How many compartments does the head tefillin have?
Four separate compartments (batim), each housing one of the four Torah passages. The arm tefillin has one compartment for all four on a single scroll.
Question 2
What letter is embossed on the sides of the head tefillin?
The shin appears on two sides: a standard three-branched shin on the right, and a unique four-branched shin on the left. This is a halachah l'Moshe miSinai.
Question 3
Must the head tefillin's compartments be made from separate pieces of leather?
The four compartments must be shaped from a single piece of leather. This reflects the unity underlying the four distinct passages.
Question 4
What shape must the tefillin batim be?
The batim must be precisely square. This requirement is a halachah l'Moshe miSinai — an oral tradition from Sinai, not derived from the written Torah.
Question 5
What color must the tefillin be?
Black is required for all visible parts — the batim, the straps, everything. This too is a halachah l'Moshe miSinai.