This week I was visiting a Jewish home in town and offered to check the Mezuzah to ensure it met the requirements of Jewish law. To our amazement, we found a printed piece of paper with one line of the Shema printed on the top. Rabbi Levi discovered a Mezuzah on someone’s door that contained nothing in it at all. Both were replaced with kosher mezuzah’s – to the joy of the respective owners.
Over 2,000 years ago there lived a unique pair of friends. Rabbi Judah the Prince and the Roman Emperor Antoninus were extremely close and they would spend much time in philosophical discussion. Once, Antoninus sent the Rabbi a very valuable and expensive gift. To his puzzlement the Rabbi reciprocated by presenting him a mezuzah scroll. “Your gift I need to guard – my gift will protect you,” the Rabbi explained.
The mitzvah of mezuzah serves two purposes. It is strategically placed on every doorpost of the home as a constant reminder that G-d is the creator of all, our commitment to Torah study and mitzvah observance and that we should be grateful for our many blessings. It bears testimony to the fact that G-d’s will defines the lifestyle of the home’s inhabitants.
Additionally, it serves as divine protection for the inhabitants all the time. Inscribed on the mezuzah scroll is one of G-d’s names, spelled with three letters – an acronym of the words “Shomer Daltot Yisrael” – Guardian of the Doors of Israel.
For the Mezuzah to serve its purpose it must fit certain criteria. Contrary to common belief, the case is of little consequence. The scroll is the main player here. It must be produced by a trained and expert scribe according to Jewish law dating back to Sinai. Due to the nature of this scroll it is possible for letters to fade or crack and should be routinely checked by a competent scribe as well. Proper placement on the doorpost is also crucial.
We are committed to helping you observe this beautiful mitzvah properly. If you would like to buy new mezuzahs for your home, check your old ones or simply want to be sure that they are properly mounted - please do not hesitate to call upon us to do a home visit free of charge. It will be our pleasure!