Opinion & Comment
Kosher or Posul?

To The Editor:

After sending my tefillin to be checked and worked on, I borrowed a pair of tefillin for a day from a choshuve Jew with yiras Shomayim and to my great dismay, when I opened the tefillin bag I found a very unpleasant surprise: the tefillin were worn and peeled, both the batim themselves and the straps. White dots shone forth from everywhere, not to speak of a frightful corner -- this is what a talmid chochom with yiras Shomayim lent me to wear? Therefore I have decided to speak out on the matter, and perhaps this will help other Jews from erring.

A. Anyone with a bit of learning knows this is not a hiddur mitzvoh above and beyond the halachic requirements, but at best a case of kosher bedi'eved and at worst, posul lechatchila. Sometimes there is a fine line between the two, and thus chas vesholom it can be as if he is not wearing tefillin at all and recites brochos levatolo, Heaven help us.

B. In our generation of great abundance people beautify and improve their property and homes, investing tremendous sums in fine furniture. It is well known that the simplest, most modest standard of living does not approach the standards and wherewithal of the greatest men of wealth in previous generations. Therefore clearly we are expected to ensure the kashrus and beauty of our tefillin meet the highest standards -- as Chazal say, "Lo sihiye kohenes kepundakis."

May it be His will that the verse Chazal say refers to the tefillin we wear on our heads, "Vero'u kol amei ho'oretz ki Sheim Hashem nikro oleicho veyor'u mimeko," is realized in us, and in the merit of mitzvas tefillin behidur may HaKodosh Boruch Hu fulfill our request of "tipol aleihem eimoso vofachad," Amen.

T. S.

Jerusalem

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