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 Intention While Pronouncing the Letter “Dalet” in “Ehad” During Shema
Bringing Mashiah by Paying Attention to the Repetition of the Amida
Praying From a Mobile phone
Reciting Shema Right Before Sunrise
The Custom to Recite at the End of the Amida a Verse Associated With One’s Name
Explaining Why Kaddish is Mostly in Aramaic
Bringing a Sefer Torah From the Synagogue to a Private Minyan
Laws of Kaddish
Combining Two Parashiyot in the Diaspora to “Catch Up”
If Fewer Than Ten Men are Answering to Kaddish or to the Repetition of the Amida
Answering “Amen” to Birkot Ha’Torah
If One Remembered During the Beracha of “Yoser Or” That He Had Forgotten to Recite Birkot Ha’Torah
Appreciating Birkat Kohanim
Insights and Customs Relevant to the “Nishmat” Prayer
The Special Significance of the “Nishmat” Prayer
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found