Tefillin
Tefillin
Parashot
Batim
Retzuot
Tefillin are phylacteries, the leather boxes which Jewish men from the age of 13 bind with leather
straps onto their left arm (unless they are left-handed, in which case they bind it onto their right
arm) and on the crest of their foreheads. The boxes contain parchments, on which are written the four
relevant sections of the Torah, in which the commandment of Tefillin are mentioned.
Parashot
Tefillin for the head contain the four Biblical passages written on four different
pieces of parchment and placed in four separate compartments. In Tefillin for the
arm all four passages are written consecutively on a single parchment and inserted
into a single box. These parchments are known as Parashot, and are written by a
Scribe in the three basic Hebrew Scripts used today:
- Beit Yoseph is the script generally used by Ashkenazi Jews;
- Ari is the script generally used by Jews of Chassidic descent or influence;
- Vellish, is the script generally used by Sephardi Jews.
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Batim
The boxes of the Tefillin (known as Batim, "containers" for the written parchments) must be square.
They vary in quality, in the way they are made, and in their halachic desirability. On the market
today there are four types:
- Peshutim
- Peshutim Mehudarim
- Dakos
- Gasos
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Reztuot - Straps
Retzuot - Tefillin Straps: The black leather straps used to attach Tefillin to arm and forehead.
The Retzuot (Straps) have a specific significance, forming the letters of one of
Hashem's 'Names' with their knots. The Retzuot, since they are used to function the Teffilin, they
are considered items which serve holiness, and they may not be disposed of. Instead, they are buried.
As with other STAM items, Retzuot come in various types of quality and Kashrut grades. In addition they vary in width sizes.
Highest standards calls for the Retzuot to be hand crafted (Avodat Yad) and painted black with high
quality paint to ensure longevity.
MezuzahMan offers a wide range of Retzuot for sale.
Contact Us for more information.
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