34 stores in this directory sell tefillin. Many are general Judaica retailers, and many others are sofrim and STaM specialists. Every listing links to the store's own site, and each fact on it comes from a dated source.
What to look for
Tefillin have three parts: the parchment scrolls, the boxes (batim) and the straps (retzuos). The scrolls are handwritten on parchment by a specially trained scribe.[1] You can't judge them yourself, so the seller's reliability matters most. If you don't know where to buy, ask your rav.
Batim grades. Chabad.org describes three: peshutim, made from separate pieces of leather and the simplest; dakkos, made from one thin piece; and gassos, made from one thick piece, the most durable and expensive.[1] The boxes must be square and black, and the black side of the straps faces out.[2]
Custom. The standard customs are Ashkenaz, Sefard and Chabad. They affect how the arm-tefillin straps are knotted and the style of the letters on the parchment.[1] Tell the seller which one you follow.
Which kind of store
- Sofrim and STaM specialists write or source the parchments and can tell you who wrote and checked them. Many also check tefillin.
- General Judaica retailers sell tefillin sets alongside bags and covers. Ask who supplies and checks their parchments.
Questions to ask the seller
- Who wrote the parchments, and who checked them?
- Which batim grade is this?
- Which custom are the knots tied for? Mention if the wearer is left-handed, since the arm tefillin goes on the weaker arm.[1]
- Do you check tefillin, and how long does a check take?
Timing
Plan well ahead for a bar mitzvah. Halachipedia notes the common Ashkenazi custom is to start wearing tefillin two or three months before the bar mitzvah, and that Sephardim often begin a year or two before.[3] Customs vary, so ask your rav, then order early enough to have the tefillin before that date. Ask the seller about lead time, since higher grades can take longer.
Sources
- Purchasing Tefillin: A Buyer's Guide – Chabad.org
- Details About the Tefillin Boxes and Straps – Halachipedia
- Who Is Obligated to Wear Tefillin? – Halachipedia