Mezuzah
“And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:20)
A kosher Mezuzah is a small parchment scroll, hand-written by an expert scribe, which contains two Biblical passages,one of them the Shema Yisrael. On the reverse side of the parchment are written the three Hebrew letters, Shin (ש), Dalet (ד), Yud (י). This is an acronym for the Hebrew words, שומר דלתות ישראל, meaning, “Guardian of the doors of Israel”. A Mezuzah is affixed on the right side of every door of the home (except the bathroom) and it protects the inhabitants while in and out of the house.
A Mezuzah designates a house (or room) as Jewish, it reminds us of our connection to G–d and our heritage. By placing it on the doorpost we declare that this is a house or room where the word of G–d and his Torah influences our behaviour, thus rendering it a holy dwelling.
Both Tefillin and Mezuzot need to be certified as kosher by an authorised scribe. They also require regular checking. In many instances, when the Rebbe received a request for a blessing (particularly in health matters) he suggested that Tefillin and Mezuzot be checked.
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A GUIDE
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What is a Mezuzah?
Judaism is a faith not confined to synagogues: within the familiarity of our homes we also strive for spirituality. A mezuzah on the doorpost designates the home as Jewish, reminding us of our connection to G‑d and our heritage, and serves as a source of Divine protection for the home...
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The Scroll Inside
The parchment scroll, written in the Torah's original Hebrew, contain two Torah sections: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21.
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The Mezuzah Case
The mezuzah is placed in a case for protection. It is rolled from left to right, so that the Divine name Sha-dai written on the outside is visible....
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Which Rooms Require a Mezuzah?
A common misconception is that only the main enterance to the home requires a mezuzah. To properly fulfill the mitzvah, every room in the house or office should have its own mezuzah...
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When Do I Need a Mezuzah?
When purchasing a home, affix the mezuzahs immediately upon moving in. In a rented home, the blessings can be made onlt on the 31st day...
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Where on the Doorpost Do I Place the Mezuzah?
The mezuzah is affixed on the right hand side of the door as you enter. It is positioned on an angle, with the top of the mezuzah pointed toward the inside of the room...
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Affixing the Mezuzah
Prior to affixing a mezuzah the following blessing should be recited: "Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah"
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Caring for your Mezuzah
Never use liquid cleaners because they may seep within the case and damage the parchment scroll. Mezuzah cases and mezuzah wrappings should be treated as genizah, which require interment after their use...
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Check Your Mezuzahs!
Mezuzahs should be checked twice every seven years to see if they have been affected by adverse weather conditions, or by folding (which can cause cracks in the letters), or if any other defect has occurred...
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Remounting the Mezuzah
When a mezuzah that has been removed — for checking, when renovations are being done, or for any other reason — is remounted, the blessing should be recited only if the mezuzah was off the doorposts for at least one night...
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Removing a Mezuzah Permanently
As a rule, mezuzah should not be removed from a doopost, leaving the room or house without a mezuzah, unless it will be put back or replaced with another mezuzah.
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Appendix: The Scribal Art
We are generally accustomed to not seeing the mezuzah itself, but its case. Most of us do not fully realize just how much skill and labor goes into the writing of the actual mezuzah.
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Mezuzah Essays
Seven very interesting essays on the Mitzvah of Mezuzah.
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Mezuzah Story
Her Jewish girlfriends had criticized her for putting up the mezuzah in such a public place. They told her that it wasn’t very PC to push a Jewish symbol in the face of everyone who passed by, and that it wasn’t necessary. Why must she attract ...
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