Tefillin on Opposite Hand

Question

I am right handed and am currently in the hospital for 3 days with an I.V. in the top of my left hand. I asked the nurse if it would be Ok to wrap the Retzuos over the I.V. site and she advised against it as she said it could stop the fluids from entering properly. Should I wrap the Tefillin shel yad on my right arm temporarily until I no longer have the I.V. or do I refrain from wrapping the shel yad? I am unsure of the halacha for this matter and have not put tefiilin yet today. I would greatly need a response before sunset.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Sorry for the time difference – we are in Jerusalem – but I hope this reaches you in time for today.

    I have the following notes on file and hope they are helpful and timely.

    There is an opinion that when the left arm is unavailable, one puts the tefillin on the right arm without a bracha (Magen Avraham 27:3 and Pri Megadim, 27:11). However, the consensus is that the right arm is not an option for a right-handed person (Mishna Berura 27:6; Laws of Tefillin (Eider) p. 85).

    If one can put just the bayit of the tefillin on the skin, the retzuot being on the sleeve is less of a problem. Also, if one could only get the tefillin directly on the upper part of the bicep, one can rely on the Gra that that is also a valid place for tefillin shel yad (Mishna Berura 27:4). The ability to get seven wrappings on the forearm is not a major issue and certainly does not preclude a bracha (Shulchan Aruch OC 27:8).

    May Hashem grant you a speedy and complete recovery.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team