Halachot and Customs
Is It Obligatory to Put on Rabbeinu Tam Tefillin?
Question
Hello, is there an obligation to put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin? I understand that there are distinctions of age, understanding, and so on. Please answer according to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory.
Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello,
According to the view of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory, it is a mitzvah for every person to put on also Rabbeinu Tam tefillin, and in order not to violate the prohibition of bal tosif, he should intend, when putting them on, that with those which are according to halacha he is fulfilling the mitzvah of tefillin, while the rest are merely like straps. One does not recite a blessing over putting on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin. In any case, the custom is that unmarried young men do not put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin until after marriage.
Sources: See Yalkut Yosef (siman 34, seifim 1, 3), Halacha Berurah, part 3 (page 213 in the Shaar HaTziyun, subparagraph 21), and Minhagei HaRishon LeTzion, part 1 (chapter 3, seif 15).
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
