tefillin shel yad

Judaism

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June 17, 2026

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In Judaism, tefillin shel yad, or hand phylacteries, are one of two small, black leather cube-shaped cases containing Torah texts written on parchment. These are worn by Jewish males 13 years and older during daily morning services, except on the Sabbath and festivals. This practice, rooted in the biblical commandment in Deuteronomy 6:8, serves as a reminder of God and the obligation to observe Jewish law. The hand phylactery has one compartment with texts on a single parchment, and it is worn on the arm, facing the heart. The other phylactery, tefillin shel rosh, is worn on the head.12

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phylactery
The hand phylactery (tefillin shel yad) has one compartment with the texts written on a single parchment; the head phylactery (tefillin shel rosh) has four compartments, each with one text. The extracts are Exodus 13:1–10, 11–16; and Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21. Reform Jews interpret the biblical commandment in a…
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The hand phylactery (tefillin shel yad) has one compartment with the texts written on a single parchment; the head phylactery (tefillin shel rosh) has four compartments, each with one text. The extracts are Exodus 13:1–10, 11–16; and Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21. Reform Jews interpret the biblical commandment in a…
Read More