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[>Mezuzah<][Tefillin
][Sefer-Torah][Megillot]
Mezuzah
Mezuzah
Significance of the Mezuzah
Mezuzah Installation
Checking & Inspection
A Mezuzah, or (plural) Mezuzot, are the parchment scrolls which Jews attach to the right doorposts
of their homes to fulfill what is written in the Torah as understood by our Sages: "and you shall
write them on the doorposts (mezuzot) of your house and upon your gates." The two sections of the
Torah in which this verse appears (the first two paragraphs of the Shema prayer) are written on
parchment, rolled up and attached to the upper third of the doorpost, usually enclosed inside a
decorative container.
Today Mezuzot are generally written in the standard sizes: 6 cm (about 2.5"), 7 cm (about 2.75"),
10 cm (4"), 12 cm (about 5"), and 15 cm (6"). As you might imagine, it is quite difficult to write 22
lines of script in 2.5". Thus, even though they are smaller, good little Mezuzot often are more
expensive than the cheaper larger ones.
According to the Halacha (Jewish law), hundreds of laws govern every detail about the making of Mezuzot,
including the minutest details of the materials and the writing. Due to the meticulous requirements, it
is very easy for something to go wrong during production of the Mezuzah, sometimes in ways that cannot
be seen at all afterwards.
Unfortunately, even today many invalid, non-kosher Mezuzot are sold to the unsuspecting public. This is
true of Mezuzot of all sizes, but it is especially prevalent with the small Mezuzot. In checking,
scribes sometimes even find paper inserts with photocopied text. If you are unable to check them
yourself, you should be sure always to buy Mezuzot only from an authorized, reputable source.
Once a Mezuzah is written, it is rolled from left to right and placed in a protective case. This case
has been dubbed a Mezuzah, while in reality it is only the outer case of the real Mezuzah the parchment
concealed within.
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Significance of the Mezuzah
The "Mezuzah" signifies the sanctity and blessing of the Jewish home. Actually, it is a
portion of Holy Torah, inscribed in the same manner and script as a Torah. It is an
"original" sanctified document in accord with Halacha and precepts that dare not be
compromised.
It is customary, upon entering or leaving a residence, to touch and kiss the Mezuzah.
This reverence acknowledges our belief in the "Shema Yisroel," the Jewish declaration of
faith, which expresses the unity of G-d, the duty of loving and serving Him with our whole being,
and our obligation to observe the mitzvot in and out of the home.
Because it presents basic principles of our faith, the Mezuzah is our responsibility to
visitors as well as to ourselves. When a Mezuzah is possul its blessings are nullified.
Even if one letter or part of a letter is missing or imperfect, the Mezuzah may not be
used. Only a Kosher Mezuzah sanctifies and protects the home, as well as fulfills the saying of
the Psalmist, "G-d will guard your going and coming from now and for all time." (Psalms, 121, 8).
That is why when you purchase a Mezuzah for yourself or make it a gift to a relative or
friend, you are obligated to assure its validity. Be certain that it is handwritten and
that you obtain it from a reliable source, primarily a certified Kosher Sofer (Scribe).
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Mezuzah Installation
A Mezuzah should be affixed to the doorpost of each room in the home and place of business
(including basement, attic and garage). A Mezuzah should never be placed at the entrance to
a bathroom.
The Mezuzah is affixed:
- On the right doorpost as one enters.
- In a slanted position with top pointed to inside of room.
- In the upper third of doorpost height (shoulder high).
- On outer 3.2 inches of doorpost width.
Though the rules for the mitzvah of Mezuzah are simple in principle their application can
sometimes be surprisingly complex. A large number of factors can influence whether a door
requires a Mezuzah, which side the Mezuzah is to be placed upon, and whether one may make
the blessing on affixing the Mezuzah. Various architectural designs have contributed
greatly to the complication of the rules. Many factors would not occur to someone who is
not knowledgeable in these laws. One should consult a Rabbi about the practical application
of the laws of Mezuzah.
After deciding upon the exact required location, the Mezuzah should be affixed to the
doorpost in a permanent manner. The person affixing the Mezuzah should be over the age of
Bar Mitzvah or Bas Mitzvah.
Before affixing a Mezuzah to a doorpost, the specific Bracha (blessing) should be recited.
If more than one Mezuzah is being affixed at one time, only one blessing is recited.
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Checking & Inspection
Each Mezuzah must be examined by a reliable scribe, at least twice every seven years - once
every three and a half years. Temperature and weather changes, as well as age, may cause
the ink to fade and crack, thereby invalidating the Mezuzah. A Mezuzah should also be
checked at the time of purchase.
Despite the best efforts of the expert scribe, checkers usually find a number of mistakes
and problems requiring improvement or correction. In our time it has become common to
substitute a check by computer for one of the human checks. The computer is better than
human checkers at locating mistakes in the consonantal text--missing, garbled, or extra
words--but it cannot substitute entirely for expert human inspectors, who also locate fine
breaks and joins between letters and various other problems which the computer doesn't catch.
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