Is it Halacha to refrain from idle chat while wearing tefillin?
Answer:
The Mishnah Berurah (37:7) writes that one must refrain from idle chatter while wearing tefillin, because this can lead to a hesech ha-daas (lack of awareness) from one’s tefillin.
Yet, it is important to note that idle chatter does not include speech about business matters and other necessary speech.
It is preferable, in fact, for somebody to wear one’s tefillin during all hours of the day, even when a person is occupied with one’s business dealings and so on, so that there is clearly no prohibition on speaking about business matters while wearing tefillin. It is likewise permitted to speak with somebody for any necessity.
Therefore, the Vilna Gaon (Maaseh Rav), which is the source for the Mishnah Berurah, distinguishes between required speech (such as business dealings), which is permitted, and idle chatter, which is not permitted.
There seems to be a typo in the last sentence of the answer— it says “permitted” both times…
You are right. I’ll change it.
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