"If one, G-d forbid, [is not careful to place the tefillin above his hairline and instead]
puts the tefillin on his forehead, he is following a custom of the Karites, and has not fulfilled
the mitzvah at all
.and has said a bracha in vain." {Mishna Berura 27:33}
- The tefillin shel rosh must always be positioned within an area which begins at the hairline
above the forehead, where the hairs sprout out from the scalp (the hairline roots), and terminates
at the point where a baby's "soft spot" ends. {Shulchan A'ruch O"H 27:9}
- The end of the "soft spot" is normally found directly above the point where the front-upper
ear is attached to the head
- The tefillin should be placed slightly above and behind the hairline roots, leaving enough
space to ensure that they will always remain in the correct placement area even if they slip down
a little. {Mishna Berura 27:33}
- Highest point for tefillin - The midpoint of the bone length between the elbow and
the shoulder is the highest point on the arm for any part of the tefillin. They should be
positioned on the biceps muscle below this point, slightly leaning towards the body. {Shulchan A'ruch O"H 27:1}
In case of great necessity and with no other alternative, (i.e. when you only have very
large tefillin available and they cannot fit in the proper area) you must ensure that the
tefillin never pass below the lowest point (see below) by placing them higher up the
arm, above the midpoint, making sure that the entire tefillin are always positioned only
on the bulge of the biceps. {Mishna Berura 27:4 citing the Gaon meVilna}
- Lowest point for tefillin begins where the biceps muscle starts to elevate and is normally
bulged. The tefillin must never pass below this point! {Mishna Berura 27:4} With your arm outstretched
(according to the ruling of Harav Hagaon Rabbi Y. S. Elyashiv, shlita) as in the above diagram,
you should carefully check your arm to recognize exactly where your biceps muscle starts to bulge,
and always make sure the tefillin are positioned slightly higher than this point so that they will
remain in the correct placement area even if they slip down a little.
- This is the area where the muscle is not normally elevated. No part of the tefillin may
sit in this area! One should not wear very large tefillin because the front edge of the tefillin
will almost certainly end up in this area, and you will lose the mitzvah. {Mishna Berura 27:4}
"So great is the mitzvah of tefillin that whoever wears them will live a long life....
and Raba said that all who wear tefillin and wrap themselves with a tallis, and say the
Shema and pray are promised a place in Olam Haba,.... Abaye said that the fires of
Gehinom will not affect him.... Rav Papa said that all of his sins are forgiven." [Tur O"H 37}
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