[Avodah] on following mesorah

[David Riceman]

Eli Turkel wrote:
> It was claimed that many shitot on based on pure sevara and not mesorah.
> One case was tefillin of Rabbenu Tam. There is no evidence that he
> based himself on some existing pair of tefillin. Rather Rabbenu Tam
> came to that conclusion on the order of the parshiyot based on his
> learning and so
> claimed that Rashi wore incorrect tefillin.
>   
I don't know what types of tefillin were used in Germany, but it is 
clear that both types of tefillin were used around the time of R. Tam's 
birth.  See Tshuvos HaRambam ed. Blau #289 (to Hachmei Lunel) and the 
personal experiences he relates there.

David Riceman