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A Mezuzah is placed on the doorpost of the home within the first 30 days of living there. Once it is in place, there is nothing that needs to be done other than have it checked once every few years. Some do have the custom to touch or "kiss" the Mezuzah each time they pass to show respect.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA mezuzah is an outer case which may be made of metal, wood, glass or many other materials within which is contained the words of the Sh'ma blessing hand-written on a parchment scroll. By fixing it to the door posts of their home (some people attach one only to the front door post, others to all the rooms in the house with the exception of the bathroom), a Jew is observing the mitzvah (religious commandment) found in Deuteronomy 6:9 which instructs them to carry out this process.
Halakha, the system of laws relating to Jewish practice, states that the mezuzah should be placed on the right hand side of the door, at shoulder height and within 8cm of the door itself. In the Diaspora, this must be done within 30 days of moving into a rented house, but if the new resident owns the house it must be done immediately. In Israel, it must be done immediately in either case.
It can be fixed using any method - nails, screws and double-sided sticky tape are all common. Most Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, where space permits, will angle the mezuzah at a slant so that the top points into the room accessed through the door - there are various explanations for this, the most common being that in ancient times the rabbis could not agree on whether the mezuzah should be horizontal or vertical, so they decided on diagonal to symbolise compromise (rather a rare thing among rabbis, it has to be said, they tend to be fond of arguing with one another). Before fixing it permanently in place, a blessing is said by any member of the household who is deemed able to understand the significance of the words (in English, "Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah").
The Klaf scroll, and the lettering upon it, must meet certain standards if it is to be kosher (fit for its purpose) and so most Jews, from the Orthodox to the not-very-observant) also follow the commandment to have ot checked by a sofer (a professional scribe) at least twice in every seven years.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt is affixed to the doorpost in observance of the command in Deuteronomy ch.6.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt is affixed to the doorpost in observance of the command in Deuteronomy ch.6.
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Where do Jews put their mezzuzahgs?
The plural for mezuzah is mezuzot, and they're placed slanted on their doorposts.
Why are Jews not allowed to keep a mezuzah outside their bathrooms?
Because the bathroom is not a place of dignified usage.
What is a mezuzah case?
A Mezuzah case, is the protective and/or decorative case used to cover the Mezuzah Scroll. The Mezuzah scroll is a small parchment scroll that contains biblical passages, which is then place on the door post of homes according to Jewish Tradition. I'll attached a link of some cases so you can see what they look like.
What do Jews when entering a synagogue?
Kiss the mezuzah. Some also say a verse from Psalms (Tehillim) when entering.
Why do Jewish people touch the mezuzah on entering the room?
For Jews, the Mezuzah is a symbol and reminder of our Jewish faith and what it stands for. By touching or kissing the mezuzah, one is acknowledging their love of G d and commitment to his commandments, as specified in the Mezuzah.
What can the mezuzah be made of?
There are two parts of the Mezuzah, The Mezuzah Scroll itself and the Mezuzah Case. The Mezuzah Scroll is made with ink on parchment of a Kosher animal. The case can be made of almost any material as its purpose is to protect the scroll. Most common materials for the mezuzah case are metal, stone, wood and glass.
What does mezuzah remind Jews about?
The mezuzah is not a reminder, but the fulfillment of a commandment or mitzvah - that found in Deuteronomy 6:9, which tell us to inscribe the words of the Sh'ma blessing upon the doorposts of our houses.
How big can a mezuzah be?
There is no limit to the size of a Mezuzah. Attached is a video of the largest known mezuzah recently installed at Ben Gurion Airport.
Is there not a Jews prayer for blessing a home?
The Bible contains a commandment to "write these words on the doorposts of your homes, and on your gates." Many Jews keep this commandment by hanging the text of "these words" in the form of a little scroll in an ornamental case on the doorpost of their front door (and sometimes on interior doors). The scroll and case are usually called a mezuzah (the word just means doorpost). There's a brief blessing to say before hanging a mezuzah, and this blessing, plus the hanging of a mezuzah, frequently serves as the formal dedication of a new Jewish home.
What language is used in the mezuzah?
The scroll inside the mezuzah is written in Hebrew.
What is the purpose of a mezuzah?
The origin of the mezuzah is from the "Shema" in which is mentioned the core beliefs of Judaism and its teachings. Therefore, the "purpose" of the mezuzah is as a reminder, when entering and leaving the home, of the mezuzah's message. The mezuzah contains a parchment inscribed with a passage from the Torah (from Deuteronomy ch.6 and ch.11), placed on Jewish doorposts.
Is it true that if you are a non-practicing Jew then you place the Mezuzah on the inside of the door frame rather than the outside?
No. There is no such custom. Typically, a completely non-practicing Jew would not even want to use a mezuzah.
