Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Teachings Online

The Mitzvah of Mezuzah – מזוזה

Devarim 6:9 “And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts (mezuzah) of thy house, and upon thy gates.” (Parasha Vaetchanan) Jews have been putting mezuzot on the doors of their houses since biblical days. A mezuzah (Hebrew: מְזוּזָה‎ "doorpost"; plural: מְזוּזוֹת mezuzot) is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, HaShem our G-d, HaShem is One" A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9). Some interpret Jewish law to require a mezuzah on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms, and closets too small to qualify as rooms. A mezuzah case can be made [...]