Chapter 40: How to treat the Tefillin with respect

8 Halachos

Halacha 1: Hanging the Tefillin[1]

• Hanging the actual Tefillin: It is forbidden to hang the tefillin whether by the straps or the cubes.
• Hanging a bag with Tefillin: It is permitted to hang the Tefillin while they are inside of a bag. [Thus, one may hang his Tefillin bag on a hook and the like.]

Halacha 2: Intimacy in a room with Tefillin[2]

• It is forbidden to have marital relations in a room which contains tefillin until the tefillin are taken out, or the Tefillin are placed within two coverings.
• The need to have at least one undesignated cover: At least one of the two coverings may not be designated exclusively for the Tefillin as if they both are, then even 100 coverings are considered like one cover.
  • If neither covering is designated for the Tefillin, or if the outer covering is designated for the Tefillin but the inner container is not [or vice versa], then it is valid, and considered to be within two coverings.

Halacha 3: Lying/Sleeping with Tefillin on bed[3]

• Placing under feet or head: It is forbidden for one to place the Tefillin under his feet or head.
  • If Tefillin is within double covering: The above prohibition applies even if the tefillin are within two coverings.
  • No wife: The above prohibition applies even if one is not together with his wife.
• Placing on side of head: One may place the tefillin at the side of his head. If he is together with his wife, then the Tefillin must be placed within two coverings.

Halacha 4: Definition of “wife” with him[4]

• If one is together with his wife but does not intend to engage in relations, then it is considered as if he is not together with his wife [and hence a double covering is not required when sleeping/lying with the Tefillin near one’s head].

Halacha 5: Placing Tefillin side of body while in bed[5]

• It is forbidden to place the Tefillin at his side while he is in the bed. [Thus, the only permitted area for resting the Tefillin while one is in bed is by the side of his head.]

Halacha 6: Touching Tefillin with filthy hands[6]

• If one forgot and engaged in marital relations while wearing tefillin, he should not touch the Tefillin, even the straps, until he washes his hands, being that they are assumed to have touched filthy areas.

Halacha 7: Touching Tefillin with semen on body[7]

• If one had a nocturnal emission while wearing Tefillin, he must remove the tefillin [immediately], prior to cleansing the semen off his body and washing his hands.
• How to remove the Tefillin: In such a case, he is to remove the tefillin by taking hold of the straps, and is not to touch the Bayis itself.

Halacha 8: Eating with Tefillin[8]

• It is forbidden to eat a meal while wearing one’s Tefillin, although a mere snack may be eaten while wearing them.

[1] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 6 Halacha 1

[2] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 6 Halacha 14

[3] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 6 Halacha 8

[4] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 6 Halacha 8

[5] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 6 Halacha 8

[6] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 5 Halacha 5 and 10

[7] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 5 Halacha 10

[8] See “The Laws of Tefillin” Chapter 5 Halacha 7