Q&A: Tefillin That Fell
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Tefillin That Fell
Question
Hello Rabbi, what is the ruling regarding tefillin that fell while inside their cloth covering (the tefillin case)? Does one need to give charity? And if so, how much?
What is the ruling if they fell with the plastic covering over the box?
And what is the ruling if they fell without the plastic and without anything else, meaning the tefillin themselves actually fell?
Answer
All of this is a matter of custom, so it is hard to set clear definitions here.
When tefillin fall to the ground, there is a custom to fast. Many halakhic authorities wrote that nowadays we are weak (?), and therefore the fast can be redeemed through charity.
When they fell with a covering, the custom as well is to give a bit of charity.