Social Media Star Oren Lahav Responds to Criticism Over Tefillin Misstep

Social media personality Oren Lahav has become the center of an online controversy after posting a video of himself donning tefillin during Chol Hamoed, a period when, according to common Halachic custom, it is forbidden. While many users clarified that Lahav's action was an innocent mistake, he also faced significant backlash and offensive comments.

In a TikTok video addressing the criticism, Lahav explained his actions. "This morning I put on tefillin without knowing you don't put on tefillin during Chol Hamoed," he stated. "I did it with good intentions to put on tefillin, as I do every morning." He elaborated on his connection to tradition, noting, "I don't come from a religious home. I come from a home where I took the religion, strengthened myself in the last year and got into it because it was super important for my soul, and I wanted to thank God."

Lahav directly addressed his critics, saying, "To all those people who chose to hurt, slander, insult, humiliate, and scorn, learn 'Love your neighbor as yourself' before you humiliate and hurt a person whose good intentions you don't even know." He concluded with a message about learning from mistakes: "We are human to err, and from mistakes we learn... I grow from every mistake. I didn't know that tefillin are forbidden on Chol Hamoed, and now I've learned it and will put it firmly in my mind."

Despite the criticism, the majority of online reactions were supportive. Television presenter Eliraz Shadeh was among those who offered encouragement, commenting, "God loves simple faith more than anything, well done. May God protect those who use the Torah for evil."