A Tallis-Tefillin Mix-Up

Question: I opened my tallis bag and accidentally removed my tefillin before my tallis. Should I have put the tefillin on first, or still put on the tallis first?

Answer: The Gemara (Yoma 33a) teaches that the kohen must remove the ashes from the inner mizbeach before clearing out the ash from the menora. The principle derived from this, ein ma’avirin al hamitzvos, means that one should not skip a mitzva; the kohen must address each mitzva in the order he encounters it.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 25:1) advises that one should take care not to place the tefillin bag closer to the opening of the bag than the tallis. Normally, one puts on the tallis first, but if the tefillin are encountered first, one would need to put them on first, following the same principle. The Biur Halacha (25:1) notes that the Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 25:5) implies that this rule is mideoraisa, while the Kaf Hachaim (OC 25:9) and others hold that it is miderabanan.

The Magen Avraham (25:1) and Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 25:3) state that as long as the tefillin are kept in their own bag, it does not matter. However, the Biur Halacha records that the Levush, Bach, Taz, and Nishmas Adam all disagree, arguing that this halacha applies regardless (see Aruch Hashulchan OC 25:3). The Mishna Berura (25:3) adds that the rule applies even if one does not touch the tefillin directly, but merely passes a hand over them.

On the other hand, the Kaf Hachaim (OC 25:7) explains that there are Kabbalistic reasons to put on the tallis before the tefillin. The principle of ein ma’avirin does not apply to mitzvos that must be performed in a specific order. Therefore, in this situation, one should still put on the tallis first (see Ben Ish Chai Vayera 1:4).

In conclusion, it is best to place the tallis closer to the opening of the bag. Ashkenazim who touch the tefillin first should put them on first, while some Sefardim and Chassidim would still put on the tallis first.

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