If you have ever been to a Jewish house or a business, then you most probably would have seen a
Mezuzah mounted onto the doorpost. The mezuzah declares that the people in the house are Jewish and have a connection with God. Over the years it has become a well known symbol of Judaism. The origin of affixing a mezuzah to the doorpost is biblical, from the Book of Deuteronomy
6:9, where God instructs the People of Israel :” and you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of our house and on your gates”. A doorpost in Hebrew is known as a mezuzah. The Shema Yisrael prayer is painstakingly and carefully inscribed onto the parchment by a sofer stam who is trained in the art of writing on parchment. The words of the prayer are : “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”.
Every single word inscribed in the mezuzah needs to be perfectly written without any mistakes or flaws. The mezuzah serves as a constant reminder of our relationship with God. when we enter or leave the room we kiss the mezuzah. it is also customary to kiss it and walk out with your right foot first upon embarking on a long journey. Judaism is a religion that is not confined to a place of worship. We are constantly surrounded by our religion and our connection to God, be it in our behavior, our eating habits and traditions and the mezuzah is an extra reminder of this connection. According to the Talmud, affixing the mezuzah on your doorpost will offer protection for evil and dangers that surround us. God also promises us that if we observe this mitzvah, this commandment, then we will be rewarded with prolonged life for us and our children as seen in the verse “So that you will prolong your days and the days of your children”. All in all, when you walk past a house and see a mezuzah affixed to the doorpost, you will know that that is a household whose owners believe in God and observe His commandments on a daily basis.
