How do Jews use the mezuzah?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

A 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.

Answer 3

It is affixed to the doorpost in observance of the command in Deuteronomy ch.6.

Answer 4

It is affixed to the doorpost in observance of the command in Deuteronomy ch.6.