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In most Seddurim, at certain points during davening (Ashrei, Shema, etc.), it says to touch and kiss the tefilin. The Shulchan Aruch (28:1) says

חייב אדם למשמש בתפילין בכל שעה שלא יסיח דעתו מהם
A person should regularly touch his tefillin so that he should not become distracted from them

Is there any source for kissing the tefilin, or is it just "well-known" as this question says? (The Shulchan Aruch above doesn't say anything about kissing them.)
(This is not a question of whether or not it is preferable to kiss them in general, because the Shulchan Aruch finishes off the Siman saying scholars kiss their tefilin when putting them on and taking them off, rather, it is a question specifically at the times mentioned in the siddur, as mentioned here)

If there is a solid proof to kissing the tefilin, nowadays, when most shuls require a mask in order to attend, is it preferable to try to kiss the tefilin, e.g. stepping away to lower your mask? Would it count to touch the tefilin and put your hand to your mask? Or does it make more sense to only touch the tefilin.

Dani
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  • Joseph Caro did not want Jews to kiss tephillin. It is a Muslim practice, not Jewish. – Turk Hill Jun 02 '20 at 05:17
  • Even if it's preferable to kiss your tefillin it's not preferable to take your mask off. – Double AA Jun 02 '20 at 21:26
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    @TurkHill Joseph Caro wrote: מנהג החכמים לנשק התפילין בשעת הנחתן ובשעת חליצתן – Alex Jun 02 '20 at 21:30
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    @TurkHill It is a Muslim practice to kiss your tefillin?? – ezra Jun 02 '20 at 21:31
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    What? I didn't know Muslims put on tephillin – KapinKrunch Jun 02 '20 at 21:31
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    @KapinKrunch I didn't say they put on tephillin. I said that the practice of kissing "holy" objects was a Muslim practice. – Turk Hill Jun 02 '20 at 22:56
  • @Dani can you split off your second question and post it as something like "How do you kiss tzitzit or tefillin while wearing a mask?" And ask whether one should kiss with the mask on (no physical contact) or lower the mask, or not kiss? I was wondering that this morning. – rosends Jun 26 '20 at 15:37
  • @rosends You can if you want to. – Dani Jun 26 '20 at 17:01

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Chayai Adam 14:15 says the Minhag is to kiss the Tefilin at the time of Mismush because of Chivuv Mitzva.

והמנהג לנשק בשעת משמוש... משום חיבוב מצווה

Gershon Gold
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