והיו חייך תלאים לך מנגד ופחדת לילה ויומם ולא תאמין בחייך (דברים כח,סו)
Your life shall hang before you and you will be in fear day and night and will have no faith in your living.
Rashi explains that the person is in doubt if he will live (hanging).
Berachos 24a derives from this verse that the person is in doubt as to their life since he suspended the Tefillin by its straps. For this action the person has dishonored the Tefillin by treating them in a disrespectful manner. For one’s life depends on Tefillin (see Menachos 44a-b). Thus, the verse uses the word “life” to teach that one who suspends his Tefillin suspends his life as well.
Shulchan Aruch Siman 40 Seif 1: It is prohibited to suspend one’s Tefillin.
It is evident from Rashi’s commentary that the Gemara is discussing hanging the Tefillin from a hook or peg and not when the person is holding one part of the Tefillin with another part dangling. This implies that it is prohibited to hang Tefillin on the wall since it is degrading to the Tefillin but it is not prohibited for one who is holding his Tefillin to allow a part of it to dangle. Magen Avrohom, however, states that allowing part of one’s Tefillin to dangle even if it is held in one’s hand is also prohibited. Taz rules that it is permitted to allow part of one’s Tefillin to dangle while putting on the Tefillin since it is necessary in order to don it.
Mishnah Berurah rules in accordance with Taz that the Tefillin may dangle while one is donning it. Kaf Hachaim cites many authorities who disagree with Taz’s ruling and writes that one should make an effort to avoid allowing part of one’s Tefillin to hang as he puts it on, unless this creates difficulty for him. Tiferes Shmuel and the Shelah write that the preferable way to don the shel rosh is to hold the knot with one’s right hand and the bayis with one’s left hand, thus avoid dangling the Tefillin.
Magen Avrohom also mentions the custom the one would fast if one’s Tefillin fell from one’s hands onto the floor. A reason provided is as the custom to fast after a bad dream since Heaven has displayed a need for Teshuvah, so too this incident should also display a need for Teshuvah.
If one has not tasted food yet, one should fast that day. This custom to fast does apply even if one is still holding the straps when the Tefillin hit the floor. However, the fast does no apply if the Tefillin have a cover on (the box or the bag). Some say one can give Tzedaka, especially if one is weak or it would decrease one’s learning. Ben Ish Chai states that the disgrace to the Tefillin happens only when they fall from a height of greater than 10 tefachim and then one would need to fast. However, if they fell from a lesser height one would not need to fast but should still give Tzedaka.
Most Poskim state that the custom to fast only applies if the Tefillin fell from your hands. However, if one saw Tefillin fall from someone else’s hands, one does not fast.
Showing Respect:
A certain person learned that the Sefer Chassidim prohibits carrying seforim by hanging them from his belt behind him. He wondered whether this also applies to putting them in a bag slung on his back. And what about the rack of a bike which is positioned behind him? Would keeping seforim in such a rack imply a lack of proper respect for the sefer?
When these questions reached Rav Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv, he permitted the use of both. “The Sefer Chassidim never meant caring the sefer behind him in a manner that is not noticeable, like seforim in a bag. It also does not mean a basket which is no sign of disrespect.”
Another person wondered the exact status of a newspaper with some Torah content. Could it be placed on the floor? Another question he wondered about was whether his children needed to limit themselves with where they played the various Torah card games now available. Since they are Torah perhaps it is forbidden to put them on the ground?
When these questions reached Rav Eliyashiv he ruled that both the paper and the cards may be placed on the ground. “Since such papers are primarily for mundane use, they may be left on the ground. Your children may also play the games on the ground.” When another person asked if he could put a sefer in a bag on the ground, Rav Eliyashiv permitted this as well.
