- On which arm is the Tefillin Shel Yad to be worn on?[1]
- The general rule & Righty versus Lefty:
The weaker and non-writing hand:[2] The hand Tefillin is to be wrapped on the weaker and more frail hand, as the verse[3] states “Al Yadkah” and the Sages expounded that this word is to be read as “Yad Keiha” which is one’s weaker and more frail hand.[4] In addition, the Tefillin is to be wrapped using the hand which one writes with, and is thus wrapped onto the hand that one does not use to write.[5] Accordingly, the hand onto which the hand Tefillin is to be wrapped on is dependent on one’s right or left handedness, as will now be explained.
Righty-The law for one who is right-handed:[6] [If one is right-handed] the hand Tefillin is to be wrapped on one’s left arm.[7] [Practically, 90% of the world’s population is made up of right-handed people[8], and hence the vast majority of the world wears their Tefillin on their left arm. If he wore the Tefillin on his right hand, then he does not fulfill his obligation.[9] A righty is to wear his Tefillin on his left hand even if his heart is positioned by his right side, as explained in the Q&A.]
Lefty-The law for one who is Left-handed:[10] One who is left-handed, and performs all of his work with his left hand, is to wear his Tefillin on his right arm.[11] [If he wore the Tefillin on his left arm, then he does not fulfill his obligation.[12]] Must a blessing be repeated?
Summary: The Tefillin is to always be placed on the left arm unless:
In any of above cases if either a) one writes also with his right hand or b) writes only with his left hand but he was not born this way [and rather trained himself to do so], and he does all his other action with his right hand, then he is to place the Tefillin on his left hand. |
| Q&A Is a right-handed person who was born with a heart condition called Dextrocardia to wear the Tefillin on his left arm?[13] Yes. The condition of dextrocardia, in which the heart is found by the right side of the chest, does not change the law regarding onto which hand the Tefillin is to be worn, and hence a righty is to wear it on his left arm despite having such a condition.
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| Sparks of Chassidus Why we wear the Tefillin on the left arm:[14] The Tefillin is to be worn on the left hand being that the left hand and left side represents severities and Gevuros, which is the side of the Kelipos and Sitra Achra, and one wears the Tefillin in order to subjugate and subdue the evil side towards G-dliness. This is similar to the Mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles on the left side of the door, which is done in order to subjugate the side of evil.
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[1] Admur 27:1, 9-10; Ketzos Hashulchan 8:13; See Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 4, 5, 12 in great length; Kaf Hachaim 27:317; Piskeiy Teshuvos 27:12-15; Nesivim Bisidei Hashlichus 1:44; Sefer Dinei Iter chapter 5
[2] Background: The Gemara in Menachos 36b-37a discusses which arm one is to wear the arm Tefillin on, and while there is consensus that it should be worn on the left arm, the reason behind this is debated. 1) The first approach in the Gemara ibid is that based on a revelation of verses we see that the term “Yad/hand” in scripture refers to the left hand, and hence since the verse explicitly states to wear the Tefillin on “Yadcha” it is considered to explicitly refer to the left hand. 2) The second approach in the Gemara, of Rav Yossi Hachoreim [see Rashi and Tosafus ibid for the source of this name], argues that we find in scripture that the term Yad can also refer to the right arm, and he therefore negates the above approach. Rather, he and Rebbe Nassan learn that the hand Tefillin is placed on the left arm based on the words “Ukeshartem Ukesavtem” which teaches us that just as one writes with his right hand, so too he must tie with his right hand, and from the fact that the tying is with ones right hand one can deduce that the tying of the Tefillin Shel Yad must be done on the left hand, as he must use his writing hand for tying the Tefillin onto the opposite hand. 3) Rav Ashi offers a third approach and explains that the word Yadcha written in scripture is written with an anomaly, as the Hei is read as a weak Hei, which hints to the fact that one is to don the hand Tefillin on the weaker hand, which is the left hand. There are several practical ramifications between the reasons, such as onto which hand a lefty is to wear his Tefillin, and to if one’s weaker hand is his right hand, but he writes with his right hand, or vice versa, as according to the first and second reason he should wear the Tefillin on his left hand, while according to the third reason he should wear it on his right hand. [See Tosafus Menachos 37a “Mah Kesiva”] Admur 27:1 records the 3rd reason, while in 27:9 he records the second reason. The Michaber 27:6 records the 2nd and 3rd reason as two dissenting opinions; See Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 4 for a full analysis on this subject and the opinion of the various Poskim; The following Halacha will analyze and clarify the final rulings on this subject
[3] Shemos 13:16
[4] Admur 27:1; 1st opinion in Michaber 27:6; Rav Ashi Menachos 37a
[5] Admur 27:9; 2nd opinion in Michaber 27:6; Taz 27:7; Hagahos Semak 153:8; Rav Yossi Hachoreim and Rav Rebbe Nassan in Menachos 37a
The reason: As the verse [Devarim 6:8] states “Ukeshartem Ukesavtem” which teaches us that just as one writes with his right hand, so too he must tie with his right hand, and from the fact that the tying is with ones right hand one can deduce that the tying of the Tefillin Shel Yad must be done on the left hand, as he must use his writing hand for tying the Tefillin onto the opposite hand. [Admur ibid; Taz ibid; Menachos ibid]
[6] Admur 27:1; Basra 1:9; Kama 3:14; Siddur Admur [letter 4 in Raskin]; Michaber 27:1; Menachos 36b
[7] The reason: As the verse states “Al Yadkah” and the Sages expounded that this word is to be read as “Yad Keiha” which is one’s left hand which is weaker and frailer. [Admur ibid; Taz 27:1; Levush 27; Rav Ashi in Menachos 37a] Alternatively, the reason is because the Tefillin is to be wrapped with one’s writing hand onto the opposite arm, which is one’s weaker hand. [Admur 27:9; See general rule and background in footnotes for other reasons offered. Vetzaruch Iyun why in this Halacha 27:1 Admur makes no mention of the other reason of Rebbe Nassan, despite bringing it in 27:9.] Thus, if one writes with his right hand then he is to place the Tefillin on his left arm, using his right hand to wrap it onto his left arm. If one writes with his left hand, then he is to don the Tefillin on his right hand using his left hand to wrap it.
[8] https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-percentage-of-the-world-population-are-left-handed.html
[9] All Poskim who invalidate a lefty who wore on his left hand; Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 4:2 “If he wears it on his right arm, he does not fulfill his obligation at all”
[10] Admur 27:9 “…On his left hand which is the right hand of all other people”; Basra 1:9; Kama 3:14; Michaber 27:6; Tur 27; Semak 153; Sefer Hateruma 213; Menachos 37a; Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 4:1 that so applies even according to Riy, unlike Mordechai
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that even a lefty is to wear his Tefillin on his right arm just as everyone else. [Implication of Tana Kama Menachos ibid; Meiri Shabbos 104a in understanding of Rebbe Yitzchak in Menachos 37b; Mordechai end of Hilchos Tefillin according to Riy and Tana Kama, brought in Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 4:1; Mishkanos Yaakov 33 in name of Semg and Semak in opinion of Tana Kama, brought and negated in Tzemach tzedek ibid 4:7; Shalmei Tzibur in name of Zer Zahav of Mahari Tzemach based on Kabalah, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 27:7; Sefer Nagid Umitzvah; The following Poskim record this opinion: Yifei Laleiv 27:3; Ben Ish Chaiy Chayeh Sarah 7] Accordingly, some Poskim conclude that a lefty is to put on his Tefillin on both arms, first on the right arm as required according to Halacha, and then on the left arm as required according to Kabbalah. [Chesed Lealafim 27:5; Ben Ish Chaiy ibid; Rav Poalim 2:9; Kaf Hachaim ibid; Divrei Yatziv 1:15] Practically, the custom is not like this opinion, and hence the left only puts his Tefillin on his right arm. [Chelkas Yaakov 4:42; Igros Moshe 4:11; Az Nidbaru 14:33] See Kaf Hachaim 27:31; Minchas Yitzchak 10:4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 27:12 and footnote 99 for negation of this ruling
[11] The reason: As the Tefillin is to be wrapped with one’s writing hand onto the opposite arm, which is one’s weaker hand. [Admur ibid] Alternatively, the reason is because the verse states “Al Yadkah” and the Sages expounded that this word is to be read as “Yad Keiha” which is one’s left hand which is weaker and frailer. [Admur 27:1; Taz 27:1; Levush 27; Rav Ashi in Menachos 37a; See general rule and background in footnotes for other reasons offered.] Thus, if one writes with his left hand then he is to don the Tefillin on his right hand using his left hand to wrap it.
[12] Chut Hashani 167; Beir Heiytiv 27:11; M”B 27:24; Biur Halacha 27:6 “Maniach”; Maharsham 2:240; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 27:12
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that if a lefty wore the Tefillin on his left hand then Bedieved he fulfills his obligation. [Shaareiy Teshuvah 27:11 in implication of Beis Yosef 27 in name of Baal Haitur; Artzos Hachaim 27:34; Divrei Yatziv 1:15; Birchos Shamayim 1:1; All Poskim in previous footnotes in other opinions who rule that even initially he used to put it on his left arm]
[13] Eretz Tzevi 1:115; Piskeiy Teshuvos 27:1
[14] Zohar 3:283; Likkutei Sichos 5:226
