Even if youre not Jewish, Shapero says that its a blessing for the doorposts of any home to be graced with a mezuzah. . The most important component of a mezuzah is the scroll itself, says Shapero. What Is Inside that Mezuzah? A true kosher mezuzah more on that in a second will contain a small window . But the most important thing to remember when hanging a mezuzah is to say the prayer that goes along with themitzvah. Learn all about the mezuzah in Jewish tradition, and how you can hang a mezuzah in your home! It may only be written by a ordained scribe. Shapero estimates that 90 percent of the mezuzahs sold around the world are not kosher, which means that their scrolls fall short of meeting the high standards of Jewish law or Halacha. People also asked . If the letters are damaged or unreadable in any way, then a new, kosher scroll must take its place. For a mezuzah text to be kosher, no two letters can touch, no letter can have a break in it, every letter must be clearly distinguishable, no misspellings or omissions are allowed, and the scribe must say a prayer to sanctify the name of God every time he writes it on the page (by custom, sofers are all men). The Hebrew word mezuzah means "doorpost.". There are specific words from the Torah written on the scroll. Why does Jewish law forbid gifts to an unborn child? 6:4-9 and Deut. 6 Mysterious Numbers in the Bible and What They Mean. 2. A mezuzah must be attached on the upper third of the right-hand side of the doorway as one enters, no less than one hand-breath from the top. Sephardic Jews (who come from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa) traditionally hang it straight. Jews are the only people who are commanded to do so, but others are welcome to join us in this tradition.. It is generally placed on the right side of the door about one quarter of the way from the top of the door, and the top of the mezuzah is tilted inwardly at an angle. On this handwritten Then the pandemic hit. If you do not have a Mezuzah case, wrap the Mezuzah in thick paper or some other material. But one actual commandment is to inspect the scroll inside your mezuzah twice every seven years. Commandment to teach these words to our children - the mitzvah of Chinukh. In the ancient times, no another nation was given the privilege to . Lessin himself is a certified Jewish scribe known as asofer. In the Talmud, a rich collection of commentary on the Torah written in the first centuries C.E., learned rabbis debated the merits of placing the mezuzah scroll in a protective box made of reeds, wood or metal, and thats the custom that has survived to this day. Even the ink and quill are custom made to meet the necessary requirements. A mezuzah (Hebrew: "doorpost"; plural: mezuzot) is a piece of parchment, known as a klaf, contained in a decorative case and inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).These verses consist of the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael, beginning with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord (is) our God, the Lord is One". Answer (1 of 4): The absolute meaning of the three letter inscription on the mezzuzzah case in that picture, will never be perfectly agreed upon. Peel the paper from the other side of the tape. On the back of the scroll is written the word Shadai in Hebrew, one of the names of God. The box can be made of many different materials. The parchment (the "klaf") holds verses from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. Shu"t Binyan Tziyyon 89, dated 20 Tammuz 5615 (1855 . What Is a Christian Mezuzah? Needed to send a gift to arrive at Dad's hotel in Israel, and it had to be super quick. If words or individual letters have been damaged, then it's probably no longer kosher. The Hebrew word mezuzah simply means doorpost; however, the doorpost of a house can be a sign of what a particular house epitomizes. While the later commandments in Deuteronomy to hang a mezuzah have nothing to do with warding off plagues, the practice still resonates with modern Jews, offering rich spiritual blessings and even physical protections to those who observe it. The law calls for a mezuzah to be placed on every doorpost of the home, with the exception of bathrooms and closets. The scroll itself should be a type of kosher parchment calledklafthats made from the skin of calf embryos, which are considered the most pliable and the most spiritually pure, says Lessin. Can meal replacement shakes help me achieve my wedding weight-loss goal? The decorative case is a way of making it prettier and elevating the practice, but the scroll is really what the commandment is all about.. The mezuzah, a small box which contains a prayer known as the shema written on parchment and is attached to doorposts, is part of the religion of Judaism (Deuteronomy ch.6). 11:13-21.) The ink for a mezuzah scroll must be sourced from a handful of kosher purveyors who make jet-black ink from a short list of approved ingredients: iron sulfate,gall nuts(a woody deformation that grows on oak trees as a reaction to wasp eggs), tree sap and water. The commandment appears twice in the book of Deuteronomy in connection with two of the most important prayers in Judaism, known as theShma(or Shema) and theVahavta. In Deuteronomy, after recording each of the prayers, God commands his people to write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.. If you choose that method, have the top of the mezuzah angled toward the house. Inside the mezuzah is a rolled parchment inscribed with verses from the Bible. The concept of a mezuzah comes from the Torah, where we read, "And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts (mezuzot) of your house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:20). The front door is the primary place to hang a mezuzah, but some observant Jews affix them to interior doors, too. Other ideas would be hanging a plaque on the door, writing a verse on the door frame, framing a verse for the entrance, or even painting or inscribing a verse on the door itself. 6:4-9andDeut. While not much is known about the long history of the mezuzah, it's believed that Jews originally followed the commandments in Deuteronomy by writing or inscribing the prayers (or key words from the prayers) directly on the doorposts of their homes (it may have even been borrowed from a similar Egyptian tradition). Bring the mezuzah up to the wall or measure upwards if you know how tall the case is. Those same kosher qualifications apply to all the sacred texts in Judaism, including handwritten Torah scrolls and the leatherbound prayer boxes (phylacteries) known astefillinthat also contain tiny scrolls of parchment. The Shema, in its long form, is the affirmation of God's oneness, and includes the commandments to teach holy words to your children, to love God wherever you are, and to write these very words on the doorposts of your house . A mezuzah is a little box that is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. So the 18-year-old District resident volunteered to distribute mezuzot instead. home but also from the time they leave the house until they return home: "Not only is a man protected in his house, but G-d protects him both when he goes out and when he comes in, as it is written, 'G-d shall guard thy going out and thy coming in . If a Mezuzah is stuck inside its case, carefully bang the case against . jewish. mezuzah Written by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso Illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg The Torah instructs the Jewish people twice to hang a mezuzah on their doorposts The . The first time the word appears in the Torah is in the Exodus account of Moses freeing the Israelites from bondage under Pharoah. Who Was the Mysterious Melchizedek in the Bible? Nowadays all mezuzos are written with 'Shaddai' and 'kuzu bemuchsuz kuzu' on their backs. It is an external marker that Jews proudly live here and that were not afraid to say so.. On the back of the mezuzah, a Hebrew word Shaddai is written. It is placed in the lower part of the top third of the doorway, at a slant with the lower part toward you as you head into the room. What is the source for attaching a Mezuzah to the doorpost? At some point, and its not clear when, the tradition changed to writing the prayers on a small scroll of parchment, rolling up the scroll tightly and burying it in a notch cut out of the doorframe. 6:4-9 and Deut. It is also the name of the little ornament you often see attached to Jewish doorframes, and there is a powerful part of the Bible hidden inside every Mezuzah, known as the Shema. It is an external marker that Jews proudly live here and that we're not afraid to say so.". For thousands of years, Jewish families have marked the doorposts of their home in fulfillment of a commandment written in the Torah (the first five books of the HebrewBiblestarting with Genesis). In fact, since it is the actual written Shema prayer that makes up the substance of the mezuzah, the mitzvah is doubly interrelated with the Shema the . Jews are the only people who are commanded to do so, but others are welcome to join us in this tradition.". The most popular custom is to touch the mezuzah every time you pass it and then kiss your fingertips as a sign of affection for the sacred prayers held inside. What Is Yours? Hammer in the nail or secure one half of the mezuzah with whatever alternative hanging material you're using. You might be most familiar with the word kosher as it applies to food (as in, pork products and shellfish are not kosher), but other aspects of Jewish life also need to be kosher, including the mezuzah. The first time the word appears in the Torah is in the Exodus account of Moses freeing the Israelites from bondage under Pharoah. June 2, 2015. In the Talmud, a rich collection of commentary on the Torah written in the first centuries C.E., learned rabbis debated the merits of placing the mezuzah scroll in a protective box made of reeds, wood or metal, and that's the custom that has survived to this day. "The parchment and the ink need to be manufactured in a reliable kosher manner, the scribe who writes the prayers has to be properly trained and certified, and every letter and word of the prayer must be written correctly.". "Whether or not you're Jewish, the focus on family, on tradition and on teaching respect for others inside your home is very important. Even if you're not Jewish, Shapero says that it's a blessing for the doorposts of any home to be graced with a mezuzah. Browse 165 mezuzah stock photos and images available, or search for jewish or torah to find more great stock photos and pictures. Written by hand with a quill made of a feather of a kosher fowl, the scribe must declare his . A Mezuzah is made up of two parts, the case, and the Mezuzah scroll. Best cheap low prices on all brands, great closeouts deal offers, amazing discounts & promotions, fast free shipping delivery available and free gifts, The Sofer Stam (scribe) who writes the words on the. We have a wide range of beautiful Jewish mezuzahs to allow you to fulfill the commandment of installing mezuzah on doors, along with kosher scroll parchments containing the Biblical words of the Book of Deuteronomy to place inside. Inside the case is a piece of parchment paper with a sacred Jewish prayer. The ink for a mezuzah scroll must be sourced from a handful of kosher purveyors who make jet-black ink from a short list of approved ingredients: iron sulfate, gall nuts (a woody deformation that grows on oak trees as a reaction to wasp eggs), tree sap and water. That case is called a mezuzah, and while the eye-catching designs on its outside get most of the attention, its whats on the inside of a mezuzah that really counts. No, inside every mezuzah is a scroll. On the back of the scroll is written the word Shadai in Hebrew, one of the names of God. A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). Both a gentile and a minor are exempt from the Mitzvah of mezuzah. While not much is known about the long history of the mezuzah, its believed that Jews originally followed the commandments in Deuteronomy by writing or inscribing the prayers (or key words from the prayers) directly on the doorposts of their homes (it may have even been borrowed from a similar Egyptian tradition). ONE FOR ISRAEL. It should be attached at the top and the bottom to be absolutely certain that a holy object will not hit the floor. It is of such importance that it is mentioned twice in the recital of the Shema prayer, which we say multiple times daily. 11:13-21.) The front door is the primary place to hang a mezuzah, but some observant Jews affix them to interior doors, too. If words or individual letters have been damaged, then its probably no longer kosher. Mezuzahs are one way to keep this commandment. It takes a trainedsoferbetween two and three hours to carefully write the Hebrew prayers on a mezuzah scroll. That case is called a mezuzah, and while the eye-catching designs on its outside get most of the attention, it's what's on the inside of a mezuzah that really counts. Mezuzah is a Hebrew word meaning doorpost. One side of the mezuzah has an opening that makes it possible to see the scroll inside. It is hand-written by an expert scribe known as a "sofer stam," someone who is exceedingly well trained in writing this kosher scroll. The first paragraph of the mezuzah, Shema Yisrael - Hear O Israel, contains several important principles: Belief in the unity of Gd. "And you shall write them [the words of the Shema] on the doorposts o. Contrary to popular belief, the mezuzah is not the outer case, but the mezuzah scroll inside containing the text of the most famous Jewish prayer, the Shema. Lessin himself is a certified Jewish scribe known as a sofer. "And thou shalt write them upon the doorposts of thy house and upon thy gates," the Bible commands. The Klaf is prepared by a qualifying scribe. But the most important thing to remember when hanging a mezuzah is to say the prayer that goes along with the mitzvah. Lessin himself is a certified Jewish scribe known as a sofer. custom. It is important to note that a Sephardic Mezuzah is perfectly kosher for Ashkenazi Jews and vise versa. If youre not Jewish, you may be unfamiliar with the small decorative case affixed to the right door frame of some homes or apartments. There are a lot of customs associated with mezuzahs that arent commandments, but are still widely practiced. The scroll should be rolled from left to right, so that Gd's name, " Sha-dai," is facing the front. Unlike a Torah scroll, which must be copied from another manuscript, a mezuzah may be written from memory by a scribe. The general rule is to place a mezuzah on doors leading to rooms in which you eat or sleep (bedrooms, dining room, kitchen) but not on bathroom doors or the door to the garage, says Shapero. As it is with most Jewish traditions, the rules and regulations surrounding the mezuzah are very specific. A stone doorframe found in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra is etched with the text of the Sh'ma and dates from the third century C.E., but likely reflects a much older custom. The most expensive mezuzah ever sold is also one of the largest ever made. Where you marked the door frame is the place where the bottom of the mezuzah should hang. The ink for a mezuzah scroll must be sourced from a handful of kosher purveyors who make jet-black ink from a short list of approved ingredients: iron sulfate, gall nuts (a woody deformation that grows on oak trees as a reaction to wasp eggs), tree sap and water. Even if youre not Jewish, Shapero says that its a blessing for the doorposts of any home to be graced with a mezuzah. 6:4-9 and Deut. If words or individual letters have been damaged, then its probably no longer kosher. The mezuzah is a parchment called a Klaf on which is written a specific verse from the Torah. Hanging a mezuzah on one's door is a Biblical commandment and a Jewish tradition to this day. On the back of the scroll is written the word Shadai in Hebrew, one of the names of God. The commandment appears twice in the book of Deuteronomy in connection with two of the most important prayers in Judaism, known as the Sh'ma (or Shema) and the V'ahavta. Mezuzah. If you choose that method, have the top of the mezuzah angled toward the house. The Klaf is placed in a container that can be ornate or plain ranging from metal to plastic. Originally published August 10, 2018. 5. The parchment is prepared by a sofer (also called a sofer stam - ST"M," , being basically an acronym of the terms sofer Torah, tefillin, mezuzot), a scribe who has been trained to carve a quill and write with the proper calligraphy. is only on the front and maybe the back door. A specially trained scribe, known as a sofer, carefully writes the words using special black ink and a quill pen. On the outside of the mezuzah the Hebrew letter shin . Whats the Longest Word in the English Language? The commandment appears twice in the book of Deuteronomy in connection with two of the most important prayers in Judaism, known as the Shma (or Shema) and the Vahavta. With all that, the mezuzah is more than an item. The scroll inside of the mezuzah looks like this in Hebrew: The translation in English is: Hear, O Israel, the L -rd is our G -d, the L- rd is one. The scroll itself should be a type of kosher parchment called klaf thats made from the skin of calf embryos, which are considered the most pliable and the most spiritually pure, says Lessin. . The mezuzah parchment contains two different . consists of a piece of parchment enclosed in a case. Avi (customer rep online) checked warehouse availability for me, suggested a fast way to send it, and since time was short, he started the process without me even having to do the process through the site. The most popular custom is to touch the mezuzah every time you pass it and then kiss your fingertips as a sign of affection for the sacred prayers held inside. A blessing precedes the hanging. The prayer is recited in Hebrew, but in English it says, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.". 12:7). Those same kosher qualifications apply to all the sacred texts in Judaism, including handwritten Torah scrolls and the leatherbound prayer boxes (phylacteries) known as tefillin that also contain tiny scrolls of parchment. 11 May 2021. Required fields are marked *. Remove the scroll and gently examine it to make sure that its not damaged in any way from water, the sun or insects, says Shapero. Some people spell it mezuzah, while others use a double z and spell it mezzuzah, mezuzzah or mezzuzzah.Others spell it without an h at the end, as in mezuza or mezzuza. Inside every decorative mezuzah is a tightly wound scroll that contains the two most sacred prayers in Judaism (These are the verses ofDeut. A Mezuzah is a beautiful and special Jewish ritual object used to mark the doorposts of Jewish homes.
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