Mezuzah (מזוזה) literally means a "doorpost" in Hebrew, plural: mezuzot) refers to one of the 613 commandments in Judaism, which requires that a small parchment (klaf) inscribed with two sections from the Torah's Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-9 and 11:13-21) be affixed to each doorpost and gate in a Jewish home, synagogue, and business.
 

Thus the word mezuzah can refer to any of the following:

• Simply a doorpost of a permanent door, gate, or arch.

• The special parchment with the required Hebrew inscriptions.

• The small case or box that typically covers the parchment. (The parchment can be affixed directly to the door, though usually a case is used in order to protect it. It is important to be aware, though, that a case without a valid mezuzah scroll inside cannot be used to fulfill this mitzvah.) The case generally features the Hebrew letter shin (ש) inscribed on its upper exterior. Artistic mezuzah cases are often given as gifts for weddings, new house, and other special occasions.

The wording on the mezuzah's parchment is taken from the Shema Yisrael ("Hear O Israel") prayer similar to the parchments inside Tefillin (phylacteries).

More of the scroll
The rendering of the Hebrew text on the scroll is a matter requiring great care. Each letter must be written precisely, preferably by a certified sofer ("scribe"), as one letter written incorrectly would render the scroll invalid (pasul).

Halacha (Jewish law) prescribes in detail the affixing of mezuzot on doorposts.
In all, the Mezuzah scroll must contain 22 lines of calligraphic script writing, comprised of 713 letters. There are a total of 4649 separate instructions that govern the preparation and inscription of a truly kosher mezuzah scroll. When prepared correctly, it is believed that the truly kosher mezuzah serves to "guard your going out and your coming in" (Psalms 121:8).

In general, the letters are written as they would be in a Torah scroll, including the fact that in the first verse of the text, two letters (the ע of שמע and the ד of אחד) are written larger than usual.

On the reverse of the scroll, opposite the space used for this indentation, is written Shaddai, one of the names of God in Judaism. This is also an acronym for the words Shomer Daltot Yisrael ("Guardian of the Doorways of Israel").

The parchment is then rolled into a scroll from left to right (evoking the image of a Torah scroll), such that the first words, "Shema Yisrael" ("Hear O Israel..."), will be read first upon unrolling.

Customs related to Mezuzah

• Since almost every Jewish home has a mezuzah on its front doorpost, it has historically been a way of recognizing a Jewish home.
• When passing through a doorway with a mezuzah, Jews touch the mezuzah and kiss their fingers, as an expression of devotion to Torah.
• The outside artistic case of Mezuzahs is sometimes given as wedding gifts, and gifts for other special occasions.
• The city gates of Jerusalem have huge mezuzot that were affixed after the Old City came under Israeli control after the Six-Day War in 1967.
   

I hope that you enjoyed reading this, and that your necklace of knowledge is one bead longer than it was before you read this page. If you would like you could take a peek at our other beads.

Kathy Bareket
Sabra Originals