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Rambam In-Depth February 10, 2026 3 min

Rambam In-Depth: Why Tefillin is TWO Mitzvot (Not One!) - The Answer Will Surprise You

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🎓 Why does Rambam count tefillin shel rosh and tefillin shel yad as TWO separate mitzvot?

In this Rambam In-Depth shiur, we explore a fundamental question in the Minyan HaMitzvot: If tzitzit with its techelet and lavan counts as ONE mitzvah despite having two components, why does the Rambam count tefillin as TWO?

The Ramban asks this question in Sefer HaMitzvot, and we bring the brilliant answers of the Rivash and the Rogatchover Gaon to resolve this apparent contradiction.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

🔑 KEY INSIGHTS:

  • Tefillin shel rosh = perpetual state (being on the head)
  • Tefillin shel yad = the act of binding (kshira)
  • Why shel rosh always comes before shel yad
  • The difference between meakev and shared objective

📚 CONCEPTS DISCUSSED:

  • Minyan HaMitzvot (248 positive commandments)
  • Meakev (prerequisite components)
  • Tefillin shel rosh vs shel yad
  • Tzitzit: techelet and lavan
  • Kriat Shema shacharit ve’arvit
  • The Rogatchover’s chiddush

In this class

  1. 0:00Introduction: The Rambam's System
  2. 0:35Ramban's Question: Why Two Mitzvot?
  3. 1:15The Tzitzit Comparison
  4. 1:45The Rivash's Answer: Action vs Function
  5. 2:20The Kriat Shema Question
  6. 2:50The Rogatchover's Brilliant Insight
  7. 3:25Two Functions: Rosh vs Yad

Part of the series Rambam In-Depth

Rambam In-Depth
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