The Torah mentions the Misva of
Tefillin eight times, and Rambam rules that one who regularly
neglects this Misva violates all eight mentions. This makes Tefillin one of the
most serious daily obligations.
A natural question arises:
What if a person cannot afford
Tefillin?
Is he required to beg or sell his belongings to fulfill the Misva?
Is There a
Financial Obligation to Purchase Tefillin at All Costs?
Surprisingly, Halacha does not
require a person to beg, knock on doors, or sell his clothing in order to
buy Tefillin. This contrasts sharply with other Misvot:
- For Shabbat candles, Halacha states one
should sell the shirt off his back.
- For the four cups of wine on Pesaḥ, one must do the same.
Why, then, is Tefillin different?
The Aḥaronim address this inconsistency. Some
suggest the distinction lies in the preparation of the Misva versus its fulfillment.
When it comes to creating or purchasing Tefillin, one is not required to go
to extreme measures. But when it comes to fulfilling the
Misva—actually wearing Tefillin—a person must make great efforts, even
if not to the level of begging or selling his shirt.
Borrowing
Tefillin When One Cannot Buy Them
Although one is not obligated to beg
or sell belongings, Halacha still expects a person to do everything
reasonably possible to fulfill the Misva, including:
- Borrowing Tefillin from a friend
- Asking family or community members to help buy him a pair
However, borrowing Tefillin is not
always a simple solution:
- Proper fit matters, especially for the head
Tefillin (Shel Rosh). If the fit is incorrect, one may not fulfill the
Misva properly.
- Right-handed and left-handed Tefillin are
different. Borrowed
Tefillin might be unusable if the sides don't match.
- The knots often require adjustment, and
people are either unable or too lazy to adjust and then return them
properly. This can result in a misplacement or a Beracha
Levatala (a blessing in vain).
Due to these complications, many
rabbis—especially the Mishnah Berura, Ḥacham Ovadia Yosef, and Rav Moshe Feinstein—strongly
encourage even poor individuals to ask for help or borrow properly
rather than excuse themselves from the Misva.
The Bait Ḥadash further warns against those who
habitually rely on borrowed Tefillin. He criticizes those who wouldn't borrow a
toothbrush or shoes, yet treat Tefillin as communal property.
This attitude reflects a lack of personal responsibility for one of the
Torah's most central obligations.
Summary
- Tefillin is a daily Misva of great seriousness, mentioned eight times in
the Torah.
- One is not required to beg or sell basic
clothing to fulfill it—but should do everything else possible.
- This includes borrowing Tefillin or
asking others to help purchase a pair.
- Long-term reliance on borrowed Tefillin is discouraged
due to concerns of improper fit, invalid usage, and lack of commitment.
- Each Jew should ultimately own his own
Tefillin and treat them as essential—just as he would his clothing or
daily necessities.
