How to Use Tefillin
A set of small black boxes that contain special scrolls inscribed with verses from the Torah and the Shema Yisrael prayer, the tefillin is wrapped on the arm and head of observant Jewish men during daily prayers. Putting on the tefillin is easier when you are shown the correct procedure by an older, experienced family member or rabbi, but you can put on tefillin correctly by looking in a mirror. To learn the correct prayers for tefillin, however, make sure and ask your community rabbi for instruction.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove watches or jewelry and roll up your sleeves.
-
2
Place the tefillin bag on a flat surface.
-
-
3
Stand up to remove the tefillin for the hand (shel yad) from the bag. Get the tefillin that is one smooth box and kiss it to show respect.
-
4
Place your nondominant hand through the hand loop by the strap and place the tefillin box so it is flush against your biceps. Use a mirror to aid placement as necessary.
-
5
Pull the strap tight and recite blessings as directed by your rabbi. Wrap the strap around the box three times, then your arm seven times, evenly, and once around your palm.
-
6
Remove the head tefillin (shel rosh) from the bag. Place the box on your head, above your forehead and centered. Look in the mirror to aid with placement.
-
7
Tighten the strap at the base of your neck.
-
8
Complete applying the hand tefillin by wrapping the strap three times around your middle finger, then around your palm again.
-
9
Tuck in any extra strap and say blessings as directed.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do not wear tefillin on Sabbath days or during certain religious holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. Your rabbi can give you the full list.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
