Tefillin are worn by adult Jews during weekday and Sunday morning prayers. In Orthodox and traditional communities, they are worn solely by men, while some Reform and Conservative Masorti communities allow them to be worn by Jewish adults regardless of gender. In Jewish law halacha , women are exempt from most time-dependent positive commandments, which include tefillin, and unlike other time-dependent positive commandments, most halachic authorities prohibit them from fulfilling this commandment.
Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form the singular being "tefillah" , it is often used as a singular as well. They are intended to fulfill the Torah 's instructions to maintain a continuous "sign" and "remembrance" of the Exodus from Egypt.
While historically men used to wear tefillin all day, [ 3 ] this is no longer common. The general practice today is to remove them following services.
The biblical verses often cited as referring to tefillin are obscure. Deuteronomy , for instance, does not designate explicitly what specifically to "bind upon your arm", and the definition of " totafot between your eyes" is not obvious. These details are delineated in the Oral Torah. At least as early as the 1st century CE , many Jews understood the verses literally and wore physical tefillin, as shown by archaeological finds at Qumran [ 5 ] and a reference in Matthew 23 of the Christian New Testament.
However, Karaite Judaism understands the verses to be metaphorical. The obligation of tefillin is mentioned four times in the Torah : twice when recalling The Exodus from Egypt :. And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the L ORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did the L ORD bring you out of Egypt.
