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A Left-Handed Sofer

Question: I need to order tefillin for our son, who will become bar mitzva next year. Is it preferable to have the parshiyos written by a right-handed sofer , or by a left-handed sofer whose handwriting is of a higher standard? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 32:5) rules that a sofer should write with his right hand, while a left-handed sofer should write with his left hand, since for him this is equivalent to the right hand of a right-handed person. The Magen Avraham (32:5), citing the Rema Mipano (38), records a case of a sofer in Egypt who wrote tefillin by holding the quill in his mouth. His tefillin were declared passul , even when no others were available. The Mishna Berura (32:5) explains that writing in this manner is not considered normal writing. There is, however, a machlokes concerning a left-handed sofer . The Shaarei Teshuva (27:11) cites the Mahari Tzemach, who writes that, for Kabbalistic reasons, a left-handed sofer should write tefillin with his righ...
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Tefillin Before Repeating Amida

Question: I omitted yaaleh veyavo in Shacharis on Rosh Chodesh and only realised my mistake after removing my tefillin and davening mussaf. Am I required to put my tefillin back on before repeating the shemoneh esrei ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 14b) teaches that one should wear tefillin whilst reciting Shema and davening the amida . Tosafos (Berachos 26b) cites a machlokes amongst the rishonim regarding one who omitted yaaleh veyavo . Some maintain that his shemoneh esrei is regarded as though it was never davened , whilst others hold that he fulfilled his basic obligation of tefilla , but must repeat the amida because he omitted yaaleh veyavo . The Mishna Berura (422:4) rules that, because there is a doubt whether he is required to repeat Shacharis, he should repeat the amida on condition that it be a tefillas nedava if no repetition is actually required. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia, Chanuka p281) explains that this same machlokes also affects whether one...
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Knot Touching the Bayis

Question: When I bought my tefillin the kesher touched the bayis but it no longer does. Does it need to be secured with a string so it stays in place? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 27:2) writes that the kesher in the shape of the letter yud of the shel yad should face inwards towards the heart, and one should be careful that it remains in contact with the bayis . The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 27:10) notes that there is no explicit Talmudic source requiring that the yud of the kesher face the heart or remain in constant contact with the bayis , as the Gemara only requires that the tefillin shel yad itself be positioned opposite the heart. Nevertheless, he writes that these practices are firmly rooted in Kabbala. He therefore observes that those who wrap the retzua away from the body, in accordance with Sephardic custom, are less likely to draw the kesher away from the bayis . The Mishna Berura (27:10) citing the Zohar (Pinchas 232b), notes a strong emphasis that the yud re...
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Tefillin After Interruption

Question: I removed my tefillin in the middle of Shacharis to respond to a Hatzala emergency call. When I returned, I joined the following minyan to continue davening . Should I have repeated the berachos before putting my tefillin back on? Answer: The Gemara (Sukka 46a) records a machlokes whether one who puts tefillin on again later that day recites a new beracha , or whether the original morning beracha remains effective for the entire day. Rambam (Tefillin 4:7) rules that even if one removes and replaces his tefillin one hundred times in a day, he recites a new beracha each time. Accordingly, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 25:12) rules that one should repeat the berachos whenever he puts tefillin on again. However, the Rema rules that the accepted Ashkenazi practice is not to repeat the beracha when the tefillin were removed with the intention of replacing them immediately. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 651:14) explains that unlike lulav , which is a one-time mitzva , tefi...
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Thursday Tisha B’Av

Question: As Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday this year, are the restrictions of the Nine Days lifted before chatzos on Friday? Answer: The Gemara (Taanis 29a) records that although the Beis Hamikdash was set alight towards the end of the ninth of Av, it continued burning throughout the tenth. Nevertheless, the fast remains on the ninth because the beginning of the calamity is considered the defining moment. The Yerushalmi (Taanis 4:6) records that some Amoraim fasted on both the ninth and tenth of Av. Based on this, the Tur (OC 558:1) records the minhag not to eat meat or drink wine on the tenth of Av. Accordingly, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 558:1) prohibits meat and wine throughout the tenth, while the Rema limits this until chatzos . The Maharshal (92) extends the restriction to bathing, haircuts and laundry, and the Mishna Berura (558:3) records this as the accepted Ashkenazi practice. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 5:41) rules that Sefardim follow the Shulchan Aruch and restrict only...
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Tefillin from Non-Jewish Shop

Question: A local non-Jewish charity shop is selling an old pair of tefillin . At a quick glance, I can see that they are no longer Kosher. Am I obligated to buy them to prevent them from potentially being desecrated? Answer: The Mishna (Gittin 45a) teaches that one should not purchase Sifrei Torah, tefillin or mezuzos from non-Jews for more than their market value, because of tikkun olam . Rashi explains that this is either to avoid burdening the community or, more commonly, to avoid encouraging theft in expectation of inflated prices. Accordingly, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 39:7) rules that one may not pay significantly above market value, lest this encourage theft. However, the Magen Avraham (39:10) writes that a small premium may be paid when necessary, in order to prevent them from being treated disrespectfully. The Gemara (Gittin 45b) permits this modest increase, as it will not encourage theft. The Rosh (Gittin 4:46) and Tur (YD 281:1) add that this applies proportionately:...
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Tefillin for Left-Handed

Question: I'm left-handed and accidentally picked up my brother’s tefillin . Do I need to remove the retzua from the shel yad and reinsert it the other way so that the kesher faces inwards? Answer: The Terumas Hadeshen (49) writes that there were once two accepted customs regarding the regarding the orientation of the tefillin shel yad . The communities of Rhineland positioned the maavarta , the passage through which the retzua passes, towards the shoulder, with the bayis towards the hand. The communities of Austria followed the opposite practice. The Beis Yosef (OC 27:1) notes that, in his time, the universal custom had become that of the Rhineland communities. He therefore rules in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 27:3) that the maavarta should be towards the shoulder and the bayis towards the hand. The Chayei Adam (1:14:13) writes that if a left-handed person is wearing the tefillin shel yad of a right-handed person, he should ideally remove the strap and reinsert it from ...
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