What is a mezuzah? The mezuzah (מְזוּזָה) is a small, rectangular box containing holy parchments with the mezuzah prayer that Jewish people have mounted to the doorposts of their homes and places of worship for centuries.
Like most Jewish rituals, the act of affixing a mezuzah to a doorway is accompanied by a short but sacred mezuzah blessing, which is to be recited by the Jewish homeowner (male or female) who is about to attach the first nail:
“בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשַׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לִקְבּוֹעַ מְזוּזָה”
“Baruch atah Ad-onai Elokeinu melekh ha‘olam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav vetzivanu likboah mezuzah.”
“Blessed are You, the L-rd, our G-d, Master of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.”
A “kosher” mezuzah (a mezuzah which meets all the specifications of Jewish law) must contain a mezuzah parchment that has been handwritten in ancient Hebrew calligraphy by a “sofer,” a trained Jewish scribe. Such a scribe must be an observant, practicing Jew, who is well-versed in halacha (Jewish law).
The casing of a mezuzah itself, however, has few requirements. Today, in the modern world, mezuzah cases come in an extremely diverse variety of styles, shapes, colors, and materials. Here at Israel-Catalog, the mezuzot (Hebrew plural form of “mezuzah”) we sell are made from a variety of high quality materials, including wood, metal, glass, plastic, and enamel. The mezuzah styles that we make available range from “plain and simple” to artsy and avant-garde. The mezuzah is supposed to be noticeable from its spot in your doorframes, but how noticeable it can be is entirely up to you.
The mezuzah scroll is handwritten with verses from the Shema prayer, which begins with the following verse:
“שְׁמַע יִשרָאֵל ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ ה’ אֶחָד”
“Shema Yisrael, Ad-onai Elokeinu, Ad-onai ekhad”
“Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One.”
Mezuzah Scroll
The rest of the Shema prayer can be found in most Jewish siddurim (prayer books). The prayer, which is recited daily in the morning worship service, acknowledges and reaffirms the Jewish people’s belief in one G-d, the Master of the Universe. Its first paragraph, which is an excerpt from the Bible, details the important mitzvah for all Jews to affix a mezuzah in the doorways of one’s home.
“וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּום עַל לְבָבֶךָ; וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ; וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאות עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטטָפת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ;וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ.”
“…These words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.”
In this paragraph from the Shema prayer, the phrase “between your eyes” refers to the tefillin (phylacteries) boxes, worn by Jewish men during the weekday morning prayer service. The phrase, “you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates” alludes to the mezuzah.
A mezuzah in the doorposts of one’s Jewish home or synagogue building reminds all who occupy it that G-d is always a part of our lives, watching over His creations, even if we do not see Him. Accordingly, a mezuzah in every doorpost is a reminder to keep our homes holy places, and to always conduct ourselves with purity and dignity in G-d’s constant presence.
