One side of the mezuzah has an opening that makes it possible to see the scroll inside. In some homes, you will find a, on every door jamb (except bathrooms, closets, and the like). The parchment (klaf in Hebrew) must be written by hand by a scribe, on animal skin. "The decorative case is a way of making it prettier and elevating the practice, but the scroll is really what the commandment is all about.". 11:13-21 .) Answer (1 of 2): The case is the mezuzah. 2. A Mezuzah is a scroll inside a tiny box. The parchment with the Shema on it is rolled up and slipped inside its case. While the later commandments in Deuteronomy to hang a mezuzah have nothing to do with warding off plagues, the practice still resonates with modern Jews, offering rich spiritual blessings and even physical protections to those who observe it. You may have seen mezuzahs that are hung at a 45-degree angle instead of straight up and down. When God is about to pronounce the 10th and final plague on the Egyptians the death of the firstborn sons he commands the Jewish people to mark their doorposts with blood from a sacrificial lamb so that the destroyer will pass over them and let their children live. The Zohar explains that the mezuzah protects the inhabitants of the house not only in their. In the ancient times, no another nation was given the privilege to . However a woman is absolutely obligated in affixing a mezuzah on her doorway as the Rambam writes ( : ) succinctly: . With numerous options to choose from, discover a Mezuzah from Israel to turn this ancient commandment into an exciting and enjoyable pursuit! A building not used as a permanent residence, such as a sukkah, does not need a mezuzah. No, inside every mezuzah is a scroll. You might be most familiar with the word kosher as it applies to food (as in, pork products and shellfish are not kosher), but other aspects of Jewish life also need to be kosher, including the mezuzah. 6:9 and 11:20) "and ye shall write them (the words of . And you shall teach them to Hammer in the nail or secure one half of the mezuzah with whatever alternative hanging material you're using. A stone doorframe found in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. The, case can be made of almost anything, as long as it allows access to the, (kosherness) periodically. It definitely makes the word that is pronounced "Shaddai" using Hebrew letters. A certifiedsoferlike Lessin has undergone rigorous training to compose every letter of the Hebrew alphabet in precise calligraphy. It may only be written by a ordained scribe. The most expensive mezuzah ever sold is also one of the largest ever made. Sephardim place the mezuzah vertically. A Jewish mezuzah made from carved wood, with a kosher hand-written scroll in Hebrew text. There are three main things that determine if a mezuzah is kosher, says Avraham Lessin, the Israel project coordinator for MyZuzah. An official Jewish commandment is to check the scroll inside the mezuzah twice every seven years to make sure it is not showing any signs of damage. The parchment and the ink need to be manufactured in a reliable kosher manner, the scribe who writes the prayers has to be properly trained and certified, and every letter and word of the prayer must be written correctly.. On the back of the mezuzah, a Hebrew word Shaddai is written. The person who writes the mezuzah must be a shomer shabbat Jewish man, and he has to write it with the correct intention. For example, it must be written on parchment made from a kosher species of animal, such as a cow, a sheep or a goat. Mezuzah is a Hebrew word meaning doorpost. The most important component of a mezuzah is the scroll itself, says Shapero. In the Talmud, a rich collection of commentary on the Torah written in the first centuries C.E., learned rabbis debated the merits of placing the mezuzah scroll in a protective box made of reeds, wood or metal, and thats the custom that has survived to this day. The word "Shaddai" is related to G-d in some way, but that is also at. , just before affixing it to the doorpost: , - , : Sometimes on the outside of the container, and customarily on the outside roll of the scroll is written , Almighty, which some say is an acronym for, , Guardian of Israels Doors (also seen above the Ark in our Sanctuary). is only on the front and maybe the back door. At some point, and its not clear when, the tradition changed to writing the prayers on a small scroll of parchment, rolling up the scroll tightly and burying it in a notch cut out of the doorframe. Mezuzah has the unique characteristic of protecting the residents of the house, whether the residents are inside or outside the house. Those same kosher qualifications apply to all the sacred texts in Judaism, including handwritten Torah scrolls and the leatherbound prayer boxes (phylacteries) known astefillinthat also contain tiny scrolls of parchment. A true kosher mezuzah more on that in a second will contain a small window through which the name of God is visible. Even if your Mezuzah is written properly and according to Halacha, being that it is a very delicate item it needs to be treated gently and cared for properly. The word mezuzah means doorpost in Hebrew. The law calls for a mezuzah to be placed on every doorpost of the home, with the exception of bathrooms and closets. Inside the mezuzah is a rolled parchment inscribed with verses from the Bible. The mitzvah of mezuzah is one of the most universally known mitzvos among non-observant and observant Jews alike. If a Mezuzah is stuck inside its case, carefully bang the case against . mezuzah. It is hand-written by an expert scribe known as a "sofer stam," someone who is exceedingly well trained in writing this kosher scroll. It can be spelled many different ways; mezuzah, mezzuzah, and mezuzot. A mezuzah () is a kosher parchment scroll (inscribed with Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 on one side and the word Shaddai on the other side) that is rolled up and inserted into a decorative case. Some people spell it mezuzah, while others use a double z and spell it mezzuzah, mezuzzah or mezzuzzah.Others spell it without an h at the end, as in mezuza or mezzuza. The scroll should be rolled from left to right, so that Gd's name, " Sha-dai," is facing the front. Your email address will not be published. Make sure to carefully align the the tape with the edges of the case before you stick it down. Kosher Mezuzah Scrolls Written by Scribe is made out of kosher leather, and the three letters state the meaning "Keeper of the doors of Israel.". The process of putting up a mezuzah is also a special ceremony and involves a blessing and is done in a particular way and attached to a specific place on the doorpost. It is placed in the lower part of the top third of the doorway, at a slant with the lower part toward you as you head into the room. The word mezuzah means "doorpost" in Hebrew. The quill might be made of a reed, as in ancient times, or of a feather, and the ink must be indelible. The mezuzah as it is known is actually a piece of parchment, called a klaf, with specific verses from the Torah that is then placed inside a mezuzah case, which is then affixed to the doorposts of a Jewish home. "And you shall write them [the words of the Shema] on the doorposts o. If you choose that method, have the top of the mezuzah angled toward the house. If you choose that method, have the top of the mezuzah angled toward the house. Originally Published August 17-18, 2018. ) The parchment must have been prepared explicitly for use as a sacred object. The Mezuzah reminds the Jewish people of their identity. Then the pandemic hit. For a mezuzah text to be kosher, no two letters can touch, no letter can have a break in it, every letter must be clearly distinguishable, no misspellings or omissions are allowed, and the scribe must say a prayer to sanctify the name of God every time he writes it on the page (by custom,sofersare all men). The mezuzah opens up and inside, written on a rolled up piece of parchment are specific verses from the Torah. Jews are the only people who are commanded to do so, but others are welcome to join us in this tradition.. The commandment appears twice in the book of Deuteronomy in connection with two of the most important prayers in Judaism, known as theShma(or Shema) and theVahavta. In Biblical times, the doorpost of a house, due to its visibility to the outside world, represented the family's values and was a place to show identity . Any room that has two doorposts and an overhead lintel requires a mezuzah, so one should check with a rabbi. You might be most familiar with the word kosher as it applies to food (as in, pork products and shellfish are not kosher), but other aspects of Jewish life also need to be kosher, including the mezuzah. For thousands of years, Jewish families have marked the doorposts of their home in fulfillment of a commandment written in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible starting with Genesis). The principal behind the mezuzah is a beautiful thing, says Shapero. 11:13-21.) Mezuzahs are one way to keep this commandment. The mezuzah is both a religious amulet and a means to spiritually elevate every entry to and exit from the house. To be kosher, the scroll must be made of parchment, although some cheaper ones are sold with a paper scroll. Nowadays all mezuzos are written with 'Shaddai' and 'kuzu bemuchsuz kuzu' on their backs. The Mezuzah should be placed inside a protective case. The Mezuzah Case. The decorative case is a way of making it prettier and elevating the practice, but the scroll is really what the commandment is all about.. Bathrooms, closets, laundry room, boiler room, and so forth, however, do not require a mezuzah. For a mezuzah text to be kosher, no two letters can touch, no letter can have a break in it, every letter must be clearly distinguishable, no misspellings or omissions are allowed, and the scribe must say a prayer to sanctify the name of God every time he writes it on the page (by custom, sofers are all men). While the later commandments in Deuteronomy to hang a mezuzah have nothing to do with warding off plagues, the practice still resonates with modern Jews, offering rich spiritual blessings and even physical protections to those who observe it. It has to be written on parchment. Contrary to popular belief, the mezuzah is not the outer case, but the mezuzah scroll inside containing the text of the most famous Jewish prayer, the Shema. Included in those verses is the Shema, which tells us to affix these words - the instructions to love and teach and talk, etc., - in various places, including upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates. Thus we are affixing the words which direct us to affix, which once affixed we can no longer actually read. The mezuzah itself consists of a small scroll of parchment (k'laf ) on which are written two biblical passages. The Mezuzah is an extremely exact object with dozens of rules governing its production. 3. consists of a piece of parchment enclosed in a case. The front door is the primary place to hang a mezuzah, but some observant Jews affix them to interior doors, too. 6 Mysterious Numbers in the Bible and What They Mean. In order for it to be a "kosher" mezuzah, the scroll must be written on parchment of a clean animal. Now, all of the above is speaking about minor and a gentile. There's a similar custom with Torah scrolls. While not much is known about the long history of the mezuzah, its believed that Jews originally followed the commandments in Deuteronomy by writing or inscribing the prayers (or key words from the prayers) directly on the doorposts of their homes (it may have even been borrowed from a similar Egyptian tradition).
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