Where does it come from the minhag to make the kesher in the back of the Tefillin Shel Rosh like a “square” (like some people do it.) Is this an acceptable minhag? Was there anyone that was cholek on this minhag?
Answer:
There are two main customs for the tefilin knot, one for the knot to be in the form of a dalet, and the other in the form of a square, closed mem. Both are accepted and valid.
Some write that the knot must be in the form of a dalet, which is therefore part of the name Shakkai. However, see Tzitz Eliezer 9:9 who concludes that the closed, square knot is also fine.
The Rambam actually writes that the knot should be square, in the shape of a dalet. This appears to be a contradiction, and some explain that the straps coming out of the knot form the dalet, and the knot itself is square.
Best wishes.
The mekor is the zohar which says that the kesher should be 2 daleds. The square is one straight daled & one upside down daled (you have to use some parts twice). Some people mistakenly call it a mem but it is HLM that it must be a daled
Thanks for adding this.
Right, Rambam says:
a) the knot must be square
b) the knot must look like Dal (not Daleth!).
(Dal is Phoenician letter. It is closed form like Greek Delta)
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