Jewish Prayer & Tefillin
Jewish prayer — tefillah — is the service of the heart (avodah shebalev). Three times each day, Jews turn toward Jerusalem and speak directly to God. On weekday mornings, this conversation is accompanied by the ancient practice of laying tefillin.
The Three Daily Services
Shacharit — Morning Prayer
The longest daily service, Shacharit opens with morning blessings (Birkot HaShachar) and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise from Psalms and Chronicles). The centerpiece is the Shema and its blessings, followed by the Amidah — the silent standing prayer of 19 blessings. On weekdays, Tachanun (supplication) follows. The service concludes with Aleinu and Kaddish. On Mondays, Thursdays, Shabbat, holidays, and Rosh Chodesh, Torah is read.
Mincha — Afternoon Prayer
The afternoon service is brief but spiritually significant — the Talmud says Elijah was answered at Mincha (Berakhot 6b). It consists of Ashrei (Psalm 145), the Amidah, Tachanun (on appropriate days), and Aleinu. On Shabbat and fast days, a Torah portion is read at Mincha.
Maariv — Evening Prayer
The evening service includes Barchu (call to prayer), the Shema with its two surrounding blessings, the Amidah, and Aleinu. On Saturday nights, Havdalah prayers are woven in. Maariv is technically a voluntary prayer that became universally accepted — the Talmud (Berakhot 27b) records the famous debate between Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua about its obligatory status.
The Mitzvah of Tefillin
Tefillin are two black leather boxes containing handwritten Torah passages, worn on the arm and head during weekday morning prayer. The mitzvah appears four times in the Torah (Shemot 13:1–10, 13:11–16; Devarim 6:4–9, 11:13–21) and is one of the oldest continuously observed Jewish practices. The Talmud (Menachot 44a) teaches that one who wears tefillin will merit long life.
Shel Yad (Arm Tefillin)
The arm tefillin is placed on the bicep of the weaker arm (left arm for right-handed individuals), angled toward the heart. The strap is wound seven times around the forearm and three times around the middle finger, forming the letters shin, dalet, yud — spelling "Shaddai," one of God's names.
Shel Rosh (Head Tefillin)
The head tefillin is placed on the hairline above the forehead, centered between the eyes. It contains four separate parchment compartments, each with one of the four Torah passages. The knot at the back forms the letter dalet, while the box bears the letter shin.
The Parchments (Parshiyot)
Each tefillin contains four Torah passages handwritten by a certified scribe (sofer): Shema (Devarim 6:4–9), V'haya im shamoa (Devarim 11:13–21), Kadesh (Shemot 13:1–10), and V'haya ki y'vi'acha (Shemot 13:11–16). The arm tefillin contains all four on a single parchment; the head tefillin has four separate compartments.
How to Lay Tefillin — Step by Step
- Remove shoes (some customs); have clean hands.
- Place the arm tefillin on the bicep. Recite the blessing: "…v'tzivanu l'haniach tefillin." Tighten the knot before speaking.
- Wind the strap seven times around the forearm (Ashkenaz: toward the elbow).
- Place the head tefillin on the hairline. Recite (Ashkenaz): "…al mitzvas tefillin." Sephardim do not recite a second blessing.
- Complete the winding: three coils around the middle finger, spelling "Shaddai."
- Proceed to pray Shacharit. Tefillin are removed after Shacharit (before Musaf on Chol HaMoed, per most Ashkenazic customs).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is obligated to lay tefillin?
- Adult Jewish males (from bar mitzvah age) are halachically obligated. Women are exempt (it is a time-bound positive commandment), though some women in liberal denominations choose to wear them. Many Sephardic authorities discourage women from doing so.
- Why don't we lay tefillin on Shabbat and Yom Tov?
- Shabbat and Yom Tov are themselves called an 'ot' (sign) of the covenant — like tefillin. Wearing an additional sign would be redundant or even disrespectful to the sanctity of the day. The Zohar additionally associates Shabbat with a spiritual level where tefillin are not needed.
- What is Kavvanah in prayer?
- Kavvanah means intention and mindful focus during prayer. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 98) rules that one must pray with kavvanah, at minimum focusing on the meaning of the words during the first blessing of the Amidah. Improving kavvanah is a lifelong pursuit in Jewish spirituality.
- What is the Amidah?
- The Amidah (also called the Shemoneh Esrei — 'eighteen,' for its original 18 blessings, now 19) is the central prayer of every service. It is recited silently while standing, facing Jerusalem. On weekdays it contains petitionary blessings; on Shabbat and holidays, petitions are replaced with prayers appropriate to the day.
- Can I pray in English?
- Jewish law permits prayer in any language one understands (Mishnah Sotah 7:1). Many poskim encourage Hebrew as the primary language for communal prayer and for the Shema. For personal prayer (personal supplication during the Amidah), any language is fully appropriate.