Mezuzah

Introduction

Jewish homes all over the world have a little box on the right side of the door frame.  This box is called a Mezuzah.  The source for this practice is in the Bible book of Deuteronomy chapters 6 and 11: 

According to Jewish tradition, this is a commandment to affix a box or tube containing a small scroll with verses from the Bible.  This is so that we will remember God and his commandments every time that we enter or leave our homes.  In this way we have a constant reminder that we are obligated to serve God.

There is also a tradition that God protects the home of one who properly fulfills the commandment of affixing Mezuzahs. 

Mezuzah Rules

There are many requirements for how this scroll is to be prepared.  There are also very specific rules regarding which doors require a Mezuzah.  Here are some of the basics:

The Mezuzah Scroll

• The scroll must be written by hand.
• It must be written by a scribe trained in all of the rules regarding its preparation.
• It must be written on parchment prepared for this express purpose by a Jewish person. 
• The parchment must be prepared only from skin of a kosher animal.
• The scroll must be written in a very exact form of Hebrew called Ktav Ashuri.
• No two letters may touch and no letter may be broken in two.
• The text must be written in order.  That is to say that if one left an empty space for the first word, wrote the second word, and then returned to fill in the first word, the Mezuzah would be invalid even though everything was correct in the end.
• One of the several names of God - Shaddai - is written on the outside of the scroll.
• The scroll must be rolled from the end to the beginning and placed in a protective covering which is affixed to the door frame.

The Mezuzah Cover

The only requirement for the Mezuzah cover is that it protect the scroll and allow you to mount the Mezuzah firmly to the door frame.  Most Mezuzah covers also have the Hebrew letter "Shin" on the outside, to remind us that the name of God - Shaddai - is written on the outside of the scroll.

This being said, it a well established tradition to use a decorative cover, thereby giving honor to the scroll contained inside.

Which doors need a Mezuzah?

• Most doors in a home require a Mezuzah.
• The major exceptions are the bathroom doors and doors to small closets that have less than 36 square feet.
• There are many specific cases where a door may not be obligated in a Mezuzah based on the shape of the doorway etc.  For this reason it is generally advisable to have a Rabbi, scribe or other knowledgeable person do a walk through to determine which doors in ones home require a Mezuzah.

Affixing the Mezuzah

The Mezuzah is affixed on the right side of the door frame at a height of two thirds up the door.  The prevalent custom is to slant the top of the Mezuzah slightly inwards.  The Mezuzah may be affixed with nails, screws, strong glue, double sided mounting tape, or anything that will bind it firmly to the doorpost.

The following blessing is recited immediately before affixing the Mezuzah:

Kissing the Mezuzah

One is to touch the Mezuzah whenever passing through the door.  It has become customary to kiss ones hand after touching the Mezuzah as a sign of love for God and his commandments.

Related links:

Mezuzah Articles

Mezuzah Blog

Purchase Mezuzot