Chapter 24: Wrapping the Straps of the Tefillin Shel Yad Around One’s Arm
1) Some have the custom to wrap the strap around the yodshaped knot that is tied to the side of the tefillin box. A different custom is to proceed immediately to wrap the strap seven times around the forearm. The communities of Aram Soba follow the second view, and proceed directly to wrapping the strap seven times without first wrapping it around the yod-shaped knot. However, even for those following this second custom, if a person has narrow arms and the tefillin thus does not stay in place, he may wrap the strap around the titura (the front area of the base of the tefillin) in order to hold the tefillin in its place.[134]
2) The common practice is to wrap the strap seven times around the forearm while seated, before donning the tefillin shel rosh. When one wraps the tefillin around his forearm, he must ensure to wrap the straps seven complete times. The partial wrap circuits at the beginning (near the elbow) and at the end (near the hand) do not combine to comprise a complete wrap circuit.[135]
Footnotes
- 134 - כה"ח כה:יא, כז:ח, ומשנ"ב שם
- 135 - שו"ע כז:ח וכה"ח שם