Your Tefillin Questions Answered: When, Why and How

Tefillin are one of the most precious mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. They are black leather boxes containing Torah verses, worn on the arm and the head during weekday morning prayers. The mitzvah of tefillin is deeply spiritual, symbolizing the connection between the Jewish soul, mind, and heart and our relationship with Hashem. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about tefillin, answered with care and clarity.

Can I Put on Tefillin Without Wearing a Tallit or Tzitzit?

Yes, it is certainly permissible to wear tefillin without wrapping yourself in a tallit (prayer shawl) or wearing tzitzit (a four-cornered garment with fringes). Your prayer will absolutely be accepted. Still, it's a shame to miss out on the mitzvah of tzitzit, which is also very special and meaningful.

Can I Read Psalms While Wearing Tefillin and Tallit?

Absolutely. Not only is it allowed, but it is actually a beautiful thing to do. Reciting Tehillim (Psalms) while wearing tefillin and a tallit is a great mitzvah, and you are fortunate to do so.

Do I Need to Wear Rabbeinu Tam Tefillin?

This is a thoughtful question, especially for someone on the path of teshuvah (returning to Jewish observance). In the Talmud, there is a debate between two great scholars, Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam, about the order of the Torah passages placed inside the tefillin. According to Rashi, the passages are placed in the same order as they appear in the Torah. Rabbeinu Tam, however, has a different order.

Most people follow Rashi’s opinion, and the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) rules that way. Still, many great Torah authorities believe in following both opinions, since if one is right, the other may be halachically invalid. To fulfill both opinions, a person who fears Heaven may choose to wear two pairs of tefillin, Rashi first, then Rabbeinu Tam, while having the intention that whichever pair is correct, that is the one fulfilling the mitzvah, and the other is like a reminder or symbol.

In the past, only very holy people wore both pairs of tefillin, but today it's common among yeshiva students and religious men at home, so it’s no longer considered showing off. However, young unmarried men should not wear Rabbeinu Tam tefillin unless they are sure they can keep their thoughts completely pure while wearing them.

Why Don’t We Put on Tefillin on Shabbat?

This is a beautiful and deep part of halacha. The Gemara teaches that tefillin are a “sign” (ot) between the Jewish people and Hashem. But Shabbat and Jewish holidays are also a sign. Since we already have the spiritual sign of Shabbat, we do not need to add the sign of tefillin on these days. That’s why we don’t wear them on Shabbat.

If I Only Read Part of the Shema, Do I Still Fulfill the Mitzvah of Tefillin?

Yes, you do. Just by placing the tefillin on your arm and head even for a moment you fulfill the mitzvah. That said, it is very appropriate to read the Shema while wearing them, especially the paragraphs of "Ve’ahavta" and "Vehaya im shamoa." According to the teachings of the Ari (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), it's even better to read all four Torah passages related to tefillin.

Can Girls or Women Wear Tefillin?

Girls and women do not put on tefillin. Tefillin is considered a time-bound positive commandment, and traditionally, women are not obligated in such mitzvot. If a woman wishes to take it upon herself, the general halachic position is to discourage it. Even if the intention is sincere, it is not a custom that is supported, and women are lovingly encouraged to grow in other areas of Torah and mitzvot that are especially suited to them.

What If I Work Late and Sleep in the Morning Can I Still Put on Tefillin Before Bed?

Yes, absolutely. There is no problem with putting on tefillin before going to sleep, even if it's late in the day. The idea that doing so “cancels the mitzvah” or “feels wrong” is just a mistaken notion. As long as you’re awake and it's still technically daytime before sunset or before nightfall, you can and should put on tefillin. It’s a great mitzvah, even if your schedule is unusual.

Why Do We Wrap the Tefillin Strap Around the Middle Finger?

This beautiful custom is rooted in the holy Zohar, a major work of Jewish mysticism. Wrapping the strap around the middle finger symbolizes our bond with Hashem, like a wedding ring. Just as a ring is a sign of love and commitment between two people, the tefillin strap around the finger is a sign of the deep and eternal connection between Hashem and the Jewish people.