Checking the Mezuzah

15th of Tebet, 5770

A Mezuzah must be examined at least twice every seven years. Temperature and weather changes, as well as age, may cause the ink to fade and crack, thereby invalidating the Mezuzah.
If a mistake is found, the Mezuzah cannot be fixed. In other words, if even one letter is missing, written in the wrong way or corrupted (by humidity, mold, etc) it cannot be added or written back. The Mezuzah needs to be replaced.
If you change your Mezuzah or even affix your old Mezuzah back after it has been examined, you have to say the Berakha again … LIKBOA MEZUZAH.
If you have one or two Mezuzot to check, you could ask your rabbi to check them for you. If you have more than that, it is recommended to send them to a professional scribe.

Recommended Link: http://www.learn613.com/mezuzah.pdf
Watch Checking Mezuzot (0:34) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKXA-ymV-4I



Birkat haMezuza

14th of Tebet 5770

Before reciting the blessing, the case with the Mezuzah enclosed should be held against the doorpost — ready to turn the first screw or tap in the first nail. If using glue or foam tape, be prepared to firmly affix the case on the doorpost immediately upon completing the blessing. (Tape that would easily fall off if bumped into is regarded as too temporary to be considered “affixed”)
Once the Mezuzah is in position, but before affixing it to the doorpost, the following blessing is recited:
Baruch Ata Ado-nay, Elo-henu Melekh Ha’olam, asher kid’shanu bi’misvo-tav, ve’sivanu leek-bo-a Mezuzah.
(Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His Mitzvot, and commanded us to affix a Mezuzah).
If you are hanging many Mezuzot at the same time, you would say one blessing on the first Mezuzah -usually the front door- and include in that blessing the remaining Mezuzot. In the Mashadi community, however, families have different Minhaguim on this issue. (Ask a rabbi).
A woman can place the Mezuzah and say the blessing by herself. But when other people are present is not customary, for reasons of modesty.
Recommended reading on various subjects: http://www.aish.com/sp/so/80048777.html


One Mezuzah in each room?

13th of Tebet, 5770

The custom today is to put a Mezuzah on virtually every door of the house. Therefore, a Jewish home has Mezuzot on the front and side doors, porch, bedrooms, living room, kitchen, playroom, etc. The exceptions are: Bathrooms and rooms with an area smaller than 36 square feet. If a room has more than one door, one Mezuzah is required for every door.

On an entrance without a door we should put a Mezuzah but without saying a berakha for that specific Mezuzah, because this is a case of a Halakhic controversy (Machloket between HaRambam and the Rosh). Alternatively, when affixing another Mezuzah in the house and saying the berakha for it, have in mind the entrance Mezuzah and affix it afterwards.

In addition to private places of residence, a Mezuzah should also be affixed in businesses, offices and stores, when they belong to a Jewish owner.

Read: “Mezuzah and surveillance” http://www.aish.com/jl/m/48971621.html



Kosher Mezuzah

12th of Tebet, 5770
The Mezuzah is a handwritten scroll, written on genuine parchment, prepared from the skin of a kosher animal, that contains the first two parts of the Shema Israel. A Mezuah written on paper; a printed Mezuzah or a Xeroxed Mezuzah are not Kosher. The Mezuzah should be written by a Sofer. This scribe carefully writes the words using special black ink and a quill pen. The letters must be written according to strict Halakhic rules and any mistakes or missing letters invalidates the entire parchment.

It is not possible to know if a Mezuzah is kosher just by looking at it, since part of its being kosher has to do with the scribe who wrote it, his knowledge and his thoughts at the time of writing the Mezuzah. Mezuzah requires a human hand and a clean Jewish mind. (Mezuzah is one of those few things that cannot be made by machines or be mass produced in China!). It is for this reason that one should buy a Mezuzah exclusively from a trustful God-fearing person.
A professional scribe is usually certified by “Vaad Mishmeret Stam”.

FYI see this interesting article: http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/orgs/stam/guide2.htm



When should you place your home’s Mezuzah?

6th of Tebet, 5770

When you are renting a house or an apartment, you have 30 days to put your Mezuzot. Why? Because of an ancient Halakhic principle that only after 30 days of living there you’re considered a permanent resident on somebody else’s house.

However, when you buy a house, you are considered a resident immediately, and your obligation to place the Mezuzot starts from the first day you come to live into your house, or from the time when you have your furniture or other valuables inside your house.

If you live in the land of Israel, even if you rent a house, you need to have your Mezuzot right away. Because of the Mitzva to live in Erets Israel, all Jews are considered permanent residents in any house they might live.

When moving out of a home -and the next occupant is also Jewish- we should leave the Mezuzot.

When one moves to a new house or apartment which does not have Mezuzot, it is the obligation of the tenant to get and put the Mezuzot, even if the landlord is Jewish.

Watch this SPECTACULAR video (4:35) http://www.aish.com/j/mm/58464387.html
.



Inside your Mezuza

Tuesday Tebet 5, 5770
Let me share with you what the Book chobot halebabot says about the first Pasuk of the Shema Israel. SHEMA ISRAEL HASHEM ELOKENU HASHEM ECHAD. “Listen Oh Israel, HaShem is our God, HaShem is one”.

Most people believe that this verse refers only about the unity of God (ECHAD God is one). However, that is only one of the 3 principles of the Pasuk Shema Israel. We also learn two more things:

One, ELOKENU, Hashem is our God: we assert our condition of chosen people, which implies a special relationship with God. Not a relationship of favoritism and more rights for us but mainly, chosen for greater responsibilities. We have 613 obligations toward God, while the rest of the world only 7.

The next lesson is kind of hiding in the original Hebrew and then it appears in English or vernacular: “HASHEM is our God…” HASHEM is… means, HASHEM exists.
So Chobot haLebabot says that when we say the first Pasuk of the Shema Israel, and every time we see or kiss the Mezuzah which contains the Shema Israel, we should think about these 3 principles of our Jewish faith:

1. God exists.
2. We are His chosen people.
3. God is ONE

Mezuzah joke: http://www.aish.com/j/j/51477127.html.



Inside/Outside the Mezuzah

4th of Tebet, 5770


Most people think that the Mezuzah cover is really the Mezuzah and the inside, just a parchment. Well, actually, the inside IS the Mezuzah and the outside is just a decorative/protective case also known as: BAYIT, or “house of the Mezuzah”.

If you really want to know what’s “inside a Mezuzah”, you’re actually asking: what is written in the Mezuzah?
The Mezuzah then, is a small handwritten scroll which contains the first two paragraphs of the Shema Israel.

Why it contains exclusively these two paragraphs? Because in both of them appears the Mitzvah of Mezuzah ukhtabatam al mezuzot betekha ubisharekha.

Similar to the Tefilin which contains 4 paragraphs (two of the Shema and two of Kadesh li) because in those 4 paragraphs the Mitzvah of Tefilin is mentioned.

Going back to the Mezuzah, the Shema Israel contains the basic principles of our faith, and by placing the Mezuza in our entrance doors we are asserting and remembering our beliefs every time we come in and go out.

For more Information watch this 30 seconds video: “Inside” a Mezuzah? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PACu3aosp1g