10
votes
Does a jail-cell need a mezuzah?
This is actually addressed by the Chida in his Birkei Yosef 286:3. He brings the Bais Hillel(not to be confused with Bais Hillel from the gemara) who holds that a jail is not a dwelling of honor,so ...
- 41.1k
9
votes
Finding the right mezuza
A "mezuzah" as we use the term is made up of 2 items -- the parchment inside and the case which the rest of the world sees.
While we often spend time and money trying to get a nice case -- something ...
- 37.8k
9
votes
Accepted
Source that every room in the house needs a mezuza
There does not appear to be a Talmudic source that explicitly states that every room in a house requires it's own mezuzah. Rambam, however, does explicitly state this:
Hilchot Mezuzah 6:10
חדר ...
- 49.1k
9
votes
Accepted
Does the Beis Hamikdash require Mezuzos?
Fantastic Question!
Yoma 11b asks this exact question, and answers that it does not require a Mezuzah:
יכול שאני מרבה אף הר הבית והלשכות והעזרות ת"ל בית מה בית שהוא חול אף כל שהוא חול יצאו אלו ...
- 20.9k
9
votes
Thickening letters for tefillin and mezuzos
This is a known technique. It's generally considered invalid and called פנים חדשות. See Lishkat HaSofer 9:6:
ונ"ל פשוט דאם לאחר שהעבה איזה אות מצד זה גרדו מצד השני ולא נשאר רק הכתב החדש הוי שלא ...
- 97.4k
8
votes
Finding the right mezuza
Two additional thoughts in addition to rosends's answer
Many doors in the house need a mezuza (see here for details) - I realize it might sound a bit daunting if you are "just starting" but "no one ...
- 48.1k
8
votes
Does a jail-cell need a mezuzah?
R Gersion Appel here answers your question
A Jew who is serving a sentence does not require a mezuza on his
prison cell, as it is not deemed a respectable residence and it is
unlikely that he ...
- 48.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Is this a mezuzah or something else?
It definitely does look like a mezuzah cover. The sure way to find out is to unscrew or pry it open. If you can unscrew or pry off the cover and find a parchment inside, you've pretty much confirmed ...
- 70.1k
7
votes
Does a jail-cell need a mezuzah?
I found a new and unusual source. R Ephraim Oshry was the Rav of the Kovno ghetto during the second world war and one of the few European rabbis to survive the Shoah. He published a set of responsa ...
- 48.1k
6
votes
Does a Mezuzah need to be rolled up?
R. Ovadyah Yosef (Yabia Omer VIII YD 30) discusses the topic and raises your issue from Rambam's description of the point of the encounter with Mezuzah. He points out the language of both Rambam and ...
- 261
6
votes
Is this a mezuzah or something else?
It is a Mezuzah case.
It is not considered a mezuza by itself, if inside there is a kosher mezuza scroll then that is a mezzuza (I recommend taking is down and getting the scroll checked by a soffer
...
- 7,466
6
votes
Does an RV need a mezuza?
Rabbi Kaganoff says that the point is not that it is mobile but how it is used. That is, it appears that even if he drives around in it, if he lives in it permanently he should put up a mezuzah (...
- 42.9k
6
votes
Should a Mezuzah be placed in the foundations of a new house?
No. the Torah says the Mezuza belongs on the doorpost.
A Mezuza belongs on the doorposts - on the top third of the right-hand-side when walking in - and only once the house is ready to be lived in.
...
- 42.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Mezuzah on attic door
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:20, citing Noda Biyehudah Tinyana 184, says no: only a standing door requires a mezuzah.
- 7,781
5
votes
Accepted
Where would a mezuzah go on a completely round doorway?
Mor U'Ketziya Orach Chaim 21 - right side - column beginning ואין זו תשובה נצחת says that a door made like a Kippa does not require a Mezuza. Pischei Shearim - page 238 mentions that even if a ...
- 139k
5
votes
What is the meaning of the inscription on the back of a m'zuza?
An historical answer, copied from the book 'Foundation and Origins of the Mishnah', by R. Reuven Margoliot (translation is my own):
We know of many instances when repressed mitzvot (by Roman or ...
- 201
5
votes
Accepted
Does a trailer or a car require a mezuzah?
Shulchan Aruch YD 286, 11 said that the house which is in a boat is Patur:
סוכת החג בחג והבית שבספינה והחנויות שבשוקים -- פטורים.
Aruch Hashulchan added (paragraph 27):
וכן יראה לי הך דבית ...
- 22.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Putting a mezuzah on a sukkah
This is a Machloket in the Talmud (Yoma 10) and the Halakha (ShA YD 286:11) follows the Chakhamim there that a Sukkah is exempt as it is a temporary dwelling.
The Arukh haShulchan (YD 286:27) writes ...
- 97.4k
5
votes
Scoring Tefillin and Mezuzos
This is called שרטוט Sirtut.
A Mezuzah without Sirtut is invalid (ShA YD 288:8).
Tefillin need Sirtut on just the top line (or others say top, bottom and both margins), assuming the Sofer can ...
- 97.4k
5
votes
Is each Mezuzah a separate Mitzvah?
I have worked as a Sofer Stam for many years and learned and researched these issues, both for my customers' sakes and for my own knowledge. Here is what I have discovered:
Each room is its own ...
- 201
5
votes
Does the concept of כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה obligate us to put up a mezuzah on a non-frum Jew's door, if he did not?
I think you are asking an interesting question on the definition and limits of כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה -- all Jews are responsible for one another.
I didn't find it addressed anywhere so let me try to ...
- 48.1k
5
votes
Where to put a mezuzah if there's no doorpost on the outside of the door?
It is important to ask these questions to a rabbi, and to send pictures if asking remotely, as small details can have important consequences.
In general, if there is no space on the doorpost, one can ...
- 48.1k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of the mezuzah on the entrance to Sha'ar Tziyon?
Rambam Mezuza 6,8
אחד שערי חצרות ואחד שערי מבואות ואחד שערי מדינות ועיירות הכל חייבים במזוזה שהרי הבתים החייבין במזוזה פתוחין לתוכן
Gates of courtyards, cul de sacs, countries and cities need a ...
- 11.4k
5
votes
Does a tent require a Mezuza?
The Rambam Hilchos Brachos 11:2 writes that there are some mitzvos which one is obligated to go after, such as: tefillin, sukkah, shofar, and there are mitzvos that are optional where one does not ...
- 41.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Is a Mezuzah an Angel?
I wouldn't call the Mezuzah an angel as it is not a spiritual being.
The Kiryat Sefer on the above cited Rambam writes:
כל מי שיש לו תפילין בראשו ובזרועו וציצית בבגדו ומזוזה בפתחו מוחזק הוא שלא יחטא ...
- 30.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Why are mezuzot always mounted on the right side of the doorway?
The Gemara Yoma (11b) writes:
אֶלָּא, ״בֵּיתֶךָ״ לְמָה לִי? כִּדְרָבָא, דְּאָמַר רָבָא: דֶּרֶךְ
בִּיאָתְךָ, וְכִי עָקַר אִינִישׁ — כַּרְעֵיהּ דְּיַמִּינָא עָקַר
בְּרֵישָׁא. The Gemara then asks: ...
- 13.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Is replacing a jamb that had a mezuzah obligates to bless again for the mezuzah
If more than a day has lapsed since it has been taken down one would make a bracha.
Refer to the Aruch HaShulchan YD 289:4 who speaks in a different context about taking down mezuzos to be checked. If ...
- 30.3k
4
votes
Is it wrong to hang a Mezuzah diagonally?
I think there might be a slight misunderstanding of the requirement. According to the Talmud (Menachot 33a), a mezuzah that is hung like a bolt is pasul (improper). In other words, the mezuzah should ...
- 6,976
4
votes
Accepted
When would a convert affix the Mezuzah in the diaspora?
The Concise Code of Jewish Law for Converts by Rabbi Michael Broyde addresses this question. It cites Agur BeOhalecha (page 366:36), by Rabbi Eliyahu Avigdor Feldman, as saying that a convert outside ...
- 9,777
4
votes
What is the preferred order of operations when replacing a mezuzah?
The Pitchei Teshuva (YD 291 sk 2) quotes the Chamudei Daniyel that attaching a second Mezuzah to the same doorpost violates Bal Tosif and would thus be a biblical prohibition. Accordingly you should ...
- 97.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible