The black boxes that house the tefilin parshi’os are called “batim”. The tefilin shel yad is one compartment containing one roll of parchment (with all four parshi’os written on it); the tefilin shel rosh has four compartments, each containing one parsha. The batim must be made from the skin of a kosher animal and they must be made “lishma”. High quality batim – called “gasos” – are made from the thick skin of a large animal (usually a cow), by stretching, folding and compressing one piece of leather into the required shape. Well-made gasos are expensive but should have a lifespan of about 100 years. Lower quality batim include “dakos” – similar to gasos but made from the thinner skin of a goat or sheep; and “pshutim” – made by cutting and gluing many different pieces of leather together. Both dakos and pshutim will start to lose their shape after 10-15 years and are not recommended under most circumstances. Pshutim are (at best) kosher bidi’eved according to most poskim.
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STAM 101 introduction & index