Charitzim Mezuyafin
Question: I have seen much discussion about the problem of charitzim mezuyafin, but I honestly don’t understand what it’s about. Could you please explain?
Discussion: As we mentioned previously (regarding charutzos), the shel rosh must be comprised of four compartments which are noticeably separate from each other.
However, after the shel rosh is painted, the charitzim often get covered up and the bayis becomes indistinguishable from a shel yad. If the charitzim are not visible, the tefillin are not kosher.
To correct the situation, the charitzim must be exposed. This is done by carving into the paint and revealing the original charitz (illustration 12).
Charitzim mezuyafin means “false charitzim.” This refers to one who, instead of carving and revealing the real charitz, simply carves a fake charitz into the leather of the bayis. This is sometimes done out of pure laziness, and sometimes because the real charitz is slanted or curved and a fake charitz will give a more professional look.
The consensus of the Poskim is that fake charitzim are passul.101 This problem can be easily checked by a professional battim macher by simply inserting – or attempting to insert – a thin metal plate between the battim (illustration 13).
101 This was the opinion of Rav Elyashiv, Rav Wosner, and Rav Nissim Karelitz, which was well-publicized when the prevalence of the problem became well-known. See also Zichron Eliyahu 3 and Tefillah LeMoshe 3:24.