DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Natan Mizrachi
"L'iluy nishmat Natan ben Shoshana Levi"

Dedicated By
Your Children

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 524 KB)
Reciting “Kadesh Li” and “Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha” After Donning the Tefillin

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Od Yosef Haim (Parashat Vayera, 25), discusses the custom to recite immediately after donning one’s Tefillin in the morning the sections of "Kadesh Li" and "Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha" (listen to audio recording for precise citation). These Parashiyot (sections of Biblical text) are among the four sections contained inside the Tefillin; the other two are the first two Parashiyot of Shema ("Shema" and "Ve’haya Im Shamo’a"). One should recite "Kadesh Li" and "Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha" after donning his Tefillin so that he will have recited all four sections while wearing Tefillin.

The Ben Ish Hai writes that if a person is unable to recite these two sections before the Shaharit service, as he is rushing to pray Shaharit together with the congregation, then he should recite them after the prayer service, before removing his Tefillin. If he forgot to recite these Parashiyot until after he removed his Tefillin, he should not recite them at that point. Since these sections mention the Misva of Tefillin, and he recites them specifically for the purpose of completing all four Parashiyot of Tefillin, his recitation will be considered as "false testimony," as he speaks of the Misva without observing it. The Ben Ish Hai compares a person who reads the Parashiyot without Tefillin in this case to somebody who offers an Ola sacrifice without bringing the required accompanying Minha offering. Therefore, if a person remembered after removing his Tefillin that he had not recited "Kadesh Li" and "Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha," then he does not recite these sections.

The Ben Ish Hai adds that one does not have to put his Tefillin back on in order to read these Parashiyot, because this reading does not constitute an outright Halachic obligation. Indeed, as the Ben Ish Hai notes, there are those who maintain that this reading is not required at all. Thus, although it is certainly proper to read the Parashiyot while wearing Tefillin, we do not go far as to require one who already removed his Tefillin to wear them again so he can read these Parashiyot.

Summary: It is customary to recite immediately after donning one’s Tefillin in the morning the sections of "Kadesh Li" and "Ve’haya Ki Yebi’acha." One who did not read these sections before the prayer service may read them after the prayer service, while still wearing Tefillin. If he did not remember until after he removed his Tefillin, he should not read them without Tefillin, and he is not required to put his Tefillin back on to read the Parashiyot.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Reciting Birkat Kohanim More Than Once a Day; If a Kohen Arrives in the Synagogue at the Time of Birkat Kohanim
Standing While Reading the Torah or When Called for an Aliyah
The Role of the Mesader
The Berachot Before and After an Aliya
Under Which Circumstances May a Sefer Torah be Transported?
Which Direction Should the Hazan Face When Carrying the Sefer Torah To and From the Ark?
The Recitation of “Ve’hu Rahum” at the Beginning of Arbit
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited After Sunset?
Reciting Birkat Kohanim at Minha on Fast Days
Until What Point in the Day Can a Person Make Up a Missed Arbit Prayer?
If One Missed a Musaf Prayer
When is the Last Time for Praying Minha?
Does One Answer to Kaddish Heard Over the Telephone or a Simulcast?
Must One Face Toward Eretz Yisrael When Reciting Kaddish?
If One Forgot Ya’ale Ve’yabo in the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found