Dictionary:
me·zu·zah me·zu·za (mə-zʊz'ə, -zū-zä')  |
[Hebrew məzûzâ, doorpost, mezuzah.]
| Encyclopedia of Judaism: Mezuzah |
The mezuzah must be written by a qualified Scribe on parchment made from the skin of a clean animal. The scroll is rolled and placed into a case with a small opening through which the word Shaddai ("Almighty"), written on the back of the parchment, is visible. The mezuzah is attached to the upper part of the doorpost at the entrance of each room in a slanting position. This position is a compromise resulting from the dispute between Rashi, who favored a vertical position, and his grandson R. Jacob ben Meir (Tam), who maintained that the mezuzah should be attached horizontally.
In earlier periods, it was common to place the mezuzah parchment directly into a small compartment hollowed out of the doorpost.
A mezuzah must be placed on every right-hand doorpost which fulfills the following conditions:
(1) The room for which the doorway is an entry must be at least four by four cubits (6 by 6');
(2) The doorway must have doorposts on each side;
(3) The doorway must have a lintel;
(4) The doorway must be an entrance into a room with a ceiling (although this is disputed);
(5) The doorway must have doors that open and close (also disputed);
(6) The doorway must be a minimum of 40 inches high and 16 inches wide;
(7) The room must be for ordinary dwelling;
(8) The room must be for human, not animal, dwelling;
(9) The room must be for dignified dwelling or use (thus toilets and bathrooms are exempt);
(10) The room must be for continuous or permanent dwelling (thus a tent and a Sukkah are exempt).
Although synagogues and public dwellings are exempt from the commandment, as they are not ordinary dwellings, it has become customary to attach mezuzot to their entrances.
When the mezuzah is affixed, the benediction "Who has commanded us to affix the mezuzah" is recited. In the Diaspora, affixing the mezuzah may be deferred for 30 days after entering a rented dwelling, while in the Land of Israel the custom is to attach it immediately. Mezuzot should be checked twice every seven years by a qualified expert to make certain they are still valid.
It became customary among traditional Jews to touch the mezuzah with their hand upon leaving or entering the house to express awareness of the fulfillment of the commandment, and to show reliance upon God's protection.
| Wikipedia: Mezuzah |
| Mezuzah | |
|---|---|
The parchment of the mezuzah |
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| Halakhic sources* | |
| Texts in Jewish law relating to this article: | |
| Bible: | Deuteronomy 6:9 and Deuteronomy 11:21 |
| Mishnah: | Menachot 3:7 |
| Babylonian Talmud: | Shabbat 32a, Yoma 11a, Menachot 33a, |
| Mishneh Torah: | Tefillin, Mezuzah, veSefer Torah ch 5-6 |
| Shulchan Aruch: | Yoreh De'ah 285-291 |
| * Not meant as a definitive ruling. Some observances may be rabbinical, or customs, or Torah based. | |
A mezuzah (Hebrew: מזוזה "doorpost") (plural: mezuzot (מזוזות)) is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."
A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). Jewish law requires a mezuzah on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms, and closets too small to qualify as rooms; but many families only place one in the front doorway.[1] The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe (a "sofer stam") who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in black indelible ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case.
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According to halakha, the mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door, in the upper third of the doorpost (i.e., approximately shoulder height),[2] within approximately 3 inches (8 cm) of the doorway opening.[citation needed] Generally, halakha requires that mezuzot be affixed within 30 days of moving into a rented house or apartment. This applies to Jews living in the Diaspora (i.e., outside of the Land of Israel). For a purchased home or apartment in the Diaspora, or a residence in Israel (owned or rented), the mezuzah is affixed immediately upon moving in. The reason for this difference is that there is an assumption that when a Jew lives in Israel, Israel shall remain his/her permanent residence, whereas a home in the diaspora is temporary. The case can be affixed to the doorpost with nails, screws, glue, or double-sided tape. Wrapping the scroll in plastic wrap before placing it in the case will protect it from the elements. Care should be taken to not tear or damage the parchment or the wording on it, as this will invalidate the mezuzah, which is considered Torah.
Where the doorway is wide enough, Ashkenazi Jews and Spanish and Portuguese Jews tilt the mezuzah so that the top slants toward the room into which the door opens. This is done to accommodate the variant opinions of the medieval Rabbis Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam as to whether it should be placed horizontally or vertically, and also to imply that God and the Torah (which the mezuzah symbolizes) are entering the room. Most Sephardim and other non-Ashkenazi Jews affix the mezuzah vertically.[3]
The procedure is to hold the mezuzah against the spot upon which it will be affixed, then recite a blessing:
Any Jew can recite the blessing provided he or she is old enough to understand the significance of the mitzvah. After the blessing, the mezuzah is attached.
When affixing several mezuzot, it is sufficient to recite the blessing once, before affixing the first one.
Orthodox Jews have a qualified scribe check the mezuzot parchments for defects (such as small tears or faded lettering) at least twice every seven years.[4][5]
The commandment to affix a mezuzah is widely followed in the Jewish world, even by Jews who are not religiously observant. While the important part of the mezuzah is the "Klaff", or parchment, and not the case itself, designing and producing mezuzah cases has been elevated to an art form over the ages. Mezuzot are produced from an endless variety of materials, from silver and precious metals, to wood, stone, ceramics, and pewter. Some dealers of mezuzah cases will provide or offer for sale a copy of the text that has been photocopied onto paper; this is not a valid mezuzah, which must be handwritten onto a piece of parchment by a qualified scribe.
It is customary to write two inscriptions on the back of the parchment:
Shaddai, one of the biblical names of God, also serves here as an acronym for Shomer Daltot Yisrael, "Guardian of Israel's doors". Many mezuzah cases are also marked with the Hebrew letter ש (Shin), for Shaddai.
"כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is a Caesar cipher — a one letter shift — of the third, fourth, and fifth words of the Shema, "Adonai, Eloheinu, Adonai", "The Lord, our God, the Lord"; it is written on the back of the mezuzah, opposite the corresponding words on the front.[6] This inscription, dates from the 11th century and is found amongst the Sages of Germany.
According to the Sephardic custom (minhag), the phrase "כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is prohibited, and only the Hebrew word שדי (Shaddai) is to be written on the back of the mezuzah. This practice is supported by the Shulchan Aruch and the writings of the Rambam. The Ashkenazi custom of writing both phrases, however, was supported in the writings of the Remo.[citation needed]
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Encyclopedia of Judaism. The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. Copyright © 1989, 2002 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more |
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