TFILLIN PER THE RABAM

Note regarding Tfillin from the RABAM shlita (rosheshiva of Yeshiva Chipass Emes - West Coast).

[As usual, a baffling communication, especially in light of this being given during his one permitted phone-call from the holding cell. He also said something about Hungarian Slivovitz being mer sharf und feirik vi Slovakian, but that is neither here nor there.]


"There are two types of tfillin, one containing the rolled up parchments in the order approved of by Rashi, one following the order prescribed by Rabbeinu Tam, who out of this molehill of an issue made a veritable Har Sinai. Many frimme leite, when wearing tfillin, wear both styles, thus hedging their bets. Which is kind of like going to confession before attending shul.

The Baal HaTuretz held that Rabbeinu Tam tfillin are pointless without a nice suite of Rabbeinu Tam shatnez, and in any case, Milan determines what is geshmak, no one listens to the French anyway.

The Rabbi of Prolicz opined that two kinds of tfillin are merely a way of showing the entire shtetl what a macher you are, that you can afford TWO sets of tfillin, hoohah! "

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Rabbeinu Tam = Yacov Ben Meir, 1100 - 1171. A grandson of Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, 1040 - 1105), and the brother of Rashbam (Rabbi Shmuel Ben Meir, 1083 – 1174) and Ribam (Rabbi Yitzhak Ben Meir, late eleventh century to mid-twelfth).


Tfillin = Phylacteries. Two boxes, with straps, that are fastened to the forehead (the shel rosh - as a sign between your eyes) and upon the biceps of the weaker arm (the shel yad, so the right biceps if your lefthanded). Prayer boxes. Note that if there has been any water damage, cracking, or rounding of the corners, the tfillin are no longer kosher – you will have to shell out a considerable amount of money to have them replaced.