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...
The Proper Way to Hold the Sefer Torah When Receiving an Aliya
Customs Observed by One Who is Called to the Torah
Purchasing an Aliya to Express Gratitude for a Loan
Preparing the Sefer Torah in Advance; Receiving Two Aliyot to the Same Sefer Torah
Exceeding Three Aliyot on Monday or Thursday; Making Up a Missed Torah Reading
Concluding the Torah Reading on a Positive Note
Preparing Before Reading the Torah; The Different Customs When Calling Someone For an Aliya
Where May an Aliya Begin and End?
The Status of Someone Praying Outside of the Minyan
May One Recite Birkat Ha’Lebana When the Moon Becomes Concealed?
Should One Recite the Beracha of “HaNoten La’Yaef Koach”?
Explanation of the Word “Maftir”; The Preferred Aliya for a Yahrtzeit
Background and Explanation of the Maftir Reading
The Berachot Before and After the Haftara
The Bedtime Shema
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found