I have been wanting to write about this for quite a while and I finally sat down for a moment to do it. Although it is specifically a Jewish custom/ item, one of my Jewish friends gave me the outer case and we wrote a protection prayer for my home together. This would never pass for a Jewish home (I’ll explain why later) but for my pagan home, it was a wonderful blending of religions and bonding experience. The image above is my personal mezuzah which is positioned just inside my home. This also wouldn’t work for any Jewish persons as it is supposed to be outside but Texas weather is terrible and I didn’t want it to become damaged since it is so pretty.
A mezuzah (Hebrew: מְזוּזָה “doorpost”; plural: מְזוּזוֹת mezuzot) is a piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah, which Jews fix to the doorposts of their homes. These verses are the Biblical passages in which the use of a mezuzah is commanded (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21); they also form part of the Shema prayer.
According to traditional Jewish law, a mezuzah must be placed on every post-and-lintel entrance to a residence, courtyard, or city. Since the time of Meir of Rothenburg (c. 1215-1293), religious Jews have increasingly also placed mezuzot on the entrances to non-residential buildings such as synagogues and offices, and on each internal doorway of the home or building, with the exception of bathrooms (where the name of God is forbidden) and small closets.
The klaf is prepared by a qualified scribe (“sofer stam”) who has undergone training, both in studying the relevant religious laws, and in the more practical parts, i.e. carving the quill and practicing writing. The verses are written in indelible black ink with a special quill pen made either from a feather or, now quite rare, a reed. The klaf is then rolled up and placed inside the case.
In the biblical verses where the mezuzah command is found, the purpose is educational, to constantly remind a person of God’s commandments:
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.
In later generations, though, the mezuzah began to be interpreted as an apotropaic device, protecting the house from the forces of evil. A culture-comparative analysis suggests that the objects placed on domestic thresholds often bear the function of an amulet repelling the broadly understood evil. Some early Rabbinic sources explicitly witness the belief in the anti-demonic function of mezuzot.
The belief in the protective power of mezuzah is prevalent in modern times as well. In the 1970s after a series of terrorist attacks in Ma’alot, the representatives of Chabad started the campaign for the systematic checking of mezuzahs. The general assumption underlying the action was that adhering to the mitzvot would guarantee personal safety. According to various pieces of sociological research, approximately three-quarters of adults in Israel believe the mezuzah guards their houses.
Mezuzah cases
While the most important part of the mezuzah is the klaf, or the parchment, and not the case itself, designing and producing mezuzah cases has been elevated to an art form over the ages. Mezuzah cases are produced from a wide variety of materials, from silver and precious metals, to wood, stone, ceramics, pewter, and even polymer clay. Some dealers of mezuzah cases will provide or offer for sale a copy of the text that has been photocopied or printed onto paper; this is not a kosher (valid) mezuzah, which must be handwritten onto a piece of parchment by a qualified scribe.
Because of the protection aspect that has been attributed to the mezuzah, this was the reason for my wanting to affix it to my front door. It was a beautiful piece that I got and, although it will never be considered valid by any self respecting Jew because I wrote it myself and it is not the sacred phrases they call for, I still absolutely love it. I also loved compiling protection spells with my Jewish friend and putting a custom protection amulet on my door.
According to halakha, the mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door or doorpost, in the upper third of the doorpost (i.e., approximately shoulder height), within approximately 3 inches of the doorway opening. Care should be taken to not tear or damage the parchment or the wording on it, as this will invalidate the mezuzah. Where the doorway is wide enough, many Ashkenazi Jews tilt the mezuzah so that the top slants toward the room into which the door opens.
Generally, halakha requires Jews living in the diaspora (i.e., outside of the Land of Israel) to affix a mezuzah within 30 days of moving into a rented house or apartment. For a home or apartment in Israel (owned or rented), the mezuzah is affixed immediately upon moving in. Whenever passing through the doorway, many people touch a finger to the mezuzah as a way of showing respect to God. Many people also kiss their finger after touching it to the mezuzah and I think that is beautiful.
I do not consider it religious appropriation because my Jewish friend and I did it together and she was fully supportive. I also do not try to use it in the way that the members of the Jewish community do. I respect the Jewish religion and purchased it specifically to support a small business and only use it as a protective talisman. Does anyone belong to a multi cultural or multi religious community/ family and do similar things? Let me know in the comments!
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