When people speak about hiddur mitzvah, beautifying a mitzvah, they often think of a beautiful etrog, a decorative sukkah, or an elegant tallit. When it comes to STaM, meaning Torah scrolls, Tefillin, ...

The Jewish ritual of wearing tefillin, wrapping leather straps around an arm and the head to hold small prayer boxes during daily prayer, has been practiced for more than 2,000 years. But last Sunday ...

These halachos are particularly relevant today. Based on a Halacha Lemoshe Misinai, tefillin batim (boxes) and straps may only be produced from the hide of a ritually pure animal (O.C. 32:37). Batim ...