tefillin that day.

In conclusion, if one missed wearing tefillin during Shacharis, he should put them on at the first possible opportunity. If it is still within the time for kerias Shema, he should repeat Shema while wearing them.

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