I was wondering why the order of tefillin parshias is stated in a braisa rather than be in a mishnah itself. Also, I don't clearly understand the use of "right" and "left" in the braisa according to the explanation of Rashi. IF the parshias are already to be in the order they appear in the Torah, wouldn't it be enough to have the word "right" at the beginning rather than after the first two parshias, followed then by "left" after the second two.
Thanks.
David Goldman, USA
I do not know why the order of the Parshios is not mentioned in the Mishnah, but I suggest that perhaps even in the time of the Mishnah there were different opinions as to the order of the Parshios, and perhaps no consensus was reached by the Tana'im so Rebbi left the matter open. Furthermore, since some (see Chaim Sha'al (1)) say that according to Kabbalah both sets should be worn, the Tanna may have wished to avoid ruling on the subject. (However, others are of the opinion that there is no need to wear two pairs even according to the Kabbalah (Mor u'Ketzi'ah, and the Gra.)
The Rosh (Hilchos Tefillin 5) says that the Tana is teaching us that two of the Parshios should be on the right side of the head and the other two on the left. I do not see what the advantage would be of placing the word "right" before the names of the Parshios.
Dov Freedman
Aha.....that helps alot. But wouldn't the right and left side of the head also be understood if the braisa simply said that the parshiyos go according to their order starting on the right? And is Rabbenu Tam's kashe answered by Rashi's commentators, because he asks a clear question as to why the braisa couldn't simply then have said "three right and one left" to make the same point? And what does the braisa mean at the end about "ihafech"?
The Rosh means to say that the Beraisa says two on the left and two on the right to teach us that one must ensure that one wears his Tefilin in a way that two of the Parshiyos are on the right and two are on the left. This answers Rabeinu Tam's question.
What do you mean by Ihafech in the Beraisa? Perhaps you are referring to the Beraisa that says Ipchah. Please clarify this point.
Dov Freedman