Should Tefillin Be Worn During a Berit Mila—and Do All Attendees Share in the Misva? A Berit Mila is one of the holiest events in Jewish life, symbolizing the covenant between Hashem and Am Yisrael. Tefillin, too, are a sign of this covenant. So when a Berit Mila takes place during or after Shaharit, should one continue wearing Tefillin for the ceremony? And is the Misva of the Berit shared by all who are present? Are Tefillin and Berit Mila Connected? Yes. Both Tefillin and Berit Mila are called an "Ot"—a sign of the Jewish people's bond with Hashem: Berit Mila is the physical covenant, marked on the body. Tefillin are a daily reaffirmation of that covenant, worn on the body as a public declaration. The Zohar teaches that these "signs" complement each other, and the greater the combination of "Otot" present, the stronger the spiritual impact. Should One Keep Tefillin On During the Berit? Yes— ideally, a person should keep his Tefillin on during the entire Berit Mila ceremony , even if it takes place after Shaharit has ended. This applies even if the Berit occurs after Musaf on a weekday or Rosh Hodesh (more on that in the next Halacha). Keeping the Tefillin on during the Berit adds to the holiness of the moment. Many great Rabbis, including Hacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul, would be careful not to remove their Tefillin until the Berit was completed. Exception: If it is extremely late and the person must go to work or is in discomfort, he may remove them after Tefilla—but if possible, it is praiseworthy to wait. Does Every Attendee Share in the Misva? Absolutely. According to many Rishonim and Aharonim: The Misva is not only on the father and Mohel. All those present —men standing respectfully and celebrating the moment— are rewarded for participating in the Misva . Rav Hida writes that being present for a Berit Mila is like joining in a public Kiddush Hashem. Therefore, remaining in Tefillin and treating the Berit with reverence—even as a bystander—brings spiritual reward. Extra Care During the Ceremony Because the Tefillin are on during the Berit: One should avoid casual chatter. Try to stand respectfully and listen to the Berachot. If possible, recite verses of Torah quietly or say Tehillim until the ceremony concludes. Summary: Tefillin should remain on during a Berit Mila whenever possible—even after Shaharit. All those present share in the Misva—not just the father or Mohel. Wearing Tefillin during the ceremony enhances its holiness and connects the covenant of the body (Berit) with the covenant of the mind and heart (Tefillin).