Standard Tefillin Batim and Retzuot Guide
Tefillin Quality Details Charts
| Quality | Batim | Straps |
|---|---|---|
| Kosher Plus | שפירא - פרודות | מלאכת דוד |
| Kosher Lechatchila B | שפירא - פרודות | מלאכת דוד |
| Kosher Lechatchila A | שפירא - פרודות | מלאכת דוד |
| Mehudar B | שפירא - ריבוע רגל מכוון | מלאכת דוד |
| Mehudar | עבודת תפילין | דוננפלד |
| Mehudar A | עבודת תפילין | דוננפלד |
Tefillin Batim Details
שפירא - פרודות
SHAPIRA - PERUDOT
| Quality | Batim | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Details | English Translation | Explanation | |
|
Kosher Plus Kosher Lechatchila B Kosher Lechatchila A |
פרודות (Perudot) | Separated | Indicates that the compartments (batim) of the tefillin shel rosh are completely separated, ensuring each compartment is distinct and the tefillin is kosher. No glue between the compartments. |
| ללא חשש בכור (Lo Chashash Bechor) | Without concern of firstborn | Ensures that the leather used does not come from a firstborn animal, adhering to halachic requirements. | |
| עיבוד בסיד ועבודת יד (Ibud Basid BeAvodat Yad) | Processed with lime by hand | Refers to the method of tanning the leather using lime, done manually to ensure quality and adherence to traditional methods and halachic standards. | |
| השין משוך ביד (HaShin Mashukh BeYad) | The shin made by hand | Pertains to the shin letter on the tefillin shel rosh, indicating it is drawn by hand, following traditional methods and halachic requirements. | |
| חוט התפירה בין בית לבית (Chut HaTfirah Bein Bayit LeBayit) | The stitching sinew between compartments | Describes the sinew used to sew the compartments of the tefillin shel rosh, ensuring proper construction and adherence to halachic standards. | |
| מעור משובח (Me'or Meshubach) | Superior leather | Refers to high-quality leather used in the production of tefillin, enhancing their durability, appearance, and overall quality. | |
| כשרות הרב משה שאול קליין (Kashrut HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein) | Kashrut certification by Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein. | Refers to the kosher certification provided by Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein, a prominent halachic authority and dayan, known for his expertise in the laws of kashrut and Jewish law. His certification is respected and trusted for its adherence to stringent halachic standards. | |
Tefillin Batim Details
שפירא - ריבוע רגל מכוון
SHAPIRA - RIBUA REGEL MEKUVAN
| Level has all the Hiddurim of the previous levels in addition to what is below | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Batim | ||
| Product Details | English Translation | Explanation | |
| Mehudar B | ריבוע רגל (Ribua Regel) | Human powered foot pedal | The process of squaring the (batim compartments) is humanly powered (by food pedal, not electric). |
| מכוון (Mekuvan) | Visible sinew | There is a visible external sinew that passes from the outside between the partitions of the tefillin of the head, and is not just internal as in fully separated Perudot. | |
| מעור משובח (Me'or Meshubach) | Superior leather | Refers to high-quality leather used in the production of tefillin, enhancing their durability, appearance, and overall quality. | |
| ללא חשש בכור (Lo Chashash Bechor) | Without concern of firstborn | Ensures that the leather used does not come from a firstborn animal, adhering to halachic requirements. | |
| עיבוד בסיד ועבודת יד (Ibud Basid BeAvodat Yad) | Processed with lime by hand | Refers to the method of tanning the leather using lime, done manually to ensure quality and adherence to traditional methods and halachic standards. | |
| השין משוך ביד (HaShin Mashukh BeYad) | The shin made by hand | Pertains to the shin letter on the tefillin shel rosh, indicating it is drawn by hand, following traditional methods and halachic requirements. | |
| כשרות הרב משה שאול קליין (Kashrut HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein) | Kashrut certification by Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein. | Refers to the kosher certification provided by Rabbi Moshe Shaul Klein, a prominent halachic authority and dayan, known for his expertise in the laws of kashrut and Jewish law. His certification is respected and trusted for its adherence to stringent halachic standards. | |
Tefillin Batim Details
עטרת תפילין - מהודר
ATERET TEFILLIN - MEHUDAR
| Level has all the Hiddurim of the previous levels in addition to what is below | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Batim | ||
| Product Details | English Translation | Explanation | |
|
Mehudar Mehudar A |
עיבוד העורות (Ibud Ha'orot) | Leather processing | The leather is processed from frozen (soften) hides, not salted. This ensures there is no concern of firstborn animals or non-kosher species. The leather is mixed with lime by hand by a devout Jew, for the purpose of holiness. |
| עשיית הבתים (Asiyat Ha'batim) | Making the batim | The making of the tefillin boxes includes saying “for the sanctity of tefillin,” even after short breaks. The squaring of the boxes is done manually without any electrical power, ensuring the batim are smooth without folds and do not require filling. The measurement of the square is done with a caliper, ensuring the alignment of the box with the base (titura). There is no glue used between the batim, and the compartments are completely separate. The grooves reach down to the stitching, indicating true grooves. The partitions of the batim are intact and extend to the titura. | |
| עשיית האות שין (Asiyat Ha'ot Shin) | Making the letter Shin | The letter “Shin” is entirely handcrafted. The base for the Shin is made according to the traditional method known as “Chak Yerikhut.” | |
| צביעת הבתים (Tzviat Ha'batim) | Painting the batim | The painting is done with direct physical effort, with no concerns of secondary power. The painter uses a thin paint and applies minimal layers because the outer box needs to be exposed to the air (as per Talmud Sanhedrin 88b). Special care is taken to avoid any drops, which could pose a problem of being not for the sake of holiness. The paint used is aniline-based, derived from petroleum, ensuring it contains no impure substances. | |
| ללא קפלים (lo kapalim) | No folds | Forming the 4 compartments Shel Rosh is being done through a special technique, maintaining the top Titura flat, without any folds. | |
Tefillin Strap (Retzuot) Details
מלאכת דוד רצועות
MALCHUT DOVID RETZUOT
| Quality | Straps | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Details | English Translation | Explanation | |
|
Kosher Plus Kosher Lechatchila B Kosher Lechatchila A Mehudar B |
רצועות מהודרות (Retzuot Mehudarot) | Superior straps | Refers to the high-quality leather straps used in the tefillin, indicating they are made to exacting standards for enhanced durability and aesthetics. |
| עבודת יד (Avodat Yad) | Handcrafted | Indicates that the straps are made by hand, ensuring careful craftsmanship and adherence to traditional methods. | |
| מעור עליון (Me'or Elyon) | Top layer of hide leather | Refers to the top-quality leather used for making the straps, which is from the top layer of hide. | |
| נעשו בהשגחה צמודה והידור רב (Naasu Behashgacha Tzmuda VeHidur Rav) | Made under close supervision | Made under close supervision with many Hiddurm. | |
| מתחילת העיבוד והצביעה והחיתוך לשם קדושת התפילין והכל (Leshem Kedushat HaTefillin) | For the sanctity of the tefillin for the whole process | Indicates that the production process, from the initial stages of leather processing, dyeing, and cutting, is carried out with the intention of maintaining the sanctity of the tefillin. | |
| כשרות בד"ץ ומרכז רבני אירופה (Kashrut Badatz V’Merkaz Rabanei Europa) | Certification of Kashrut by Badatz and the Rabbinical Centre of Europe. | Refers to the kosher certification provided by the Badatz (Beit Din Tzedek), along with the Rabbinical Centre of Europe, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of halachic compliance. | |
Tefillin Strap (Retzuot) Details
זוננפלד רצועות - מהודר
SONNENFELD RETZUOT
| Quality | Straps | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Details | English Translation | Explanation | |
|
Mehudar Mehudar A |
עורות מובחרים (Orot Muvcharim) | Highest quality top grain hide. | Refers to the selection of the finest quality leather (top grain) used in the production of tefillin, ensuring durability and adherence to halachic standards. |
| נעשית בכוח ממש, ללא חשש כח כחו (Naasit B'Koach Mamash, L'lo Chashash Koach Kocho) | Painted with a brush, by hand, not with a machine sprayer. | Indicates that the painting process of the straps is done by hand with a brush, avoiding the use of machines, ensuring the process is done with direct human effort and control. | |
| ללא דבק מאחורי הרצועה (Le'o Devek Me'achorei Haretzuah) | No glue on the back of the strap. | Refers to no glue on the back of the strap. | |
| קפדא מיוחדת שלא יתיז טיפות (Kapeda Meyuchedet Shelo Yatiz Tipot) | No drops of paint allowed to drip on straps during painting, due to the problem of Lishma. | Special care is taken during the painting process to avoid any drops of paint dripping onto the straps, which could create a problem of not being done "Lishma" (with the correct intention). | |
| צבע על בסיס אנילין (Tzeva Al Basis Anilin) | The protective layer of lacquer paint is black, not clear. | Indicates that the protective lacquer paint used on the tefillin is black rather than clear, ensuring a pure and proper appearance according to halachic standards. | |
| כשרות בד"ץ העדה החרדית ירושלים (Kashrut Badatz HaEidah HaChareidis Yerushalayim) | Certification of Kashrus by Badatz of the Eida Chareidis in Jerusalem. | Confirms that the tefillin have been certified kosher by the Badatz of the Eida Chareidis, a respected and stringent rabbinical authority in Jerusalem. | |
