Sephardic tefillin

Sephardic Tefillin

Whether you are purchasing Tefillin for yourself, a dear one or a bar mitzvah, it is important to have in front of you all the relevant information so that you can make an informed intelligent choice based on knowledge, budget and commitment.

It is important to be aware of the two style of Tefillin – either Ashkenazi and Sephardi Tefillin. Both are 100% Kosher. The choice is based on your background and lineage. The Sephardic Jews are those who originate from Oriental land and Middle Eastern countries. The Ashkenazi Jews are those whose ancestry come from Western Europe. If you have a query about your heritage, consult a competent Rabbi for an answer.

The main differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Tefillin are the shape of the Shin letter written on the box of the Tefillin, the style of writing used by the scribe for writing the parchments and the manner of tying the hand straps.

At tefillin.biz, we take pride to offer our customers a choice of Ashkenazi and Sephardic style Tefillin. To make it easier for you, we have made two separate categories so you can scroll through and examine easily and quickly the Tefillin that are of interest to you.

You may be surprised at the huge disparity of cost between the lowest and highest price of Tefillin. We assure you – our Tefillin reflect the general rule – pay more, get more! The more costly Tefillin adhere more strictly to Halachic guidelines. They are strong, long wearing and are made to last a lifetime. A quality parchment scroll takes much longer to write and check and this is reflected in the price.

Peshutim Tefillin, the lowest costing Tefillin, are made with many leniencies. The inner parts of the Box are not a single piece of leather as is preferable but various pieces that are carefully glued together. The parchments are handwritten by a competent scribe but are not computer checked and they do not carry a guarantee.

The next stage in low-cost Sephardic Tefillin are Bar Mitzvah Tefillin - intended for the boy who is wearing Tefillin for the first time. Here too, leniencies have reduce the cost. Of course, the parchments are written by a Tefillin.biz certified scribe. They are computer checked and guaranteed.

Tefillin Peshutim Mehudarim are more costly Tefillin. Although they too are crafted from separate pieces of leather glued together and the boxes are made from the less expensive and lightweight goatskin, the parchments come with a computer check certificate and tefillin.biz guarantees the accuracy of the writing of these Tefillin. Note: these tefillin are fragile and need to be handled with care so that the boxes do not become rubbed at the corner and lose their exact square shape which is halachically important.

If you prefer a larger box, tefillin.biz offers at a small additional cost, Tefillin Boxes that are 35 millimeters wide on each side instead of the usual 32 mms.

Tefillin Dakkot are a little more expensive. The Boxes are made in the more preferable manner – a single piece of leather stretched over the base. They are stronger and more durable. However, they still need special care to protect them from damage. Dakkot Ohr Echad Tefillin are even more halachically acceptable.

The category of the most praiseworthy Tefillin is Tefillin Gassot. The boxes are formed from a single piece of superior thick cow-hide leather that has been softened, dried and pressed by a special process. The high cost reflects the time effort and manpower this demands. They are usually strong enough to last a lifetime.

The three types of Gassot are: Gassot, Gassot Miksheh level B and Miksheh Level A. Each one has various levels of hidurim – enhancing the Mitzvah so that it is fulfilled in the most beautiful manner. In Miksheh A and B, the boxes and straps are hand-made and the box is skillfully formed from a single piece of leather stretched to the form of the box. Level A has more enhancements. This magnificent pair of Tefillin will become a family heirloom.

Obviously, the quality of the writing on the Tefillin parchments increases with the higher priced Boxes. The more the Tefillin costs, the higher is the quality of the parchment scroll.

This is only the introduction to what we know is a complex topic. So, if you have queries, do not hesitate to call us. Our knowledgeable staff will be delighted to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision regarding your tefillin purchase – a purchase that will based on your budget and life style.