Wearing Different Tefillin

Question: Occasionally, we forget to bring our tefillin to school and end up borrowing a friend’s. Some of us use Ashkenazi tefillin, others use Sefardi, and some use Chabad tefillin. Does it make a difference?

Answer: The writing of a Sefer Torah follows three primary traditions: Ksav Ashkenazi, with sharp, distinct forms and prominent crowns; Ksav Sefardi, with rounded, flowing letters; and Ksav Ari, which blends rounded and sharp elements. While each shul generally has a sefer Torah written according to its mesora, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer YD 2:20; Yechave Daas 2:3) cites various Ashkenazi and Sefardi poskim who agree that one can read from any sefer torah regardless of one’s tradition.

A further machlokes among the rishonim concerns the spacing at the start of the fourth paragraph in the tefillin. Rambam (Tefillin 8:2) holds that there should be a large space, with the paragraph beginning in the middle of the column (pesucha, or ‘open’), while the Rosh (Sefer Torah 13) maintains that it should start at the beginning of the line like the other paragraphs (stuma, or ‘closed’). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 32:36) follows Rambam, ruling that if the fourth portion is not closed, the tefillin are passul.

Ashkenazim generally follow the Taz (OC 32:26), who proposes a compromise: leaving a short space (less than nine letters) both at the end of the third paragraph and at the beginning of the fourth (see Mishna Berura 32:164; Aruch Hashulchan OC 32:63). However, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 4:3; Yabia Omer OC 9:108:24) underscores that for Sefardim, adhering to the Shulchan Aruch, such spacing invalidates the tefillin. Consequently, tefillin prepared in accordance with the Taz would be considered passul according to the Shulchan Aruch.

R’ Ben Zion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 2:3:7) writes that if a Sefardi can only find Ashkenazi tefillin, he should wear them without saying the beracha. However, Sefardim may wear Chabad tefillin, as Chabad follows the Rambam’s opinion (see Shulchan Aruch Harav OC 32:52).

In contrast, an Ashkenazi may wear Sefardi tefillin and say a beracha (see Igros Moshe OC 5:2).

In conclusion, an Ashkenazi may wear Sefardi or Chabad tefillin without issue. Sefardim should only wear Sefardi (or Chabad) tefillin.