How to Put On Tefillin: A Complete Guide

Tefillin are two black leather boxes containing parchment scrolls with Torah verses. One is worn on the arm (shel yad) and one on the head (shel rosh). The Torah commands us to bind these words 'as a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes' (Deuteronomy 6:8). Tefillin connect us to God physically and spiritually.

Tefillin are worn during weekday morning prayers (Shacharit). They are not worn on Shabbat, Yom Tov (major holidays), or at night. The mitzvah begins at bar mitzvah (age 13). Many start practicing a month before. Tefillin should be put on after tallit, and the earliest time is when there is enough light to recognize a friend from a short distance.

1) Remove the shel yad from its bag. 2) Place the box on your bicep (left arm for right-handed, right arm for left-handed), facing your heart. 3) Recite the blessing 'L'haniach tefillin' before tightening. 4) Tighten the strap and wrap it seven times around your forearm. 5) Wrap the remainder around your palm temporarily. Do not speak between putting on the arm and head tefillin.

1) Place the shel rosh on your head, centered above your forehead. The front edge should be at the hairline (or where the hairline was). 2) The knot sits at the base of the skull, not on the neck. 3) Say the blessing 'Al mitzvat tefillin' and then 'Baruch shem kevod malchuto l'olam va'ed' quietly. 4) Adjust until comfortable and centered.

After securing the head tefillin, unwrap the strap from your palm and wind it around your middle finger three times - once on the lower section, twice on the middle section. Then wrap the remaining strap around your palm in a pattern that forms the Hebrew letter 'shin' (ש). While wrapping the finger, many recite the verses 'V'eirastich li l'olam...' (I will betroth you to Me forever).

After prayers, remove the tefillin in reverse order. First unwrap the hand, then remove the head tefillin while standing. Finally, remove the arm tefillin. Wrap the straps neatly and place them back in the bag with respect. Many have the custom to kiss the tefillin when putting them on and taking them off.