Menachot 35

אלא גוייתא לברייתא וברייתא לגוייתא אבל גוייתא לגוייתא וברייתא לברייתא לית לן בה

unless it is a case where one exchanges an inner passage for an outer one, e.g., he placed the passage of Exodus 13:11–16 to the right of Exodus 13:1–10, or an outer passage for an inner one, e.g., he placed the passage of Deuteronomy 11:13–21 to the right of Deuteronomy 6:4–9. But if one exchanges an inner passage for the other inner one, i.e., he exchanges Exodus 13:11–16 with Deuteronomy 6:4–9, or an outer passage for the other outer one, i.e., he exchanges Exodus 13:1–10 with Deuteronomy 11:13–21, we have no problem with it.

אמר ליה רבא מאי שנא גוייתא לברייתא וברייתא לגוייתא דלא דהך דבעי למיחזי אוירא לא קא חזייא והא דלא קא בעי למיחזי אוירא קא חזייא ברייתא לברייתא וגוייתא לגוייתא נמי הך דבעיא למיחזי אוירא דימין קא חזיא אוירא דשמאל ודשמאל קא חזיא אוירא דימין אלא לא שנא

Rava said to Abaye: What is different about the cases of exchanging an inner passage for an outer one, and an outer passage for an inner one, such that the phylacteries are not fit? The reason is that this passage, which needs to see the air, i.e., to be placed on the outer side, does not see it, and that passage, which does not need to see the air, does see it. But in a case where one exchanges an outer passage for the other outer one or an inner passage for the other inner one, it should be unfit as well, as this passage, which needs to see the air of the right side, sees the air of the left side, and that passage, which requires to see the air of the left side, sees the air of the right side. Rather, there is no difference between any of these cases, and any change in the order renders the phylacteries unfit.

ואמר רב חננאל אמר רב תיתורא דתפילין הלכה למשה מסיני אמר אביי מעברתא דתפילין הלכה למשה מסיני ואמר אביי שין של תפילין הלכה למשה מסיני

§ And Rav Ḥananel says that Rav says: The requirement to have the titora of phylacteries, i.e., the base of phylacteries upon which the compartments rest, is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. Abaye said: The requirement to have the ma’ebarta of phylacteries, i.e., the passageway through which the straps are inserted, is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. And Abaye says: The requirement to have a letter shin protruding on the phylacteries of one’s head, which is achieved by pressing the hide into the shape of that letter, is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.

וצריך שיגיע חריץ למקום התפר רב דימי מנהרדעא אמר כיון דמנכר לא צריך

Abaye further says: And there is a requirement that the furrow between each of the compartments of phylacteries of the head reach the place of the stitches, i.e., the titora, to which the compartments are sewn. Rav Dimi of Neharde’a says: Once it is noticeable that there is a furrow between each of the compartments, it is not necessary for them to reach all the way to the titora.

ואמר אביי האי קילפא דתפילין צריך למיבדקיה דדילמא אית בה ריעותא ובעינא כתיבה תמה וליכא רב דימי מנהרדעא אמר לא צריך קולמוסא בדיק לה

And Abaye says: With regard to this parchment upon which one writes the passages of phylacteries, the scribe must examine it before writing, as perhaps it has a flaw, i.e., a perforation, and complete writing is required, and that requirement would not be fulfilled if a letter were perforated. Rav Dimi of Neharde’a says: No prior examination is required; rather, the quill examines it as one writes, as any perforation which the ink covers is disregarded.

אמר רבי יצחק רצועות שחורות הלכה למשה מסיני מיתיבי תפילין אין קושרין אותן אלא במינן בין ירוקות בין שחורות בין לבנות אדומות לא יעשה מפני גנאי ודבר אחר

Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The requirement that the straps of the phylacteries be black is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: One may tie phylacteries only with straps of their same type, i.e., the straps must be made from hide, and it does not matter whether they are green, or black, or white. Nevertheless, one should not make red straps, because this is deprecatory to him, as it looks like he has wounds on his head, and also due to something else, i.e., lest people suspect him of engaging in sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and getting blood on the straps.

אמר רבי יהודה מעשה בתלמידו של רבי עקיבא שהיה קושר תפיליו בלשונות של תכלת ולא אמר לו דבר איפשר אותו צדיק ראה תלמידו ולא מיחה בו אמר לו הן לא ראה אותו ואם ראה אותו לא היה מניחו

The Gemara cites the continuation of that baraita. Rabbi Yehuda said: There was an incident involving Rabbi Akiva’s student, who would tie his phylacteries with strips of sky–blue wool rather than hide, and Rabbi Akiva did not say anything to him. Is it possible that that righteous man saw his student doing something improper and he did not object to his conduct? Another Sage said to Rabbi Yehuda: Yes, it is possible that the student acted improperly, as Rabbi Akiva did not see him, and if he had seen him, he would not have allowed him to do so.

מעשה בהורקנוס בנו של רבי אליעזר בן הורקנוס שהיה קושר תפיליו בלשונות של ארגמן ולא אמר לו דבר איפשר אותו צדיק ראה בנו ולא מיחה בו אמרו לו הן לא ראה אותו ואם ראה אותו לא היה מניחו

The baraita continues: There was an incident involving Hyrcanus, the son of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who would tie his phylacteries with strips of purple wool, and his father did not say anything to him. Is it possible that that righteous man saw his son doing something improper and he did not object to his conduct? The Sages said to him: Yes, it is possible that his son acted improperly, as Rabbi Eliezer did not see him, and if he had seen him, he would not have allowed him to do so. This concludes the baraita.

קתני מיהא בין ירוקות בין שחורות ובין לבנות לא קשיא כאן מבפנים כאן מבחוץ

The Gemara explains the objection from the baraita: In any event, the baraita teaches that it does not matter whether the straps are green, or black, or white, whereas Rabbi Yitzḥak maintains that it is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai that the straps of the phylacteries must be black. The Gemara answers that it is not difficult. Here, the baraita is referring to the inside of the straps, which touch the body. These may be any color other than red. Conversely, there, when Rabbi Yitzḥak says that the straps of the phylacteries must be black, he is speaking of the outside of the straps.

אי מבפנים מאי גנאי ודבר אחר איכא זימנין דמתהפכין ליה

The Gemara raises a difficulty: If the baraita is discussing the inside of the straps, what deprecatory matter or problem of something else is there with straps that are red on the inside? After all, this side is not seen. The Gemara answers: Sometimes his straps become reversed, and therefore these concerns are applicable.

תנא תפילין מרובעות הלכה למשה מסיני אמר רב פפא בתפרן ובאלכסונן

It is taught in a baraita: The requirement that phylacteries be square is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. Rav Pappa says about this halakha: Square means along their seams and their diagonals, i.e., they must be perfectly square where the compartments are sewn to the titora.

לימא מסייע ליה העושה תפילתו עגולה סכנה ואין בה מצוה אמר רב פפא מתניתין דעבידא כי אמגוזא

The Gemara suggests: Let us say that a mishna supports this opinion (Megilla 24b): One who fashions his phylacteries in a round shape exposes himself to danger, and it does not enable him to fulfill the mitzva of phylacteries. Rav Pappa said: This is no support, as one can say that the mishna is referring to phylacteries that are fashioned like a nut, i.e., their underside is rounded, and therefore there is a danger that if he strikes his head on a wall the underside will press into his head and injure him. By contrast, if the underside is flat one might have thought that it is fit despite the fact that it is not square. Therefore, the baraita teaches that phylacteries must be square.

אמר רב הונא תפילין כל זמן שפני טבלא קיימת כשירות רב חסדא אמר נפסקו שתים כשירות שלש פסולות

§ Rav Huna says: With regard to phylacteries of the head, as long as the surface of outer hide is intact, i.e., it is not torn, they are fit, even if the hide between the compartments has torn. Rav Ḥisda says: If two of the walls between the compartments tore, such phylacteries are fit, but if three of these inner walls tore, they are unfit.

אמר רבא הא דאמרת שתים כשירות לא אמרן אלא זה שלא כנגד זה אבל זה כנגד זה פסולות וזה כנגד זה נמי לא אמרן אלא בחדתתא אבל בעתיקתא לית לן בה

Rava said: Concerning that which you said, that if two of the walls between the compartments tore they are fit, we said this only if the inner walls that tore are not aligned with each other, i.e., they are not adjacent to one another. But if the torn walls are aligned with each other, the phylacteries are unfit. And furthermore, even in a case where the torn walls are aligned with each other, we said that they are unfit only with regard to new phylacteries, as the hide is certainly defective. But with regard to old phylacteries, we have no problem with it, as they tore due to aging.

אמר ליה אביי לרב יוסף היכי דמיין חדתתא והיכי דמיין עתיקתא אמר ליה כל היכא כי מיתלי ביה בשלחא והדר חלים עתיקתא ואידך חדתתא

Abaye said to Rav Yosef: What are the circumstances of new phylacteries, and what are the circumstances of old phylacteries? Rav Yosef said to him: In any case where if one holds the hide and pulls it, it returns to its place [ḥaleim], these phylacteries are considered old; and in the other case, where hide that was pulled does not return to its place, they are considered new.

ואי נמי כל היכי דכי מיתלי ביה במתנא אתייה אבתריה חדתתא ואידך עתיקתא

Alternatively, in any case where if the phylacteries are hanging by the strap the compartment follows the strap, i.e., it remains attached, these phylacteries are considered new; and in the other case, where the phylacteries would fall off, they are considered old.

אביי הוה יתיב קמיה דרב יוסף איפסיק ליה רצועה דתפילי אמר ליה מהו למיקטריה אמר ליה וקשרתם כתיב שתהא קשירה תמה

§ The Gemara relates: Abaye was sitting before Rav Yosef when the strap of his phylacteries tore. Abaye said to Rav Yosef: What is the halakha as to whether one may tie the strap? Rav Yosef said to him: It is written with regard to phylacteries: “And you shall bind them [ukshartam] for a sign upon your arm” (Deuteronomy 6:8), which teaches that the binding must be complete [keshira tamma], whole and beautiful, and that would not be the case with a makeshift knot.

אמר ליה רב אחא בריה דרב יוסף לרב אשי מהו למיתפריה ועייליה לתפירה לגאו אמר פוק חזי מה עמא דבר

Rav Aḥa, son of Rav Yosef, said to Rav Ashi: What is the halakha as to whether one may sew a strap that tore and insert the stitching inside, so that it is not visible from the outside? Rav Ashi said to him: Go out and see what the people are doing. If the common custom is to do this, it is permitted.

אמר רב פפא גרדומי רצועות כשירות ולאו מילתא היא מדאמרי בני רבי חייא גרדומי תכלת וגרדומי אזוב כשירין התם הוא דתשמישי מצוה נינהו אבל הכא דתשמישי קדושה נינהו לא

Rav Pappa says: The remnants of straps, i.e., what remains when part of the strap has been cut off, are fit. The Gemara comments: And it is not so, as can be derived from the fact that the sons of Rabbi Ḥiyya say: The remnants of the sky–blue wool of ritual fringes, when only a small thread remains, and likewise the remnants of the hyssop, used for the sprinkling of the purification water of the red heifer, are fit. They did not include the remnants of straps of phylacteries in this halakha. The reason for this difference is that it is there that the remnants are fit, as they are mere articles used in the performance of a mitzva; but here, phylacteries are articles of sanctity, which are of greater sanctity, and therefore their remnants are not fit.

מכלל דאית להו שיעורא וכמה שיעורייהו אמר רמי בר חמא אמר ריש לקיש עד אצבע צרדה רב כהנא מחוי כפוף רב אשי מחוי פשוט

The Gemara states: From this line of inquiry one can conclude by inference that the straps of phylacteries have a minimum requisite measure. And how much is their measure? Rami bar Ḥama says that Reish Lakish says: It is until the index finger. In explanation of this size, Rav Kahana would demonstrate a bowed measure, i.e., from the tip of the middle finger until the tip of the index finger, with the fingers spread. Rav Ashi would demonstrate a straight measure, from the tip of the thumb until the tip of the index finger, with the fingers spread.

רבה קטר להו ופשיט ושדי להו רב אחא בר יעקב קטר להו ומתלית להו מר בריה דרבנא עביד כדידן

The Gemara relates: Rabba would tie the straps and release them and let them fall behind him. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov would tie them and plait them together like a braid. Mar, son of Rabbana, would act like we do, i.e., he would let the straps fall and hang over the front of his body.

אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב קשר של תפילין הלכה למשה מסיני אמר רב נחמן ונוייהן לבר רב אשי הוה יתיב קמיה דמר זוטרא איתהפכא ליה רצועה דתפילין אמר ליה לא סבר לה מר ונוייהן לבר אמר ליה לאו אדעתאי

Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, says in the name of Rav: The form of the knot of phylacteries, i.e., that there must be the form of a letter dalet in the knot of the phylacteries of the head and the letter yod in the knot of the phylacteries of the arm, is a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai. Rav Naḥman says: And their decorative side, the black side of the knot where the shape of the letter is visible, must face outward. The Gemara relates: Rav Ashi was sitting before Mar Zutra when the strap of his phylacteries became reversed. Mar Zutra said to him: Doesn’t the Master hold in accordance with the ruling that their decorative side must face outward? Rav Ashi said to him: It did not enter my mind, i.e., I did not notice.

וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה׳ נקרא עליך ויראו ממך תניא רבי אליעזר הגדול אומר אלו תפילין שבראש והסרתי את כפי וראית את אחרי אמר רב חנא בר ביזנא אמר רבי שמעון חסידא מלמד שהראה לו הקדוש ברוך הוא למשה קשר של תפילין

With regard to the verse: “And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they shall be afraid of you” (Deuteronomy 28:10), it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: This is a reference to the phylacteries of the head, upon which the name of God is written, as they demonstrate to all that the name of God is called upon the Jewish people. With regard to the statement of God to Moses: “And I will remove My hand, and you will see My back” (Exodus 33:23), Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida says: This teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, showed Moses the knot of the phylacteries of the head.

אמר רב יהודה קשר של תפילין צריך שיהא למעלה כדי שיהו ישראל למעלה ולא למטה וצריך שיהא כלפי פנים כדי שיהו ישראל לפנים ולא לאחור

Rav Yehuda says: The knot of phylacteries must be above, i.e., it must rest on the head rather than on the neck, in order that the Jewish people should be above and not below. And likewise it must be placed toward the front [panim], i.e., not on the sides of the head, in order that the Jewish people should be in front [lefanim] and not behind.

אמר רב שמואל בר בידרי אמר רב ואמרי לה אמר רבי אחא אריכא אמר רב הונא ואמרי לה אמר רב מנשיא אמר שמואל תפילין מאימתי מברך עליהן משעת הנחתן איני והא אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל המצות כולן מברך עליהן עובר לעשייתן אביי ורבא דאמרי תרוייהו משעת הנחה ועד שעת קשירה

§ Rav Shmuel bar Bideri says that Rav says, and some say that Rabbi Aḥa Arikha, i.e., Rabbi Aḥa the Tall, says that Rav Huna says, and some say that Rav Menashya says that Shmuel says: With regard to phylacteries, from when does one recite a blessing over them? From the time when one dons them on the arm and onward. The Gemara raises a difficulty: Is that so? But doesn’t Rav Yehuda say that Shmuel says: With regard to all the mitzvot, one recites a blessing over them prior to their performance? How, then, can one recite a blessing over phylacteries after donning them? Abaye and Rava both say: One recites the blessing from the time of donning the phylacteries until the time of binding them, as the binding constitutes the performance of the mitzva.