A mezuzah is the small parchment placed inside a case and attached to the right side of entryway doorframes where Jews reside. Written on the scroll are various sections from the Torah, such as the Shema, that feature some of Judaism's central principles.
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Inscribing Faith on Your Doorposts
TANAKH
The mezuzah contains its own description. The first paragraph written on the parchment of the mezuzah comes from the sixth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, and it includes both the fundamental Jewish declaration of faith 'Hear, O Israel...' and the commandment of writing these words on one's doorposts.
Words on the Doorposts
TANAKH
The commandment to place words of Torah on one's doorposts appears twice in the book of Deuteronomy. The second time is the passage Deuteronomy 11:12-21, which is included as the second paragraph in the mezuzah scroll.
The Commandment of Mezuzah
HALAKHAH
What purpose does the mitzvah of affixing a mezuzah to your doorpost serve? The Tur, a 14th-century legal code, offers different ideas about the reasons behind mezuzot, and quotes sources about their importance.
The Mezuzah's Mystical Shield
KABBALAH
Some authorities have seen mystical protective powers in mezuzot. The Zohar, a foundational work of Kabbalah, explains the protective power of the mezuzah against demons, emphasizing the significance of the holy name inscribed on it.
Not an Amulet to Protect You
HALAKHAH
Some authorities oppose popular beliefs that regard mezuzot as protective talismans. In his monumental 12th-century legal code, the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides warns against the misuse of the mezuzah as a magic amulet, especially by adding extraneous elements to the outside of the scroll.
Mezuzot in the Ghettos
JEWISH THOUGHT
The degrading and impermanent nature of life in the ghettos during the Holocaust led to unique halakhic considerations regarding the affixing of mezuzot. Eliezer Berkovits explores the halakhic implications of affixing mezuzot in the oppressive conditions of the ghettos during the Holocaust.
A Mezuzah in a House Full of Torah Scrolls?
MIDRASH
In the wilderness, Korach led a rebellion against Moses's authority. According to the medieval midrash Bamidbar Rabbah, Korach's rebellion included questioning the logic and divine command behind the mitzvah of mezuzah.
Marking Doorposts with Blood or Letters
CHASIDUT
When the plague of the death of the firstborns ravaged Egypt, the Hebrews painted their doorposts with the blood of their Passover sacrifice, as an identifying marker to protect their homes. Rabbi Chaim Tyrer of Czernowitz, in his Hasidic work Be'er Mayim Chaim, explores the connection between the Passover blood and the divine names inscribed on the mezuzah parchment, also placed on Jewish doorposts.
The Spiritual and Legal Dimensions of the Mezuzah
MUSAR
Legal subtleties surround the practice of mezuzot on doorposts. The 14th-century work Menorat HaMaor by Rabbi Yisrael Alnaqua delves into the detailed rules and spiritual significance of affixing a mezuzah, referencing various Talmudic passages.
Where to Place the Mezuzah
TALMUD
The legal development of the mitzvah of mezuzah includes consideration of the placement of the mezuzah on the doorframe. In the Talmudic tractate Menachot, the sages debate the exact location on the doorpost where the mezuzah should be affixed.
Seven Doorways Without Mezuzot
MIDRASH
Not every entrance requires a mezuzah. The minor midrashic work Chupat Eliyahu Zuta, included in the anthology Otzar Midrashim, is a list of sets of seven items each, including the set of seven types of rooms that are excluded from the requirement of a mezuzah.
When to Affix a Mezuzah
TALMUD
The obligation to affix a mezuzah varies based on specific conditions and timeframes, such as living in the Land of Israel versus outside of it, and renting from a Jew versus a Gentile. This minor tractate, likely from the time period of the Mishnah or early Talmud, focuses on the laws of writing and hanging the mezuzah, including when the obligation applies under different circumstances.
Touching the Mezuzah
HALAKHAH
The custom of touching the mezuzah when entering or leaving a house is a popular practice in many communities. Rabbi Moses Isserles, a 16th century halakhic authority from Poland, describes this practice in a comment on the Shulchan Arukh.
Mezuzah Direction Debate
HALAKHAH
Some communities hang their mezuzot vertically, while others hang them diagonally. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary work, Peninei Halakhah, explains the reasoning behind the two different practices.
The Parchment of the Mezuzah
HALAKHAH
The parchment for a mezuzah must come from kosher species, though the animal need not have been slaughtered in a kosher manner. Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried’s 19th-century book on the halakhot of scribal arts, Keset HaSofer, details the specific requirements for the parchment used in mezuzot.
The Mystical Cipher on the Mezuzah
COMMENTARY
The custom of writing a cipher on the back of the mezuzah parchment adds a layer of mystical significance. Joshua Boaz, a 16th-century commentator, explains this practice and cautions against adding anything inside to avoid turning it into a charm.
Mezuzah Case. Katz Barg, Poland. Gift of Louis M. Rabinowitz, The The Jewish Museum, New York.
Mezuzah Case. Katz Barg, Poland. Gift of Louis M. Rabinowitz, The The Jewish Museum, New York.
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