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Shimusha Rabba Tefillin

Source: Halachipedia: Shimusha Rabba Tefillin

Link: https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Shimusha_Rabba_Tefillin

Categories: Tefillin

Exported: 2025-12-30

How Shimusha Rabba Tefillin are Made

  1. There are a few defining details about Shimusha Rabba Tefillin, including the taggin (serifs), reversed order of the parshiot, and etzbayim by etzbayim size. According to some, they are essentially Rashi Tefillin made to size, whereas others think the order of parshiot must also be reversed.¹

When Shimusha Rabba Should Be Worn

  1. The Arizal used to wear Rabbenu Tam Tefillin at Mincha, but, when he made a pair of Shimusha Rabba Tefillin, he began wearing that at Mincha instead.²
  2. Even though it is uncommon, Sephardim follow the practice of the Arizal, so those who wear Shimusha Rabba do so at Mincha with a Beracha.³
  3. Some say one should not wear Shimusha Rabba at Mincha with a Tzibbur if nobody else does, because that would be Yuhara unless the person is well known for his piety. So, unless others are aslo wearing them, one should put them on privately.⁴ Others disagree.⁵
  4. One does not wear them on Erev Shabbat or Erev Yom Tov, but he does on Rosh Chodesh.⁶
  5. Some recommend wearing them after Shacharit.⁷

Who Should Wear Shimusha Rabba

  1. One who lives an outstandingly pure life may wear Shimusha Rabba, perhaps after forty years of age.⁸

Links

References

¹: Shaarei Halacha uMinhag Orach Chaim 1:31

²: Kaf HaChaim (Orach Chaim 37:10)

³: Or Letzion 2:3:12, Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chaim 37:4). They both argue that since the Shimusha Rabba are essentially Rashi Tefillin, one should recite a Beracha according to Peshat, even though the Rama Mifano 107, Chida (Machzik Beracha Orach Chaim 34:4), and Yaskil Avdi (vol. 8, Deah VeHaskel 6:8) argue that one should not recite a beracha because the Tefillin are so holy. See Halichot Olam vol. 1 pg 25

⁴: Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chaim 37:5)

⁵: Or Letzion 2:3:12

⁶: Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chaim 34:16, 37:4)

⁷: HaYom Yom 19 Menachem Av, Shaarei Halacha uMinhag Orach Chaim 1:31 See there for the step by step guide to wearing all four pairs every morning.

⁸: Shaarei Halacha uMinhag Orach Chaim 1:31