How to put "Righty" Tefillin on a Lefty
Q. If a left-handed Tefillin is not available, what is the preferable way for a lefty to put on a right-handed Tefillin? This Shaalah is very relevant on Mivtzoim where a left-handed Tefillin may not be available.
A. Tefillin Shel Yad are worn on the weaker hand[1]. In one of the Parshios of Tefillin, the Torah[2] writes that they should be על ידכה, on your arm. From the unusual spelling (ידכה as opposed to the usual ידך), Chaza”l interpret the Torah as teaching יד כהה, the weaker hand[3]. For right-handed people this is their left hand.
An אטר יד (left-handed person) wears their Tefillin on their right hand which for them is the weaker hand[4]. Who is defined as a left-handed person for this purpose is subject to Machlokes and there are divergent practises.
Our discussion will focus on a left-handed person who is required to wear Tefillin on their right hand.
A look at Tefillin Shel Yad
As a preface it is necessary to briefly describe the Tefillin Shel Yad. The Tefillin Shel Yad consists of the Bayis, the box in which the 4 Parshios written on one scroll are placed. The Retzua (strap) passes through the Maavarta on the wider base of the Tefillin (the Titura). The Retzua is tied with a knot in the shape of a Yud[5]. The Yud shape of the knot is a Halocha L’Moshe Misinai[6].
Positioning the Tefillin Shel Yad
As a framework we need to explore the basis for how we position the Tefillin Shel Yad. These requirements apply to everyone.
The Shulchan Aruch[7] rules that it is aמנהג הנכון, an appropriate practise that the Yud of the Tefillin knot be on the inside of the arm facing the heart and the Tefilla (the box) on the outside.
In the following halocha, the Shulchan Aruch writes that it is an appropriate practise that the Maavarta (the section of the Tefillin through which the strap passes) be at the top towards the shoulder and the Ketzitza at the bottom towards the forearm.
Both of these customs are based on Kabbalah[8].
Tefillin for both right-handed and left-handed individuals are made so that both practises are fulfilled i.e. the strap end is at the top and the knot is on the inside facing the heart.
But when a lefty puts on right-handed Tefillin in the usual manner, it is not possible to keep both of the Chumros.
If he wears them with the Maavarta on top, the knot will be facing towards the outside. If he inverts the Tefillin so the knot faces the heart, the Maavarta will have to be on the bottom.
Five possibilities
There are 5 possibilities for the lefty wearing right-handed Tefillin;
1. Wear the Tefillin as they are with the Maavarta on the top but with the knot facing the outside.
2. Wear the Tefillin upside-down with the knot on the inside towards the heart.
3. Pull the knot around to the other side of the Bayis. This ensures that the Maavarta will be on top and the Yud will be towards the heart. (This is only applicable with Chabad Tefillin due to how the Retzua is inserted and tied.)
4. One may also remove the strap entirely and re-feed it through the Maavarta from the other side. Again, the Maavarta can be placed on top and the Yud will be towards the heart.
5. Finally one may retie the knot completely as a left-handed Tefillin.
Retying the knot would be the preferable option but is not always practical, especially when time is short. Further not everyone knows how to tie it.
Method 2: The Mishna Berura
Shvus Yaakov[9] writes that one should wear the Tefillin upside-down i.e. the Maavarta side at the bottom (Method 2). According to this view, the hiddur of having the Yud facing the heart is more important than having the Maavarta on top. Mishna Berura rules like Shvus Yaakov[10].
The Mishna Berura[11] references the Vilna Gaon, who in his glosses on the Shulchan Aruch writes that according to the Geonim having the Yud face the heart is not just a custom but a halachic obligation from the Talmud. Thus, it takes precedence over other hiddurim.
Whilst the Alter Rebbe does not address this issue, there are those who are Medayek from his wording that he would concur with the Shvus Yaakov. Concerning the first practise - that the knot faces the heart, he writes מנהג יפה ונכון. On placing the Maavarta on top he writes only מנהג נכון.
Method 1: The Chayei Adam
Chayei Adam[12] writes that it is preferable to redo the knot so that the Yud faces the Bayis. If not possible, the next preferable method is to remove the Retzua and reinsert it from the other side (Method 4). If neither is possible, they should be worn as is. His intention is to wear the Maavarta side at the top even though the Yud will then be on the outside[13] (Method 1).
Methods 3 and 4
Both methods 3 and 4 seem to tick both boxes. However, method 3 would have the Yud knot facing the opposite way i.e. the face of the Yud towards the Bayis. Method 4 would have the Yud facing upside-down and above the Maavarta.
The Mishna Berura[14] questions whether one may remove the Tefillin strap and insert it from the other side. When doing so, the Yud will not be facing the Bayis and therefore may not be considered a valid Yud. Elya Rabba[15] also questions this because the top of the Yud faces away from the Bayis.
Method 3 (for Chabad Tefillin) may actually be the preferable method. Even though the Yud will be facing the opposite way this is not of consequence. According to many Poskim the knot of a lefty’s Tefillin is tied identically to that of a righty without inversing it. According to this opinion, every lefty’s Tefillin will have the Yud positioned this way anyway.
Nachalas Shiva[16] rules that one is Yotzai with the knot facing away from the Bayis.
__________________
[1] 1 O.C. 27:1
[2] Shemos 13:16
[3] Menachos 37a
[4] O.C. 27:6
[5] Shulchan Aruch 32:52
[6] According to Rashi Menachos 35b. This is opposed to Rambam who understands the Gemora only to refer to the knot of the Tefillin Shel Rosh shaped like a Daled.
[7] 7 O.C. 27:2
[8] Levush 27:3
[9] 1:3
[10] Biur Halocha ד“ה המנהג הנכון
[11] O.C. 27:7
[12] 12 Klal 14:13
[13] See Biur Halocha ibid
[14] ibid
[15] 27:3
[16] Siman 41
A. Tefillin Shel Yad are worn on the weaker hand[1]. In one of the Parshios of Tefillin, the Torah[2] writes that they should be על ידכה, on your arm. From the unusual spelling (ידכה as opposed to the usual ידך), Chaza”l interpret the Torah as teaching יד כהה, the weaker hand[3]. For right-handed people this is their left hand.
An אטר יד (left-handed person) wears their Tefillin on their right hand which for them is the weaker hand[4]. Who is defined as a left-handed person for this purpose is subject to Machlokes and there are divergent practises.
Our discussion will focus on a left-handed person who is required to wear Tefillin on their right hand.
A look at Tefillin Shel Yad
As a preface it is necessary to briefly describe the Tefillin Shel Yad. The Tefillin Shel Yad consists of the Bayis, the box in which the 4 Parshios written on one scroll are placed. The Retzua (strap) passes through the Maavarta on the wider base of the Tefillin (the Titura). The Retzua is tied with a knot in the shape of a Yud[5]. The Yud shape of the knot is a Halocha L’Moshe Misinai[6].
Positioning the Tefillin Shel Yad
As a framework we need to explore the basis for how we position the Tefillin Shel Yad. These requirements apply to everyone.
The Shulchan Aruch[7] rules that it is aמנהג הנכון, an appropriate practise that the Yud of the Tefillin knot be on the inside of the arm facing the heart and the Tefilla (the box) on the outside.
In the following halocha, the Shulchan Aruch writes that it is an appropriate practise that the Maavarta (the section of the Tefillin through which the strap passes) be at the top towards the shoulder and the Ketzitza at the bottom towards the forearm.
Both of these customs are based on Kabbalah[8].
Tefillin for both right-handed and left-handed individuals are made so that both practises are fulfilled i.e. the strap end is at the top and the knot is on the inside facing the heart.
But when a lefty puts on right-handed Tefillin in the usual manner, it is not possible to keep both of the Chumros.
If he wears them with the Maavarta on top, the knot will be facing towards the outside. If he inverts the Tefillin so the knot faces the heart, the Maavarta will have to be on the bottom.
Five possibilities
There are 5 possibilities for the lefty wearing right-handed Tefillin;
1. Wear the Tefillin as they are with the Maavarta on the top but with the knot facing the outside.
2. Wear the Tefillin upside-down with the knot on the inside towards the heart.
3. Pull the knot around to the other side of the Bayis. This ensures that the Maavarta will be on top and the Yud will be towards the heart. (This is only applicable with Chabad Tefillin due to how the Retzua is inserted and tied.)
4. One may also remove the strap entirely and re-feed it through the Maavarta from the other side. Again, the Maavarta can be placed on top and the Yud will be towards the heart.
5. Finally one may retie the knot completely as a left-handed Tefillin.
Retying the knot would be the preferable option but is not always practical, especially when time is short. Further not everyone knows how to tie it.
Method 2: The Mishna Berura
Shvus Yaakov[9] writes that one should wear the Tefillin upside-down i.e. the Maavarta side at the bottom (Method 2). According to this view, the hiddur of having the Yud facing the heart is more important than having the Maavarta on top. Mishna Berura rules like Shvus Yaakov[10].
The Mishna Berura[11] references the Vilna Gaon, who in his glosses on the Shulchan Aruch writes that according to the Geonim having the Yud face the heart is not just a custom but a halachic obligation from the Talmud. Thus, it takes precedence over other hiddurim.
Whilst the Alter Rebbe does not address this issue, there are those who are Medayek from his wording that he would concur with the Shvus Yaakov. Concerning the first practise - that the knot faces the heart, he writes מנהג יפה ונכון. On placing the Maavarta on top he writes only מנהג נכון.
Method 1: The Chayei Adam
Chayei Adam[12] writes that it is preferable to redo the knot so that the Yud faces the Bayis. If not possible, the next preferable method is to remove the Retzua and reinsert it from the other side (Method 4). If neither is possible, they should be worn as is. His intention is to wear the Maavarta side at the top even though the Yud will then be on the outside[13] (Method 1).
Methods 3 and 4
Both methods 3 and 4 seem to tick both boxes. However, method 3 would have the Yud knot facing the opposite way i.e. the face of the Yud towards the Bayis. Method 4 would have the Yud facing upside-down and above the Maavarta.
The Mishna Berura[14] questions whether one may remove the Tefillin strap and insert it from the other side. When doing so, the Yud will not be facing the Bayis and therefore may not be considered a valid Yud. Elya Rabba[15] also questions this because the top of the Yud faces away from the Bayis.
Method 3 (for Chabad Tefillin) may actually be the preferable method. Even though the Yud will be facing the opposite way this is not of consequence. According to many Poskim the knot of a lefty’s Tefillin is tied identically to that of a righty without inversing it. According to this opinion, every lefty’s Tefillin will have the Yud positioned this way anyway.
Nachalas Shiva[16] rules that one is Yotzai with the knot facing away from the Bayis.
__________________
[1] 1 O.C. 27:1
[2] Shemos 13:16
[3] Menachos 37a
[4] O.C. 27:6
[5] Shulchan Aruch 32:52
[6] According to Rashi Menachos 35b. This is opposed to Rambam who understands the Gemora only to refer to the knot of the Tefillin Shel Rosh shaped like a Daled.
[7] 7 O.C. 27:2
[8] Levush 27:3
[9] 1:3
[10] Biur Halocha ד“ה המנהג הנכון
[11] O.C. 27:7
[12] 12 Klal 14:13
[13] See Biur Halocha ibid
[14] ibid
[15] 27:3
[16] Siman 41