A scroll with two paragraphs of the Torah written on it. It is affixed to the doorposts in Jewish homes.
17
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1answer
167 views
Scrolls on door frames - what are they called and what should I do?
I've moved into a new flat (apartment).
It has these small scrolls in containers on door frames outside and inside the apartment.
I am not Jewish.
I do want to be respectful of other people's ...
13
votes
6answers
355 views
Height of a mezuzah and children:
If a child cannot reach the upper third of the doorway and he is the primary occupant of said room, may the mezuzah be affixed lower than the upper third?
10
votes
5answers
193 views
Is there any restriction on what constitutes a mezuzah case?
A friend would like to make a mezuzah case for me, but has never made one before. Are there any restrictions on its construction or design?
8
votes
2answers
118 views
Mezuza positioning: why top angled in not out?
Why does the angle a mezuza positioned on the doorpost at have its top towards the room, and the bottom away from the room?
I understand this may be an Ashkenazi custom, and that Sephardim position ...
8
votes
3answers
144 views
Mezuza on an elevator?
Today I walked into a building and discovered that someone had taped a mezuza onto the "doorpost" of the elevator. The elevator is about 1m x 1m square - way too small for a room to justify having a ...
8
votes
2answers
248 views
Can a Mezuzah be given to a respectable and trustworthy non-Jew?
Would it be permissible to give a Mezuzah to a non-Jew if he is honorable and can reasonably be trusted to treat it with great care such as a dignitary or a collector of cultural artifacts?
8
votes
4answers
229 views
What is the meaning of the inscription on the back of a m'zuza?
The string "כוזו במוכסז כוזו" is written on the back side of the parchment in many a doorpost scripture.
According to the Ra"sh (hilchos m'zuza 18)
וכן נהגו לכתוב באשכנז ובצרפת כנגד ה' אלקינו ה' ...
8
votes
1answer
92 views
When should one hide her mezuzot?
In light of recent events wherein vandals began burning mezuzot found on the doorways outside of people's houses, I am wondering if there is ever a reason to remove mezuzot to prevent their ...
8
votes
1answer
83 views
Should there be a mezuzah on a room that has baby diapers?
If there is a general purpose room (like a bedroom) wherein a child's soiled diapers are often disposed of, does that room take on the status of tashmish she'aino shel kavod - a room who's use is not ...
7
votes
1answer
154 views
What is the origin of the custom to kiss a Mezuzah?
What is the source or origin of the custom to kiss a Mezuzah?
7
votes
1answer
58 views
Mezuzah on a Two-Room Bathroom
This question is a bit complicated:
Let's say I have a two-room bathroom. The first room is a room with sinks and mirrors and the second room has the actual toilets. The first room and second room are ...
7
votes
2answers
107 views
What does “twice in seven years” mean regarding checking mezuzos?
We are told to check our mezuzos twice every seven years. What exactly does this mean? If the Chachamim/Poskim had meant once every 3.5 years, would they not have said this instead?
With regard to ...
6
votes
4answers
170 views
Removing mezuzah spoils doorpost
I have put up my mezuzot with double-sided tape, but when I took them off to check the scrolls either the paint came off with it or it left a sticky mess behind.
Is there a better way to put up a ...
6
votes
3answers
112 views
Where to affix a second Mezuzah?
I have two beautiful Mezuzot in my possession. It seems obvious that I affix one on the doorpost of our new home's front entrance. What would be the most appropriate room inside the home to affix ...
6
votes
1answer
158 views
What to do when which side of the door to put the Mezuza on is unclear?
If someone has a house which has a room, and this room has two doors without a "heker tzir" (1) (like salon doors, or sliding doors, or no doors at all) and people walk into this room through one door ...
6
votes
2answers
236 views
What should be done with mezuzot when selling the house?
What should be done about the mezuzot (internal and external) when selling one's house...
to a non-Jew?
to a non-observant Jew?
to an observant Jew?
5
votes
2answers
102 views
Mezuzah on a shared door
Should one put a mezuzah on a doorway that is shared with a non-Jewish (or a Jewish-but-non-mezuzah-putting) neighbor?
If yes, should/must one ask their permission first? Should/must one tell them ...
5
votes
2answers
166 views
How should I choose a mezuzah klaf?
I've moved into a new apartment and need to buy some mezuzot. Looking around, each seller seems to offer a range of options in terms of price. It seems like the way it works is the bigger the klaf, ...
5
votes
1answer
72 views
Mezuzah on rental property
If you own a home that you rent out, are you obligated to place a Mezuzah (or Mezuzoth) on that property?
What if the property is attached to your home, such as a basement apartment or add-on suite?
4
votes
2answers
149 views
Composition of Sofer's ink
What ingredients are currently used in the manufacture of ink for Safrus? Is there a different formulation for the paint that is used to dye tefillin straps/boxes?
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Mezuzot for shared apartment
For someone sharing an apartment with a non-Jew, do the common doors in the apartment need a mezuzah? Does the Jewish person's bedroom even need one if the apartment is shared with a non-Jew?
4
votes
1answer
108 views
4
votes
2answers
130 views
Best practices for checking a Mezuzah
What are some best practices for checking a Mezuzah (as the Mezuzah owner, not as a Sofer)? Some questions that come to mind are:
Should all Mezuzoth in a home be checked at once?
What should one ...
4
votes
2answers
77 views
May one use mezuzot with different scripts in the same house?
May one use mezuzot with different scripts in the same house? For example can the muzuzah in one room be ashkenaz (beit yosef) and in another be sefardi (vellish)?
3
votes
3answers
151 views
how often do you have to check your mezuzot?
I heard it was twice in two years. Is that right? Where does that come from? If I have no reason to assume they became pasul do I still have to check them?
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Why are the words “mezuzos” written differently in the Torah (Rashi)?
There are two paragraphs in the Torah where the word mezuzos appears. The first, in Vaeschanan (6:9), is written with a kubutz (no vav)- מְזֻזוֹת . The second, in Eikev (11:20), it is written with a ...
3
votes
1answer
179 views
2
votes
3answers
190 views
2
votes
1answer
115 views
2
votes
1answer
68 views
What happens if your Mezzuzah comes off the wall
I accidentally knocked my Mezzuzah off the wall , what is the process for putting it back on again ?
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Kissing the mezuzah before netilat yadayim in the morning
Is it permissible to kiss the mezuzah in the morning before you wash your hands (netilat yadayim)?
2
votes
2answers
422 views
Mezzuzahs- putting them up, and saying brachot
Is there an "issur" regarding not putting up a mezuzzah? Is there such thing as having 30 days until the issue kicks in? Also, can you say the bracha each time you put one up? Or, if two different ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
When do you place the Mezuzah?
Possible Duplicate:
Mezzuzahs- putting them up, and saying brachot…
When do you place the Mezuzah? 30 days after beginning rental or moving in?
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Who needs to check a m'zuza?
I have heard that a m'zuza must be checked twice every seven years by a qualified sofer. I have also heard that, assuming it's known to have been kosher at one point, it need only be checked for faded ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Mezuzah for room used by Non-Jews
In a Jewish-owned and -operated mifa'al (factory/business), there is a room that is designated for the non-Jewish workers where they can eat, rest, etc. The room is used for nothing else (not even for ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
What qualities are necessary in a halachic wrapping?
There are occasions, e.g. a mezuza in a sometimes-unbecoming environment, in which we're required to cover a holy object with one or two wrappings to separate it from various environmental elements. ...
1
vote
1answer
278 views
taking off your mezuzah
What happens if you take off your mezuzah because its not yours is a bracha required if you change mezuzas?
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Mezuza Placement
My main question is how does one determine which side of the doorpost a Mezuza should go on? I believe (though I cannot quote a source) that it is supposed to go on the right side of the door, with ...
