| A mezzuzah is a container that holds a kosher | | | | customary to touch the mezzuzah with your hand |
| parchment, which is then affixed to the doorpost | | | | when entering the home and then kiss your hand; |
| of Jewish homes. In order for the parchment to | | | | this is to express love and respect to G-d. As |
| be kosher, it has to be hand-written by a sopher, | | | | said before, in a religious Jewish house a |
| a Jewish scribe, and it has to be in perfect | | | | mezzuzah will be on every doorframe in the |
| condition; this is why the parchment is often more | | | | home except for the bathroom. |
| expensive than the mezzuzah case itself! Note, | | | | Mezzuzahs come in all different sizes, from 2" to |
| that the parchment is always sold separately | | | | 8" tall. In Israel they are often very large, but in |
| – if there is a piece of paper that comes | | | | America they tend to be slightly smaller and more |
| with the mezzuzah, the chances are it is not a | | | | discrete. They can be made of brass, pewter, |
| kosher parchment! | | | | wood, ceramic, glass, stone, or any other |
| The first line of the parchment says, "Hear O | | | | material, as elaborate or simple as you want, |
| Israel, the LORD is our G-d, the L-RD is one!" This | | | | decorated with children's designs, gold and silver, |
| is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. On | | | | jewels, or anything else that the artist has chosen |
| the back of the parchment, three letters are | | | | to work with. A lot of mezzuzahs, just like much |
| written to represent the name of G-d, which is | | | | judaica in general, are made in India and China, but |
| rendered Shaddai. These three letters are shin, | | | | if you have the option, it really is better to buy |
| dalet, and yud. When the parchment is inserted | | | | mezzuzahs that are made in Israel. Not only will |
| into the case it is rolled up so that the scripture | | | | you support your brothers and sisters there, but |
| references are on the inside and the outside letter | | | | you will also get a better quality product. After all, |
| shin is visible. A mezzuzah is normally attached to | | | | for an item that is going to be containing kosher |
| each of the doorframes of your house, and there | | | | scripture, what else would you want than |
| is a dedication ceremony with a brief blessing | | | | something made with love and care in the land of |
| when it is put up, especially the one on the front | | | | Israel?! Having said that, there are of course |
| door. | | | | many other mezzuzahs that are beautiful, and |
| The mezzuzah should be placed on the right-hand | | | | you can see a wide selection from Israel and |
| side of the door frame, slanted at the top | | | | elsewhere on the web. |
| towards the front door of the house. It is | | | | |