How (and Why) to Put on Tallit and Tefillin

(37) The Eternal said to Moses as follows: (38) Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves tzitzit [fringes, sprouts] on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the tzitzit at each corner. (39) That shall be your tzitzit; look at it and recall all the commandments of the Eternal and observe them, so that you do not follow your heart and eyes toward that which you lust after. (40) Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God.

One should wrap oneself in a fringed garment and make the blessing over it while standing

Rabbi Shimon Ben Yehotzadak asked Rabbi Shmuel Bar Nachman: Since I heard that you are a master of legends, tell me - from where was the light created? He answered: [the text] teaches that the Holy Blessed One became wrapped up in it like a cloak, and made the splendor of God's glory shine from one end of the world to the other. He told him this legend in a whisper, and said to him - there is even a full verse on it: "[You are clothed in glory and majesty,] wrapped in light like a cloak, [You stretch out the heavens like a curtain.]" (Ps. 104:2).

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Master of the Universe, Who sanctified us with God's commandments and commanded us to wrap ourselves with tzitzis.

(4) Hear, O Israel! The Eternal is our God, the Eternal is One. (5) You shall love the Eternal your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. (7) Teach them to your children. Speak of them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. (8) Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as totafot between your eyes; (9) inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

It is taught:“It shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for totafot between your eyes” (Exodus 13:16), and “They shall be for totafot between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 6:8), and “They shall be for totafot between your eyes” (Deut. 11:18), There are four altogether. These are the words of Rabbi Yishmael.

Rabbi Akiva says: There is no need

for this. Tot, in Katifi, means, ‘two,’ and Fot, in Afriki, means ‘two.’

Place the “tefillin of the arm” on the muscle of your left arm, and before tightening it, say:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Master of the Universe, Who sanctified us with God's commandments and commanded us to put on tefillin.

Wrap the strap around your arm 7 times and then place the “tefillin of the head” on your head above the region between your eyes, and say:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Master of the Universe, Who sanctified us with God's commandments, and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin.

With the “tefillin of the head” in place, say quietly:

Blessed is the Name of the glorious kingdom forever and ever.

And may You impart from Your wisdom to me, God most high; and give me understanding from Your understanding. With Your lovingkindness, do great things with me. With Your merit, cut off my enemies and opponents. Pour bountiful oil upon the seven branches of the menorah, in order to cause goodness to flow to Your creatures. Open Your hand and fulfill the will of every living thing.

When wrapping the strap around the middle finger of your left hand, say:

And I will betrothe you to Me forever; and I will betrothe you to Me in righteousness, in justice, in kindliness and in mercy. And I will betrothe you to Me in faithfulness and you shall know The Eternnal (Hosea 2:21-22).