One of the first questions when buying tefillin is which minhag, or custom, the set should follow. Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Chabad tefillin are all fully kosher, but they differ in the script the parshiyot are written in and in details of the boxes and knots.
Choosing the right one matters, because tefillin should match the wearer's family and community practice.
Ashkenazi Tefillin (Beis Yosef)
Ashkenazi tefillin are commonly written in Beis Yosef script, the standard tradition of many Ashkenazi communities, with a square knot on the shel rosh. This is the most common tradition and the usual first pair in an Ashkenazi family. See our Ashkenaz tefillin written in Beis Yosef.
Sephardi Tefillin (Vellish)
Sephardi tefillin are typically written in Vellish script, with the community's own wrapping and knot customs. For a Sephardic family, a set written specifically for the minhag matters as much as the price. See our Sephardic tefillin in Vellish.
Chabad Tefillin (Ktav Alter Rebbe)
Chabad tefillin are written in ktav Alter Rebbe, with the Chabad dalet knot on the shel rosh, and Chabad practice widely includes a Rabbeinu Tam pair, explained in our guide to Rashi vs. Rabbeinu Tam tefillin. See our Chabad tefillin in ktav Alter Rebbe.
Note that "Chabad tefillin" and the larger 42 mm "Chabad 4x4" size are not the same; some want standard gassot, others the larger Alter Rebbe size.
How to Choose the Right Custom
Follow your family and community custom, and before a Bar Mitzvah purchase confirm the minhag with the boy's father, rabbi, or teacher. The letter forms behind each script are explained in our guide to STaM lettering styles.
Every set is written and checked by a certified sofer STaM. Browse all customs in our kosher tefillin collection.
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