Tefillin While Seated

Question: I am a baal teshuva and have therefore adopted different practices from the various shuls I have attended. I have been sitting while putting on my tefillin shel yad and then standing before putting on the shel rosh. Someone suggested that I ask my Rav whether, as an Ashkenazi, I should in fact stand for both. Should I change my practice?

Answer: The Rema (OC 25:11; Darkei Moshe OC 25:5) cites the Agur (84), who writes that one should put on the tefillin shel yad while seated, and then stand up to put on the tefillin shel rosh for kabbalistic reasons. The Vilna Gaon (Biur Hagra OC 25:11) compares this to kerias shema and the amida, which are likewise recited while seated and standing respectively. The Shelah (Chulin 29) writes that the minhag in Eretz Yisrael and throughout the Middle East was to put on the tefillin shel yad while seated, while the Ben Ish Chai (Vayeira 8) records that this was the accepted practice in Baghdad. The Kaf Hachaim (OC 25:33) adds that the beracha of lehaniach tefillin should also be recited while seated.

Nonetheless, the Rema concludes that the mainstream Ashkenazi psak is to put on both tefillin while standing.

The Elya Rabba (25:18) and Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham OC 25:20) cite the Magen Avraham, who suggests a compromise position: standing to recite the beracha and then sitting down to put on the shel yad. However, they ultimately reject this approach in favour of the view of the Maharshal (98), who maintains that one should remain standing throughout, comparing it to a servant standing respectfully while receiving his master’s seal of approval.

The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 25:20) and Mishna Berura (25:42) write that the accepted Ashkenazi practice is to remain standing throughout the putting on of both tefillin.

In conclusion, while Sefardim typically sit while putting on the tefillin shel yad, Ashkenazim should stand before doing so and remain standing throughout the putting on of both tefillin.

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