THE SEQUENCE OF DONNING THE TEFILLIN1
Chabad custom is to put on the tallit and tefillin prior to אֵיזֶהוּ מְקוֹמָן, page 22.
Tefillin are not worn on Shabbat, festivals and Chol Hamoed.
While donning tefillin, stand, and recall that God bade us inscribe upon the parchment housed in the tefillin the four designated Biblical passages (Exodus 13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21) that speak of His oneness and the Exodus from Egypt, so we may recall the miracles and wonders He wrought for us. They attest His oneness and omnipotence. He has charged us to set the arm tefillin beside the heart, and the tefillin of the head above the brain, that we yield our soul dwelling in the brain, together with our heart's longings and thoughts, unto His service. Thus, through putting on the tefillin, one remains mindful of the Creator and curbs his pleasures.
Set the arm tefillin straight upon the left biceps. (One who is left-handed places the tefillin upon the right biceps.) Angle the arm tefillin a little toward the body, so that once the arm is lowered, the tefillin will lie directly opposite the heart. Take care that nothing intervene between the tefillin and the arm or head. Make no interruption between donning the arm's tefillin and those of the head. Once the tefillin rest upon the biceps, prior to tightening it, utter the blessing that follows, aware that it covers likewise the tefillin of the head:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ*
בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לְהָנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין:
Chabad
boruch atoh Adonoy, Eloyheinu melech ho-oylom, asher kid'shonu*
b'mitzvoysov, v'tzivonu l'honiach t'filin:
Secure the knot. Take care that the knot's end, which is in the shape of a י, is not displaced from the arm tefillin. Wind the strap twice around the biceps, over that portion of the tefillin through which the strap passes, thereby forming the shape of a ש. Coil the strap seven times about the forearm, and wind what remains of the strap about the hand and the palm. Thereafter, set the head tefillin on the head above the forehead, centered precisely above the face. That knot of the head tefillin, shaped as a ד, ought to sit centered at the top of the nape of the neck. Consult illustrations, page 640.
If a person spoke between donning the tefillin of the arm and that of the head, he should utter the blessing below upon the tefillin of the head:
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ* בְּמִצְוֹתָיו,
וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין:
Chabad
boruch atoh Adonoy, Eloyheinu melech ho-oylom, asher kid'shonu* b'mitzvoysov,
v'tzivonu al mitzvas t'filin:
This holds only if he spoke of subjects not immediately tied to donning the tefillin. Yet, if he interrupted for what he required in putting on the tefillin, he need not utter the extra blessing. Still, it is fitting not to interrupt at all unless it is otherwise impossible. (Regarding prayer responses, see chart inside back cover.)
Once the head tefillin are in place, unwrap the strap from about the palm and form a single coil around the back of the hand and palm. Next form three coils on the middle finger: first, a coil about the lower phalanx toward the wrist; next, a coil about the middle phalanx; last, a coil over the first coil upon the lower phalanx. Wind what remains of the strap about the palm and fasten the end.