On the wearing of a kipa (yarmulka), tallit & tzitzit and tefillin in Conservative & Masorti Judaism
Tallit & Tzitzit
Conservative Judaism holds that men are obligated to wear a tallit each morning during shacharit (morning prayers); most authorities hold that women may wear a tallit, and some hold that women should be considered as fully obligated in this mitzvah as men are. This subject is dicussed in chapter 1 of R. Isaac Klein's "A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice".
In order to distinguish between men and women's clothing, many women in the Conservative movement have taken to wearing specially designed tallitot for women.
Tefillin
Conservative Judaism holds that men are obligated to don tefillin each morning during shacharit (morning prayers); most authorities hold that women may wear a tallit, and some hold that women should be considered as fully obligated in this mitzvah as men are. This subject is dicussed in chapter 1 of R. Isaac Klein's "A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice".
The Federation of Jewish Mens Clubs invites all Jews to join the annual World Wide Wrap, on Sunday, January 27th, 2002. The FJMC is encouraging tens of thousands of Jewish men and women to lay tefillin during their regular morning minyanim. Your Men's Club or Synagogue can participate in this first-ever world-wide event designed to celebrate this mitzvah and encourage regular practice. You can learn more at their website; where you can also Pledge towards the Tefillin Fund to purchase or subsidize tefillin for those who can not afford them; Twin your group with a European, Israeli or South American Masorti group and combine your efforts; Get World Wide Wrap t-shirts; Download free promotional and support materials; Included are flyers and ads, stories for your Bulletin, a WWW poster and the Implementation Guide; and visit their online Tefillin Store, which features not only tefillin and books, but also their highly-acclaimed video that demonstrates the why's and how's of laying tefillin and features men and women who practice this mitzvah regularly.
Kipot (yarmulkas)
There are sources that make covering the head by a Jewish male a special practice of the pious (midat chasidut) and there are sources indicating that it is mandatory for all. The Conservative movement recognizes that despite any questions about the source of this custom, this is the Jewish way of showing reverence and respect. Also, the movement realizes that it is a positive means of identification, as well as a barrier against assimilation. The Conservative practice is.
1. To cover the head whenever in the sanctuary of a synagogue. 2. To cover the head when praying and when studying or reading from our sacred literature.
3. To cover the whenever performing any ritual.
4. To cover the head when eating, since eating is always followed by a benediction. Some follow the minhag of certain Jewish communities in Germany where they cover their heads during the blessing before the meal and during the benedictions after the meal, but not during the meal itself.
[Adapted from "A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice"]
A letter on wearing tefillin, from the Federation of Jewish Mens Clubs
As Jews, the mitzvah of Tefillin is an integral part of our daily lives. The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs has produced the film "The Ties That Bind", a printed user's guide, and now offers kosher Tefillin at affordable prices. Many of our members tell us that they already have a perfectly good pair, perhaps handed down from their father or grandfather. While these Tefillin have great sentimental value, they may not be halachicaly permitted as daily use Tefillin.
Tefillin must be perfect in a number of areas, and may be rendered un-kosher if they fail to pass a number of simple tests. Finding a sofer to check your Tefillin is not difficult if you live in larger cities, but there may not be a sofer at all in many cities. In some cases, the sofer may be reluctant to put your heirloom Tefillin back together if they cannot be made kosher. While this can happen with Tefillin of any age, it is most likely to happen with older sets. (the sofer may feel that you will continue to use the Tefillin, even though you know that they are not permissible to use)
Many of the older sets are of the smallest sizes, usually from a bar mitzvah set. Traditionally, Jews would purchase newer Tefillin at milestone occasions, perhaps purchasing two or three pairs over their adult lives. Each pair would be larger than the last, with boxes following the traditions regarding their size and the size of the wearer's body. The smallest sets would be either put away or saved for a ''learner'', the next b'nai mitzvah.
Tefillin make an excellent gift for either b'nai mitzvah, or a groom, chatan, who would would often receive new Tefillin as a very special and personal gift from his parents or grandparents.
The FJMC now offers Tefillin in three sizes at three different prices that make checking older Tefillin uneconomical. Why risk the destruction of a family heirloom, when the purchase of a new pair is a telephone call away?
http://www.fjmc.org/tefillin.intrr
