Walking into the Shul wearing Tallis and Tefillin

Walking into the Shul wearing Tallis and Tefillin:[1]

According to the Zohar[2], one is to leave his house[3] and walk to the Shul wearing his Tallis [Katan and Gadol[4]] and Tefillin.[5] If this is not possible, then one should put on the Tallis and Tefillin in the courtyard of the Shul, prior to entering the Shul.[6] [This means that he is not to enter the Shul for the first time that day, without first wearing his Tallis and Tefillin.[7] One who fulfills this Zoharic directive merits having four angels escorting him to Shul and the angels bless him and have an evil angel answers amen to their blessing. On such a person the Ruach Hakodesh proclaims that he is a Jew worthy of praise.[8] Practically, the widespread custom today is to no longer to be careful in the above matter, and rather we put on the Tallis and Tefillin in the Shul.[9] Nevertheless, even today, prior to entering the main sanctuary in the morning one should wear the Tallis and Tefillin in an adjacent room to the main sanctuary of the Shul and only then enter into the main sanctuary.[10] This custom was followed by the Rebbe, as the Rebbe would wear the Tallis and Tefillin in his room and only afterwards come to the area of the Minyan. If one’s Tallis/Tefillin is inside the Shul, he should ask someone to remove them in order so he can wear them prior to entering into the Shul the first time that day. If one is unable to ask someone to remove them, then he is to enter into the Shul himself, remove his Tefillin, and place them on in an adjacent room, and then re-enter the Shul.[11]]

Walking with Tefillin in public:[12] According to Talmudic[13] law, it is permitted to walk [in public] while wearing revealed Tefillin[14] even through dirty alleyways and streets, and even if there is visible filth in the area. Nevertheless, initially, if one knows for certain that he will be walking through filthy areas he is not to wear the Tefillin until he reaches the courtyard of the Shul and he is to then put on the Tefillin prior to entering into the Shul in order to fulfil the words of the Zohar.[15] Others[16] however are accustomed to wear the Tefillin in their home [in all cases] and then cover them while they are passing through the unclean areas, and so is the proper custom to follow.[17] [Practically, in all cases that one is walking through filthy areas he is to cover his Tefillin.[18] One is to cover also the straps of the Tefillin.[19]]

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[1] Admur 25:6; Michaber 25:2; Ketzos Hashulchan 8:4; See Admur 25:10 regarding one

[2] Zohar Vaeschanan 265a

[3] Leaving the door of the house while wearing the Tefillin is part of this Zoharic directive. [M”A 25:3; Levush 25; Moreh Baetzba 3:65; Poskim in Kaf Hachaim 25:13; See Admur 25:6 and 10 that walking to Shul is part of the custom and not just to wear the Tefillin before entering the Shul; However see Admur 25:7-8 that the custom can nevertheless be [partially] fulfilled even if he does not walk to Shul with the Tallis/Tefillin but puts it on before entering the Shul.] The Zoharic directive hence includes three parts: 1) Leaving one’s house wearing Tallis and Tefillin. 2) walking to shul wearing Tallis and Tefillin. 3) Entering the Shul for the first time while wearing Tallis and Tefillin.

[4] According to the initial ruling of Admur 25:6 and Michaber ibid one is to walk into the Shul only wearing the Tallis Katan and Tefillin and not the Tallis Gadol, however the custom is to wear also the Tallis Gadol prior to wearing the Tefillin and prior to walking into the Shul, as stated in Admur 25:7 and Rama 25:2. See next footnote!

[5] The order: [Based on the previous Halacha, the proper order is as follows:] One is to wear his Tallis Katan at home prior to going to Shul and afterwards he is to immediately wear his Tefillin prior to going to Shul, and he is then to go to Shul wearing the Tzitzis and Tefillin as explained in the Zohar, and then in Shul he is to garb himself in the Tallis Gadol. [Admur ibid; Michaber 25:2; Zohar ibid] In such a case, if one took hold of the Tallis Gadol while still at home prior to wearing the Tefillin, he is not required to wear the Tallis at home. He is not considered to have bypassed a Mitzvah that has come to his hands being that he had no intent to wear the Tallis at this area. [Admur ibid; M”A 25:4] However today the custom of the world is to wear even the Tallis Gadol at home prior to wearing the Tefillin and afterwards to wear the Tefillin and walk to Shul. [Admur 25:7; Rama 25:2] However, in those areas in which gentiles are found in the street, they do not wear the Tallis Gadol until they arrive to the courtyard of the Shul. [Admur 25:7; M”A 25:5; Olas Tamid 25:3]

Should one hurry to Shul without first wearing the Tallis/Tefillin in order to be part of the first ten of the Minyan? Some Poskim write in name of the Arizal that it is better to do be part of the first ten of the Minyan. [Elya Raba 25 in name of Makor Chaim] Others however write in the name of the Arizal that it is better to wear the Tallis/Tefillin beforehand. [M”A 25:3] See Ashel Avraham Butchach 25; Os Chaim Veshalom 25:3

[6] Admur 25:7 [based on M”A 25:5; Olas Tamid 25:3] “However, in those areas in which gentiles are found on the street they do not wear the Tallis Gadol until they arrive to the courtyard of the Shul.”; Admur 25:8 “Nevertheless, initially, if one knows for certain that he will be walking through filthy areas he is not to wear the Tefillin until he reaches the courtyard of the Shul and he is to then put on the Tefillin prior to entering into the Shul in order to fulfill the words of the Zohar.”

[7] See Admur 25:6-10 that implies throughout all the Halachos that according to the Zohar one is not to enter the Shul that day until he first wears the Tallis and Tefillin, and it does not help to enter the Shul and then leave and wear the Tallis/Tefillin and then re-enter. This is particularly implied from 25:10 in which we rule one may nullify his vow without a fine for the sake of walking to Shul with his Tallis/Tefillin and do not just say that he can leave the Shul and then return. See Chesed Lealafim 25:2; Kaf Hachaim 25:17

[8] Zohar ibid; See Kaf Hachaim 25:14

[9] Levushei Mordechai 1:6; Piskeiy Teshuvos 25:6

The reason: As the streets are dirty and require the Tefillin to be covered. [See Admur 25:7-8] Likewise there is much immodesty on the streets.

[10] Admur 25:7 [based on M”A 25:5; Olas Tamid 25:3]; Admur 25:8; Morah Baetzba 3:66; Chesed Lealafim 25:2; M”B 25:8 “He is to go out of the Shul into the courtyard, put on the Tefillin and then return to the Shul”; Kaf Hachaim 25:16; Piskeiy Teshuvos 25:6

[11] Chesed Lealafim 25:2; Kaf Hachaim 25:17; M”B 25:8 “He is to go out of the Shul into the courtyard, put on the Tefillin and then return to the Shul”; See also Shulchan Hatahor 25:1

[12] Admur 25:8 and 43:7; M”A 43:11; Rameh 59

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule the Tefillin must be covered from the letter of the law. [Radbaz 4:36; 1111]

[13] Brachos 24a

[14] Admur 25:8 does not distinguish between the head and arm Tefillin, however in 43:7 and Siddur [letter 19 Raskin] the head Tefillin is specifically mentioned regarding this Halacha.

[15] Admur ibid; Olas Tamid 25:3

[16] Emek Haberacha 15 [father of Shelah], brought in Admur ibid and M”A 43:11

[17] Admur 25:8; 43:7 “It is proper to cover the head Tefillin with a hat”; Elya Raba 25:6

[18] Siddur Admur [letter 19 Raskin]            

[19] Kaf Hachaim 43:22; Machatizs Hashekel on M”A 43:11, brought in M”B 43:20 leaves this matter in question; See M”B ibid that implies from the Radbaz that there is no need to cover even the Kesharim of the knots.

[20] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 25:6

[21] Shaareiy Teshuvah 28:2 that so he wrote in 25; Ateres Zekeinim 25 in name of Zohar; Kitzur Shelah that so is done by Anshei Maaseh; Likkutei Maharich Tefillin

[22] Shaareiy Teshuvah 28:2 in name of Shlamei Tzibur

[23] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 25:6

[24] Kaf Hachaim Falagi 20:25 that so is custom; Kaf Hachaim 25:20

[25] The reason: As the main reason of the Zohar behind entering the Shul wearing the Tallis and Tefillin is due to the Tefillin. [Kaf Hachaim ibid] 

[26] Miaseif Lechol Hamachanos 25:25; Yalkut Reuveini Shelach