Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Menachot 63:12

והתניא שינה פסול בתפילין והתניא שינה בין בזה ובין בזה פסול אידי ואידי בתפילין והא דכתבינהו אקלף במקום שער והא

[the mezuzah]. And if it were permitted to bring down what is of a higher sanctity to a lower sanctity, [you say that] one would be allowed to make [a mezuzah out of tefillin]? But it has been taught:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Shab. 79b.');"><sup>12</sup></span> It is a law handed to Moses at Sinai that the [Scriptural portions in the] tefillin must be written on kelaf<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 202, n. 5.');"><sup>13</sup></span> and the mezuzah on duksustus.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 202, n. 5.');"><sup>13</sup></span> Kelaf is the side [of the skin] next to the flesh, and duksustus is the side next to the hair!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 202, n. 5.');"><sup>13</sup></span> - This is only a recommendation. But it was taught: If one did otherwise, it is invalid! - That refers only to the tefillin. But it was taught that if one did otherwise in either case, it is invalid!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Presumably the expression 'in either case' refers to the tefillin and the mezuzah, and we are here taught that any variation, e.g., writing the mezuzah on kelaf or the tefillin on duksustus, renders them invalid.');"><sup>14</sup></span> - The two cases refer to the tefillin only, but in the one case he wrote the portions on that side of kelaf nearest to the hair, and in t other case

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