Kissing the Tefilin & Holding the ‘Si’sit / Saying Prayers for the Baby
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Tuesday, 25 January 2011 | AP | Pregnancy, Shaharit
8 Shebat 5771 – Jan. 13, 2011. – Perashat Beshalah
65) We are accustomed when saying “Yoser Or,” to touch the tefilin shel yad and kiss our fingers, same with the tefilin shel rosh at “Uboré Hoshekh.” This is according to the Qabala as brought down in the Sha’ar haKavanot by the Arizal. See Kaf HaHayim who expains this in length in Siman 59:2, also see She-erit Yosef (pg. 127).
69) We are accustomed to take the four sisit during Qeriat Shema’ and hold them between the pinkie and the index fingers (See attached photo for an illustration of this minhag). Some are accustomed to take only the front two sisit, [Ribi Shalom Messas zs"l holds like this]. This is according to the Qabala, brought down in the Sha’ar haKavanot(Section Qeriat Shema’) by the Arizal. Us gathering the four sisit is also an allusion to the fact that Hashem gathers us from the four corners of the world. Those who have the custom to grab only two corners is so that they will be constantly surrounded by misvot, since sisit represents all 613 misvot and by bringing all four to the front they would no longer be surrounded. See Shiuré Berakha (Siman 24) by Maran haHida), Minhagé haHida pg. 48,Netibé ‘Am pg. 43, Nahagu Ha’am (Sisit), Osrot Haposqim (Sisit), and see Ribi Shalom Messas zs”l in his introduction to Mishna Berura Ish Masliah.
Customs of Pregnancy
7) We tell women during their pregnancy: “Yehi rason shetese-i beyadayim meleot.”This is so that the baby should come out physically and spiritually healthy (zera’ shel qayama).
8) During a woman’s pregnancy her mother stands from the women’s section at the time of Petihat haHekhal and at the time of Maré haKetab (when we raise the sefer), and says many berakhot for her daughter, that she should give birth in health and peace. This is because at these two moments there is a special ‘Et Rason (help from Hashem). This combined with the already lofty and precious prayer of a mother for her daughter, makes way for much berakha and good tidings. See Yahdut Morocco (Nashim).
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Our Holy Sages, Hazal, teach us that “One who studies [at least two] Halakhot (laws) daily is guaranteed a portion in ‘Olam Haba (the world to come).” -Masekhet Meghila 28b
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