DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 4.03 MB)
Is One Allowed to Keep Other Items With the Tefillin in the Tefillin Bag?

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 42:3) writes that if one keeps his Tefillin in a bag which is exclusively designated for Tefillin, then once he placed his Tefillin in the bag, he may not then use the bag to keep money inside it. The bag at that point becomes a "Tashmish Kedusha" – an article designated for the purpose of a sacred article – and thus may not be used for money. The Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) clarifies that the Shulhan Aruch mentions money only as a common example, and in truth, this Halacha applies to all items which are not sacred like Tefillin. Even things which are used for a Misva – such as a Siddur or Tehillim – may not be placed in the bag designated for Tefillin. Likewise, one may not keep in this bag the mirror he uses to help position the Tefillin on his head, or the marker he uses to paint his Tefillin.

Many people keep their small Tefillin bag in a larger bag, which is used also for their Tallit and Siddur. Since this larger bag is not designated exclusively for Tefillin, it may be used for other items, even items which are not used for a Misva, such as money. This Halacha is discussed by Hacham David Yosef (contemporary) in his Halacha Berura (vol. 3, p. 301; listen to audio recording for precise citation).

Summary: A bag which is designated exclusively for Tefillin may not be used to hold anything else, even a Siddur. However, if one keeps his Tefillin bag in a larger bag together with his Tallit and Siddur, then since the larger bag is not designated exclusively for Tefillin, he may keep anything else – even money – in that larger bag.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
"Zugot’- Is The Concept of Avoiding 2 (Pairs) Proper or A Myth
Is It Permissible To Bury a Woman Next to a Man If Other Than Their Spouse
Blood On The Hands From Performing A Mitzvah
Must One Attempt to Flee Before Sacrificing His Life
Is It Permissible To Wear Gloves; Under The Chupa, Turning The Scroll of A Sefer Torah, or While Making Shechita
Is It Permissible For Father & Sons, Rabbis and Students, Etc to Go To The Mikveh Together
Taking A Portion When Making Hallah
Is It Permissible To Shave, Cut Nails, or Take A Hair Cut on Rosh Chodesh
Preferred Rituals When Reciting Birkat Ha’levana
Hitting Older Children, and Causing Others To Become Angry
Is It Permissible To Put On Tefillin At Sunset If One Forgot Earlier In The Day
Answering "Baruch Hu U’Baruch Shemo"
Pronouncing and Saying Amen
Burying a Newborn or Stillborn Infant
Notifying Somebody of a Relative's Death
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found