I have a chavrusa with whom I have been learning for the better part of a decade. We started with Makkos when he was in 7th grade. He is now in Beis Medrash and we have found a 30 minute slot on Sundays that fits into bot of our schedules, which we use to learn Mishna Brura בעיון/slowly and carefully. This last week, Sunday was a fast day, so his yeshiva schedule was more flexible and we learned after early mincha, instead of our regular time. I was even thankful that we could learn earlier, as fasting does not always go as easily these days as it used to. As we got close to the 30 minute mark, I asked if he could continue. (Meaning, did his schedule permit.) Ever the quick wit, he took the opportunity to exercise said wit, "I am 20, so we can go as long as you are able." That remark dispelled any notion I had of stopping early and I found the strength to press on until we were both at the end of our resources. (My mother was wont to mention my stubbornness; not my praise, of course.)
We are in the middle of leaning one of the most complex topics in the Mishna Brura, the laws of תפילין. The complexity arises both from the myriad of details regarding each component and from the myriad of opinions regarding what details are directly from the Torah and which are from Chazal and which are critically necessary and which are "nice to haves". Had you asked me before I started the topic to guess where the most effort needs to go in building תפילין, I would have said definitely in the scrolls, followed by the boxes that hold the scrolls. True, there are certainly a lot of details and important aspects to getting that right. (Including something that can't even be checked afterward: the order of writing not just the scripture -- down to the order of the letters -- on each scroll, but also the order in which the scrolls themselves are written. Be very careful, therefore, to buy תפילין from a reputable dealer; otherwise you could find yourself never having fulfilled the mitzvah of תפילין in your life, and piles and piles of brachos in vain.)
What about the straps? Um... yes, you have to have straps to tie them onto your arm and head. But, I mean... they are just straps, right? Right? So check out 33:3 -- The straps have to be made from a kosher animal or bird. The leather for the straps must be worked entirely for the sake of making תפילין straps. The straps must be painted black on the outside -- and that is a הלכה למשה מסיני/a law told to Moshe when the Torah was given and not written down. Now that's amazing. No argument; the straps must be black on the outside, and that is critical -- you don't fulfill the mitzvah of תפילין without that. There is a long discussion about in the Biur Halacha about just how black and which side is the outside, and whether you can paint both sides just to be on the safe side (spoiler: not really).
Regarding that issue of making them for the sake of being straps. Even the boxes don't necessarily require that. The Mishna Brura explains that boxes can do their job even without being worked. (In fact, the Rambam says better to not work them, as that softens them and makes them less durable as boxes.) The straps, though, can't do their job without being worked; that is, the working them and their ability to function are intrinsically linked. There is even a discussion about whether parchment that was worked to have even the holiness of a sefer Torah can be used for straps!
Two important lessons: (1) You can't apply human reasoning to matters of holiness. (2) Don't underestimate the stubbornness of a 60+ year old. (This 60+ year old, anyway... I sometimes even surprise myself how obstinate I can be.)
We are in the middle of leaning one of the most complex topics in the Mishna Brura, the laws of תפילין. The complexity arises both from the myriad of details regarding each component and from the myriad of opinions regarding what details are directly from the Torah and which are from Chazal and which are critically necessary and which are "nice to haves". Had you asked me before I started the topic to guess where the most effort needs to go in building תפילין, I would have said definitely in the scrolls, followed by the boxes that hold the scrolls. True, there are certainly a lot of details and important aspects to getting that right. (Including something that can't even be checked afterward: the order of writing not just the scripture -- down to the order of the letters -- on each scroll, but also the order in which the scrolls themselves are written. Be very careful, therefore, to buy תפילין from a reputable dealer; otherwise you could find yourself never having fulfilled the mitzvah of תפילין in your life, and piles and piles of brachos in vain.)
What about the straps? Um... yes, you have to have straps to tie them onto your arm and head. But, I mean... they are just straps, right? Right? So check out 33:3 -- The straps have to be made from a kosher animal or bird.
Regarding that issue of making them for the sake of being straps. Even the boxes don't necessarily require that. The Mishna Brura explains that boxes can do their job even without being worked. (In fact, the Rambam says better to not work them, as that softens them and makes them less durable as boxes.) The straps, though, can't do their job without being worked; that is, the working them and their ability to function are intrinsically linked. There is even a discussion about whether parchment that was worked to have even the holiness of a sefer Torah can be used for straps!
Two important lessons: (1) You can't apply human reasoning to matters of holiness. (2) Don't underestimate the stubbornness of a 60+ year old. (This 60+ year old, anyway... I sometimes even surprise myself how obstinate I can be.)
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