Buying Tefillin: Parchments, Batim, and Customs

Tefillin are a purchase you may use every weekday for decades. The difficulty is that two pairs can look much the same while differing considerably inside. Start with the people responsible for the parchments and their checking, then choose the boxes, fit, and accessories.

Quick checklist

• Find a reliable sofer or seller. Ask your rabbi for a recommendation if you don't already have one.
• Ask who wrote and checked the parchments. A computer check supplements a trained examiner; it does not replace one.
• Give the seller your family custom. This affects the writing, the arrangement of the text, and the knots.
• Mention left-handedness before ordering. If the wearer uses different hands for different tasks, settle which arm to use first.
• Compare the batim and the parchments separately. A more expensive box does not tell you what is inside it.
• Arrange a fitting. Ask who will adjust the head strap and arm knot and show the wearer how to put them on.
• Confirm the full package and delivery date. Include checking, fitting, protective covers, and any bag or accessories in the comparison.

What you are buying

A set has an arm tefillin (shel yad) and a head tefillin (shel rosh). Each consists of handwritten parchment, a leather box, and a leather strap. The four Torah passages are written on one parchment for the arm and on four separate parchments for the head. The boxes are called batim, the passages parshiyos, and the straps retzuos.[1]

You don't need to become an expert in their manufacture to buy a good pair. You do need a seller who can explain what you are getting and who takes responsibility for the complete set.

Start with the parchments and the people

The parshiyos must be written with the proper intent and in the correct order. Some errors cannot be repaired afterward, and a finished parchment cannot reveal everything about how it was written. This is why the reliability of the sofer, the trained scribe, matters as much as the appearance of the lettering.[2]

Checking requires its own expertise. A magiah is trained to examine the writing for errors and determine whether a problem can be corrected. Training as a sofer does not by itself establish qualification as a magiah; ask who performed the examination.[3]

A useful conversation with the seller covers four things:

• Who wrote the parshiyos, and who checked them?
• What current qualifications do the sofer and magiah hold?
• Who answers their difficult halachic questions?
• Can you arrange an independent examination before accepting the set, and how would any problem be handled?

These questions follow the buying advice in the Ohr Olam series on OU Torah.[4] Ask about the arrangements before buying rather than trying to open the batim yourself afterward.

What a computer check adds

Software can help find missing, extra, or misplaced letters and words. It cannot replace an expert's assessment of the forms of the letters. Look for human examination with computer checking as an additional safeguard, rather than treating “computer checked” as a complete assurance.[5]

Comparing prices

Ask for the specifications behind a quote. Are you comparing the same grade of batim, the same standard of writing, and the same checking arrangements? Does the price include straps, fitting, and protective covers?

If the budget is tight, prioritize reliable, properly checked parshiyos and kosher batim. Beautiful lettering and additional stringencies can add to the price, but they should not come at the expense of basic validity.[6] A seller should be able to distinguish a requirement from an optional enhancement without making you feel that only the most expensive pair is worth buying.

Choosing the batim

The common grades are peshutim, dakkos, and gassos. They describe the construction of the leather boxes, not the quality of the parchments inside.

• Peshutim are the simplest construction, using separate pieces of leather.
• Dakkos use thin leather.
• Gassos use thick leather and are particularly durable and easier to repair.

All three can be kosher. Gassos are the most expensive of these grades, but their durability is worth considering for a pair intended for daily use over many years.[7]

When two gassos sets have very different prices, ask what accounts for the difference. Have the seller identify the batim specification, the writing standard, and any additional hiddurim, or enhancements, separately.

Order for the wearer's custom

Tell the seller whether the family follows Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Chassidic, or Chabad practice. Beis Yosef, Arizal, and Vellish are the main script traditions you will encounter. The customary script is one part of the order; the knots and other details also matter.[8][7]

For a Sephardi buyer, specifying the lettering alone is not enough. The spacing between passages also needs to suit Sephardi practice.[1] Give the seller the family's custom at the outset rather than trying to decide from a photograph or a product name.

If you don't know your family custom, a rabbi can help you establish what to order. For a gift, confirm these details with the recipient or a parent before paying for the set.

Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam

The standard pair is arranged according to Rashi. Some communities also wear a second pair arranged according to Rabbeinu Tam, and the age at which they begin varies.[9] If your family wears both, confirm when the wearer should start and whether the order should include both pairs. Keep them in separate bags so they are easy to distinguish.[9]

Fit, straps, and left-handedness

A left-handed wearer generally puts the arm tefillin on the right arm, with the knot arranged accordingly. Someone who writes with one hand and does other tasks with the other should ask which arm to use before ordering.[7]

Arrange for someone knowledgeable to fit the set to the wearer. Ask the seller to check the head-strap adjustment, the arm knot, and the strap length, and to demonstrate correct placement. For an online order, find out whether this help is available locally.

Choose the size with the wearer and the person doing the fitting. Don't select a pair solely because larger boxes look more substantial, or because a small pair seems easier to pack. The protective covers should fit the chosen batim properly.[7]

The straps must be black on the outward-facing side. Inspect areas that rub or tighten for wear, and ask the seller how to handle a worn patch rather than using ordinary craft paint.[1]

Ordering for a bar mitzvah

Work backward from the date the boy will start wearing tefillin, which may be before the bar mitzvah itself. Customs differ, so confirm the starting date with his rabbi or teacher first.[10]

Then ask the seller for a schedule that includes production or sourcing, checking, delivery, and fitting. Leave room to resolve a problem without rushing. A personalized bag is a nice finishing touch; the tefillin and their preparation come first.

Before paying, get a written description of what is included. Ask about the policy for an independent check, adjustments, repairs, and returns, particularly if any part of the order is personalized.

Checking and care after purchase

Ask the sofer or rabbi who knows your set when it should next be examined. Checking schedules differ for regularly worn tefillin and those used only occasionally, and condition matters too. If they become wet, arrange a prompt examination.[1][11] After a fall or a significant knock, have a qualified sofer assess them.[7]

Keep tefillin dry, at room temperature, and out of direct sunlight. Don't leave them in a car for long periods. Properly fitting covers help protect the batim from knocks and rubbing.[7]

When choosing a seller, ask whether they provide checking and repair services or can refer you to someone who does. That relationship can be useful long after the original purchase.

Where to buy tefillin

Sofrim and STaM specialists are a natural starting point. Ask about the complete set, including the batim and straps, as well as the parchments. General Judaica stores may be convenient for a bar mitzvah order with accessories; ask the same questions about who supplies and checks the tefillin.

Browse our Tefillin category, or find stores near you for an in-person conversation. Stores are chosen editorially; affiliate relationships do not affect inclusion or order.

For the rest of a bar mitzvah purchase, see choosing a tallis. For another STaM purchase, see buying a kosher mezuzah.

FAQ

Are gassos required? No. Other grades can be kosher. Gassos offer durability and easier repair, which makes them worth considering for daily use.[7]

Can I buy online? Yes. Establish who stands behind the set, who checked the parshiyos, and how fitting and any independent examination will be arranged. The seller's reliability matters more than whether the transaction is online or in a shop.[4]

What should I spend more on first? Secure reliable, checked parshiyos and kosher batim before spending on more beautiful lettering or accessories. Ask the seller to explain what each upgrade adds.[6]

Sources

1. Halachipedia, "Details About the Tefillin Boxes and Straps"
2. Din Online, "Buying Tefillin"
3. OU Torah, "The Importance of Haga'ah" (Ohr Olam Mishnah Berurah)
4. OU Torah, "Buying Tefillin" (Ohr Olam Mishnah Berurah)
5. HaSofer, "Computer Checking of STaM"
6. Din Online, "Hiddur of Tefillin"
7. Chabad.org, "Purchasing Tefillin: A Buyer's Guide"
8. Yeshivat Har Bracha, Revivim (Rabbi Eliezer Melamed)
9. Halachipedia, "Rabbenu Tam Tefillin"
10. Halachipedia, "Who Is Obligated to Wear Tefillin?"
11. Sefaria, Mishnah Berurah 39:26-27