Gemara Clarity

Menachos 35b

מנחות ל״ה ע״ב

Menachot 35b

Learn Menachos 35b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Menachos 35b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The laws of תפילין straps and knots, and when to say the ברכה

Overview

This amud gives a practical guide to תפילין straps and knots. It opens with a second way to tell 'new' תפילין from 'old' ones. Then it rules that a torn רצועה may not be knotted, because וקשרתם means a complete binding. For sewing with hidden stitches, רב אשי says to follow common practice. רב פפא's view that leftover strap pieces are kosher is rejected: תכלת and אזוב are only תשמישי מצוה, but תפילין are תשמישי קדושה. So straps must have a minimum length, measured up to the index finger. The גמרא then teaches that the תפילין knot is a הלכה למשה מסיני. Its nice side must face outward, and it must sit high and toward the front. Two פסוקים are linked to the head תפילין and to the knot that ה׳ showed משה. Finally, the ברכה on תפילין is said after putting them on but before tying them, so it still comes before the מצוה.

Opening lines

וְאִי נָמֵי כֹּל הֵיכִי

Alternatively, in any case

דְּכִי מִיתְּלֵי בֵּיהּ בְּמִתְנָא

where, when one hangs it by the strap,

אַתְיֵיהּ אַבָּתְרֵיהּ –

it comes along after it,

חַדְתָּתָא, וְאִידָּךְ – עַתִּיקָתָא.

those are new; and the other – old.

The steps (22)

  1. ResponseA second way to define new and old תפילין
  2. Questionאביי asks about knotting a torn strap
  3. ResponseNo knots, because the binding must be complete
  4. QuestionSewing the strap with hidden stitches
  5. ResponseGo see what people do
  6. Statementרב פפא: leftover strap pieces are kosher
  7. RejectionRejected: בני רבי חייא listed only תכלת and אזוב
  8. ConclusionWhy straps are stricter: holiness versus מצוה use
  9. QuestionStraps must have a minimum length, so how long?
  10. ResponseThe measure: up to the index finger
  11. StatementTwo ways of showing the measure
  12. StatementHow different sages wore their straps
  13. StatementThe תפילין knot is from סיני
  14. StatementThe nice side faces outward
  15. Challengeמר זוטרא notices רב אשי's flipped strap
  16. Resolutionרב אשי: I did not notice
  17. StatementThe nations will see ה׳'s name: the head תפילין
  18. Statementה׳ showed משה the knot of תפילין
  19. StatementThe knot must be high and toward the front
  20. StatementThe ברכה on תפילין is said from when you put them on
  21. ChallengeEvery ברכה must come before doing the מצוה
  22. ResolutionSay the ברכה between putting on and tying