Rabbeinu Tam Teffilin
Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin represents his approach to the mitzvah of tefillin, which was not established as a halachic requirement. Those who are mehadrin lay Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin in addition to the standard tefillin, which follow Rashi's approach. Chabad chassidim universally practice laying these tefillin as well. Since 1976, when the Rebbe encouraged the laying of Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin, they began laying Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin along with starting to lay Rashi's tefillin (meaning two months before the Bar Mitzvah).
Rabbeinu Tam's Approach[edit | edit source]
There are four main approaches regarding the order of the parshiyos inside the tefillin compartments. The well-known approaches are Rashi's approach and Rabbeinu Tam's approach. The halacha was ruled according to Rashi, and therefore all of Klal Yisroel has practiced laying tefillin called Rashi tefillin.
According to Rabbeinu Tam's approach, the parshiyos of the head tefillin should be arranged in this order: "Kadesh", "VeHaya Ki Yeviacha", "VeHaya Im Shamoa", and "Shema", from right to left of one who looks at the person laying tefillin.
Ruling in Shulchan Aruch[edit | edit source]
The Beis Yosef writes in Shulchan Aruch: "A yerei shamayim should fulfill both opinions and make two pairs of tefillin and lay both." And in the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch states that "every yerei shamayim should fulfill both opinions and make two pairs of tefillin and lay them."
According to pnimiyus haTorah, Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin require additional kedusha from the person laying them, and therefore many communities practiced starting to lay them only after marriage.
Chabad chassidim previously practiced starting to lay Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin only after marriage. Additionally, 18-year-old bochurim who wanted to also lay Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin needed to ask the Rebbe about it, sometimes the Rebbe instructed to consult with the mashpia about it.
At the Purim farbrengen of 1976, the Rebbe instructed to start laying them from Bar Mitzvah especially to overcome the darkness of galus and hasten the geulah. After some time, the Rebbe instructed not only from Bar Mitzvah but even earlier - from the time of starting to lay tefillin. Since then, it has been customary in Chabad communities to start laying Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin together with Rashi's tefillin in the time before Bar Mitzvah.
The time for laying Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin is specifically immediately after Shacharis.
Chabad Customs in Laying Rabbeinu Tam's Tefillin[edit | edit source]
The custom is to lay Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin after davening without a bracha and to read Shema and the parshiyos of Kadesh and Vehaya Ki Yeviacha (Shemos 13:1) and the Six Remembrances.
In the Shema of Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin, we don't repeat the three words "Ani Hashem Elokeichem" (as we repeat in the Shema of every tefillah), but we do say "Emes".
It is worthwhile and proper to lay Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin immediately after davening, as it is then connected to the bracha of Rashi's tefillin (as an interruption of tefillah is not similar to an interruption of mundane matters), and bedieved one can lay them all day.
Additional Reading[edit | edit source]
Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, Siman 34 - The dispute between Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam regarding the order of the parshiyos