I have figured out the explanation for the argument between Rebbi and the Rabbanan regarding how many times the Beracha on Tefillin should be said. I have updated note 5 with my explanation.
5. For example, if the person would put on Tefillin in the morning and not take it off the whole day then he would only say the Beracha once before he puts it on in the morning. However if he decided to take a break from wearing it and took it off for a significant period of time then when he puts it back on again that same day he would have to say another Beracha. I have specifically used the example of Tefillin, because there is an argument in Talmud Bavli (Sukkah 46a) between Rebbi and the Rabbanan if a person would take off Tefillin in the middle of the day and then put it back after a significant break if he needs to say a new Beracha on it or not. This Tosefta follows the opinion of Rebbi who says that he would need to say a new Beracha after every interruption. It seems to me that Rebbi and the Rabbanan argue about whether the Beracha is made on the fulfillment of the minimum obligation of the Mitzvah only or if it is made any time the person fulfills the Mitzvah even if his performance of the Mitzvah is repetitious. According to Rebbi since the Mitzvah of Tefillin applies the whole day even though the person technically fulfils it by putting on Tefillin once, nevertheless since the Torah commands to wear Tefillin during the day for as long as the person wants it is as if the person fulfils the Mitzvah every time he puts it on and therefore a new Beracha is required every time he puts it back on. However, the Rabbanan hold that once the basic obligation has been fulfilled by putting it on once, the fact that he still fulfills the Mitzvah by wearing it longer or one more time does not make any difference in reference to his minimum obligation, and therefore the Beracha is not required any more.
Leave a Reply