NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Mezuzah

Mezuzah (IPA: [məˈzʊzə]) (Heb. מזוזה, literally "doorpost"; pl. 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. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 are two of four passages used in Teffilin. Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Posek (Hebrew ×¤×•×¡×§, IPA: , pl. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: ×ž×¦×•×•×”, commandment; plural, mitzvot; from ×¦×•×”, tzavah, command) is a word used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ... Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaisms rabbinic writing/s throughout history. ... Minhag (Hebrew: ×ž× ×”×’ Custom, pl. ... Poo Poo Tlak Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. Itlucky is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... TaNaKh [×ª× ×´×š] (also Tanach, IPA: or ), is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew ×ž×©× ×”, repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... The first page of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (×ª×œ×ž×•×“) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... The Jerusalem Talmud (In Hebrew Talmud Yerushalmi, in short known as the Yerushalmi), also known as the Palestinian Talmud, like its Babylonian counterpart (see Babylonian Talmud), is a collection of Rabbinic discussions elaborating on the Mishnah. ... The Mishneh Torah or Yad ha-Chazaka is a code of Jewish law by one of the most important Jewish authorities, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides or by the Hebrew abbreviation RaMBaM (usually written Rambam in English). ... The Shulkhan Arukh (Hebrew: Prepared Table), by Rabbi Yosef Karo is considered the most authoritative compilation of Jewish law since the Talmud. ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... The front door of a house is often decorated to appear inviting. ... Main article: Mitzvah 613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... German parchmenter, 1568 Parchment is a material for the pages of a book or codex, made from fine calf skin, sheep skin or goat skin. ... Klaf or Klaf (literal transliteration is parchment) is the Hebrew word for the Kosher scroll that is traditionally protected inside a Mezuzah. ... Poo Poo Tlak Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. Itlucky is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible. ... This article describes some ethnic, historic, and cultural aspects of the Jewish identity; for a consideration of the Jewish religion, refer to the article Judaism. ... Look up home in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Lesko synagogue, Poland A synagogue (Hebrew: ×‘×™×ª ×›× ×¡×ª ; beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: ×©×•×œ, shul; Ladino ××¡× ×•×’×” esnoga) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... Tefillin (Hebrew: ×ª×¤×œ×™×Ÿ), also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attached to them which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. ...

Halakha (Jewish law) prescribes in detail the affixing of mezuzot on doorposts. Since almost every Jewish home has a mezuzah on its front doorpost, it has historically been a way of recognizing a Jewish home. The front door of a house is often decorated to appear inviting. ... A gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or an opening in a fence. ... Isometric view of a typical arch An arch is a curved structure capable of spanning a space while supporting significant weight (e. ... This article is mainly about Hebrew letters. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: ×ž×¦×•×•×”, commandment; plural, mitzvot; from ×¦×•×”, tzavah, command) is a word used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ... This article is mainly about Hebrew letters. ... Shin (also spelled Sin or Sheen) is the twenty-first letter in many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic (in abjadi order, 12th in modern order). ... Image File history File links Mezzuzah1. ... Image File history File links Mezzuzah1. ... Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

The wording on the mezuzah's parchment is taken from the Shema Yisrael ("Hear O Israel") prayer, similar to the parchments inside Tefillin (phylacteries). Shema Yisrael (or Shma Yisroel or just Shema) (Hebrew: ×©×ž×¢ ×™×©×¨××œ; Hear, [O] Israel) are the first two words of a section of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) that is used as a centerpiece of all morning and evening Jewish prayer services and closely echoes the monotheistic message of Judaism. ... Tefillin (Hebrew: ×ª×¤×œ×™×Ÿ), also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attached to them which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. ...

Affixing the mezuzah

According to Halakha, the mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door (from the point of view of one entering the building or room), on the lower part of the upper third of the doorpost (or, for high doorways, around shoulder height), within approximately 3 inches of the doorway opening. A minority opinion is that the mezuzah should be affixed on the side opposite of the hinge. In either case, Halakha requires that mezuzot be affixed within 30 days of the Jewish resident or residents moving into the home if its rented and in the Diaspora (i.e. outside Israel). If the home, however, is purchased in the Diaspora or is located in Israel (regardless of it is owned or rented) the mezuzah must be affixed immediately upon moving in. The case should be permanently affixed with nails, screws, glue, or strong double-sided tape. Great caution should be exerted not to puncture, rip, or crack the parchment or the wording on it, since this would invalidate the mezuzah entirely. Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Look up Diaspora in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Where the doorway is wide enough, Ashkenazi Jews tilt the case so that the top slants toward the room the door opens into. This is done to accommodate the variant opinions of Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam as to whether it should be placed horizontally or vertically and also to imply that God and the Torah (which the mezuzah is a symbol for) are coming into the room. Non-Ashkenazi Jews have traditionally affixed the case vertically. Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... Rashi (1040-1105) (Artists imagination) Rashi ×¨×©×™ is a Hebrew acronym for ×¨×‘×™ ×©×œ×ž×” ×™×¦×—×§×™ (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaqi), or ×¨×‘×™ ×©×œ×ž×” ×™×¨×—×™ (Rabbi Shlomo Yarchi) (February 22, 1040 â€“ July 13, 1105), author of the first comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Tanakh. ... Rabbeinu Tam (×¨×‘×™× ×• ×ª×) (real name Rabbeinu Yaakov, or Jacob in English) was the son of Rabbeinu Meir and his wife Yochebed. ...

The procedure is to hold the mezuzah against the spot upon which it will be affixed, then recite a blessing:

Any Jew is permitted to perform this blessing, regardless of whether or not he or she is of the age of majority so long as he or she is old enough to understand the significance of this mitzvah. After the blessing is made, the mezuzah is attached. At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form ×™×”×•×” (YHVH), the name of God. ... Mitzvah (Hebrew: ×ž×¦×•×•×”, commandment; plural, mitzvot; from ×¦×•×”, tzavah, command) is a word used in Judaism to refer to (a) the commandments, of which there are 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or (b) any Jewish law at all. ... According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of maturity (12 years for girls, 13 years for boys) they become responsible for their actions. ...

When affixing many mezuzot, the blessing is made only before affixing the first mezuzah, while having in mind that that first blessing applies to the affixing of all the other mezuzot.

Observant Jews affix mezuzot on all the doors of their homes, with the exception of bathrooms, very small rooms (e.g., closets) and temporary structures (e.g. sukkot). The garage door is not exempt from having a mezuzah. Gates for outdoor fences also require a mezuzah if there is an overhead lintel. If there is no overhead lintel, a mezuzah is not required. Sukkot (×¡×•×›×•×ª or ×¡Ö»×›Ö¼×•Ö¹×ª sukkÅt, booths) or Succoth or Sukkos is a Biblical pilgrimage festival which occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (early- to late-October). ...

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. Jerusalem (Hebrew: , YerushalÃ¡yim or Yerushalaim; Arabic: , al-Quds (the Holy); official Arabic in Israel: Ø£ÙˆØ±Ø´Ù„ÙŠÙ… Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø¯Ø³, Urshalim-al-Quds (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names) is the capital and largest city[1] of the State of Israel with a population of 724,000 (as of May 24, 2006[2... ... Combatants Israel Egypt Syria Jordan Iraq Commanders Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan, Uzi Narkiss, Israel Tal, Mordechai Hod, Ariel Sharon Abdel Hakim Amer, Abdul Munim Riad, Zaid ibn Shaker, Hafez al-Assad Strength 50,000 troops (264,000 including mobilized reservists); 197 combat aircraft 280,000 troops (Egypt 150,000; Syria... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

Preparing and writing 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). The text of the mezuza should be written in one sitting, without any interruptions or distractions (except for the practically necessary dipping of the quill or looking up of the next word) to comply with the command of ukhtavtam ( you shall inscribe them ) wherein tam also indicates a complete, one-iteration writing. Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ...

The text is written in a single column on 22 scored lines, corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and is divided into two paragraphs; the second paragraph is indented somewhat, to correspond to the way it would be written in a Torah scroll. This article is mainly about Hebrew letters. ... Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ...

In general, the letters are written on gevil 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. According to some scribal traditions, certain letters in the mezuzah are graced with extra crownlets (which are lacking in the corresponding sections in a Torah scroll). Gevil (often pronounced gewil) is animal hide that has been prepared (as writing material) for use in such works as a Sefer Torah or Mezuzah. ...

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"). Most klafim also have, on the reverse, three Kabbalistic names of God, which are produced from the names in the first verse of the Shema by a Caesar cipher with a shift of 1. At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form ×™×”×•×” (YHVH), the name of God. ... This article is about traditional Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). ... Shema Yisrael (שמע ישראל) are the first two words of a section of the Hebrew Bible that is used as a centerpiece of all morning and evening Jewish prayer services and closely echoes the monotheistic message of Judaism. ... The action of a Caesar cipher is to move each letter a number of places down the alphabet. ...

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. Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ... Shema Yisrael (or Shma Yisroel or just Shema) (Hebrew: ×©×ž×¢ ×™×©×¨××œ; Hear, [O] Israel) are the first two words of a section of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) that is used as a centerpiece of all morning and evening Jewish prayer services and closely echoes the monotheistic message of Judaism. ...

In all, the Mezuzah scroll must contain 22 lines of calligraphic script writing, comprising 713 letters. There are a total of 4,649 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). Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, ×ª×”×™×œ×™×) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. ...

Text of the scroll

In English translation, the Torah verses state: Image File history File links MezuzahText. ... Image File history File links MezuzahText. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Poo Poo Tlak Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. Itlucky is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ...

Checking the scroll

Because the scroll is tightly wound, it is easy for letters to become cracked or flake off entirely. As a scroll with a cracked or missing letter is no longer considered valid, Halakha mandates that every scroll must be checked by a qualified sofer (scribe) twice every seven years, to ensure that it has not been damaged. Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

Customs

When passing through a doorway with a mezuzah, some Jews touch the mezuzah and kiss their fingers, as an expression of devotion to Torah. This custom originated as a result of a story brought down in the Talmud (Tractate Avodah Zarah 11a): Poo Poo Tlak Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. Itlucky is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... The first page of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a The Talmud (×ª×œ×ž×•×“) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. ... Avodah Zarah (meaning idolatry - lit. ...

Onkelos is the name of a famous convert to Judaism in Talmudic times (c. ... Categories: Judaism-related stubs | Jewish texts ...

Removing the mezuzah

When Jewish residents move out of a home, Jewish law forbids the removal of the mezuzah unless the next inhabitants of the residence are known to not be Jewish. (Bava Metzia 102a) [3] Halakha (הלכה in Hebrew or Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish law, custom and tradition regulating all aspects of behavior. ...

See also

Listed below are some Hebrew prayers and blessings that are part of Judaism that are recited by many Jews. ... Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ... In the third major section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), which is called Ketuvim (The Writings), there are five relatively short biblical books that are grouped together and known collectively in the Jewish tradition as The Five Scrolls (Hebrew: Hamesh Megillot or Chamesh Megillos). ... A tikkun is a study guide used when preparing to chant from the Torah. ... Vaetchanan, Vaetchanan, Vetchanan, Va-etchanan, Va-Ethannan, VaEtchanan, Vaethchanan, Vaethhanan, Vaethanan, Vaeth-hanan, Vaeschanan, or Waethanan (×•××ª×—× ×Ÿ â€” Hebrew for â€œand I pleaded,â€ the first word in the parshah) is the 45th weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second...

External links

Categories: Jewish law and rituals | Jewish texts | Hebrew words Set of implements used in the performance of brit milah, displayed in the GÃ¶ttingen city museum Brit milah (Hebrew: ×‘Ö°×¨Ö´×™×ª ×žÖ´×™×œÖ¸×” [bÉ™rÄ«t mÄ«lÄ] literally: covenant [of] circumcision), also berit milah (Sephardi), bris milah (Ashkenazi pronunciation) or bris (Yiddish) is a religious ceremony within Judaism that welcomes infant Jewish... Zeved habat (also written Zebed habat) (Hebrew זֶבֶד הַבָּת) is the mainly Sephardic naming ceremony for girls, corresponding in part to the non-circumcision part of the Brit milah ceremony for boys. ... Hebrew names are names of Hebrew language origin. ... Pidyon HaBen (Hebrew: ×¤×“×™×•×Ÿ ×”×‘×Ÿ) is the redemption of the first-born, an important ritual in Judaism. ... The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... A modern Wimpel with the name obscured A wimpel (Yiddish: ×•×•×ž×¤×¢×œ, from German, cloth, derived from Old German, bewimfen, meaning to cover up or conceal [1]) is a long, linen sash used as a binding for the Sefer Torah by Jews of Germanic (Yekke) origin. ... According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of maturity (12 years for girls, 13 years for boys) they become responsible for their actions. ... Yeshiva or yeshivah (Hebrew: ×™×©×™×‘×” pl. ... Ablution in Judaism. ... Listed below are some Hebrew prayers and blessings that are part of Judaism that are recited by many Jews. ... Birkat Hamazon (×‘×¨×›×ª ×”×ž×–×•×Ÿ), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. ... Judaism considers marriage to be the ideal state of existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, are considered incomplete. ... In Hebrew a shidduch or shiduch (שידוך, pl. ... The role of women in Judaism is determined by the Hebrew Bible, Talmud (oral law), tradition and by non-religious cultural factors. ... Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ... Pool of a medieval mikvah in Speyer, dating back to 1128 First room in the medieval mikvah in Speyer Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: ×žÖ´×§Ö°×•Ö¸×”; Tiberian MiqwÄh, Standard Hebrew Miqva) (plural, mikvaot) is a ritual bath used for immersion in a purification ceremony within Judaism. ... Tzeniut (or Tznius or Tzniut) (Hebrew: ×¦× ×™×¢×•×ª, modesty) is a term used within Judaism. ... A get (×’×˜, plural gittim or gittin) is the Hebrew word for a divorce document. ... Jewish feminism is a movement that seeks to improve the religious, legal, and social status of women within Judaism and to open up new opportunities for religious experience and leadership for Jewish women. ... Main article: Mitzvah 613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. ... Minhag (Hebrew: ×ž× ×”×’ Custom, pl. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ... In Jewish services, a Parsha or Parshah or Parashah, ×¤×¨×©×”, meaning Portion in Hebrew, is the weekly Torah reading text selection. ... Daf Yomi (Heb. ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ... Tzedakah (Hebrew: ×¦×“×§×”) in Judaism, is the Hebrew term most commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning justice (×¦×“×§). According to Maimonides, there are eight levels of tzedakah in Jewish tradition, ranging from publicly giving funds, so that the donor and recipient both know who each other... Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ... Tzitzit (Ashkenazi pronunciation: tzitzis) are fringes or tassles (Hebrew: ×¦×™×¦×ª (Biblical), ×¦×™×¦×™×ª (Mishnaic)) found on a tallit worn by observant Jews as part of practicing Judaism. ... The tallit (Modern Hebrew: ) or tallet(h) (Sephardi Hebrew: ), also called talles (Yiddish), is a prayer shawl cloak that is worn during the morning Jewish services (the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah service, and on Yom Kippur. ... Tefillin (Hebrew: ×ª×¤×œ×™×Ÿ), also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attached to them which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. ... A kippah (Hebrew: , also kipah, kipa, kippa, plural kippot; Yiddish: , yarmlke, yarmulke, yarmulka, yarmelke, less commonly called kapel) is a thin, usually slightly-rounded cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews (usually men, but not always; see below). ... Hanukiah, ChÄƒnukkiyah (×—Ö·× Ö»×›Ö´Ö¼×™Ö¸Ö¼×”, ×—× ×•×›×™×™×”) is a 9-branched candelabrum for Chanukkah. ... A shofar in the Yemenite Jewish style. ... The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tefutzah, scattered, or Galut, exile) is the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the world. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: ×¢×œ×™×™×”, ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... Selection procedure of Hungarian Jews at the Auschwitz camp on 26 May 1944, where the Nazis chose whom to kill immediately and whom to use as slave labor or for medical experimentation. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut - mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... A chevra kaddisha (Hebrew: holy society, better translated as burial society) is a loosely structured but generally closed organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of Jews are prepared for burial according to halacha (Jewish law) and are protected from desecration, willful or not... Shivah (×©×‘×¢×” Hebrew: seven) is the name for Judaisms week-long period of grief and mourning for the seven first-degree relatives: father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, or spouse. ... Kaddish (×§×“×™×© Aramaic: holy) refers to an important and central blessing in the Jewish prayer service. ... Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, ×ª×”×™×œ×™×) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut - mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut - mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ...

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