Q&A: Two Questions
Two Questions
Question
1. If you were living in America, would you wear a kippah outside the house, or only at home / during prayer?
2. I was wounded in the fighting in Gaza, and to my terrible sorrow both of my hands were amputated (I asked a friend to type this for me now). Should I put on only the head tefillin, or simply not put them on at all?
Thank you very much in advance.
Answer
1. I assume I would wear a kippah, although I haven’t lived there, and maybe it depends on the specific place. In general, when I was abroad (Paris, Rome, Sweden), some recommended going without a kippah. I went with one, because I found the idea of yielding to those intimidations repugnant. Still, I didn’t feel any real fear there, and it may be that some places are more problematic.
2. Oh, that is very sad to hear. I wish you as effective and speedy a recovery as possible. I’m glad to see that your spirit is strong and that you’re engaging with the halakhic aspects of your situation. More power to you.
As for your question, the arm tefillin do not prevent fulfillment of the head tefillin, and vice versa. You should certainly put on the head tefillin.
However, the halakhic decisors disagreed about which blessing to recite. This is a dispute between the Shulchan Arukh and the Rema. If your practice regarding blessings follows the Shulchan Arukh (the Sephardic custom), you should recite only “regarding the commandment of tefillin”; if it follows the Rema (Ashkenazim), recite both blessings.