Prayer and Blessings
If someone prays alone, must he remove his tefillin before Musaf on Rosh Chodesh?
Removing tefillin before Musaf on Rosh Chodesh when praying alone
Question
If someone prays the Shacharit service for Rosh Chodesh at home alone, does he need to remove his tefillin before praying Musaf? After all, he does not say Kedushat Keter.
Thank you very much
Answer
Greetings,
Even one who prays alone must remove his tefillin before beginning Musaf on Rosh Chodesh.
Sources: The Rema wrote in Orach Chaim (siman 25, seif 13) that one should remove the tefillin specifically in the place where, in Musaf, Kedushat Keter is recited. However, he concluded there: Nevertheless, it is customary to remove them before Musaf in all places. The Levush wrote there, in seif 13, that the reason is that the Musaf prayer corresponds to the additional offering of that day, and we make it like Yom Tov at least at the time of the offering, and Yom Tov does not require a sign. This reason is brought by the Mishnah Berurah (siman 423, seif katan 10). Also see in Kaf HaChaim (seif katan 94) that according to the view of Rabbeinu HaAri z"l, the reason for removing the tefillin is not because we say Keter, but because according to Kabbalah tefillin have no connection at all to the Musaf prayer. According to this, even an individual praying Musaf on Rosh Chodesh must remove his tefillin before Musaf. See also on this subject in Responsa Zekan Aharon, part 2 (siman 5).
With blessings, Hillel Meirs
