Mezuzah Blog

Could this too be a product of the tough economy?  Lately I have noticed that a lot of people reach our website searching for terms like “free printable mezuzah” or “printable mezuzah scroll“.  Of course, we don’t have any such item to offer because we very much believe that every Jewish home needs to have Kosher Mezuzahs.

I think that what is happening is that people are finding the picture of our Kosher Mezuzah Scroll, printing it out, and using it in place of a real Mezuzah.  I am a bit disturbed by this and its not for the reason you think.

I actually would love to offer a free printable Mezuzah scroll!  As it is, we hardly make anything off of the Kosher ones.  The dollar is really low now and the scrolls are getting more and more expensive.  We have to put a whole lot of effort into obtaining scrolls that are truly Kosher at a price that is somewhat affordable (the really good quality scrolls cost around $70).  Then we have to put more work into checking each scroll in our workshop to make sure that it is 100% Kosher.  Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to personally stand behind the product.

If we could offer a free downloadable Mezuzah scroll, we could focus our energy on selling the Mezuzah covers which have a much higher profit margin and don’t require nearly as much effort on our part to obtain.  But then we would be defeating the primary goal of our website which I started originally as an effort to get Kosher Mezuzahs into the hands of Jewish people all over the world.  So you can imagine that I am disturbed to see that people are printing the picture of our Kosher Mezuzah and using it as a Mezuzah scroll.

So today I made a new page that I think will eventually rank quite high in the search engine results when someone searches for things like “printable mezuzah”.  The page explains briefly why we can’t offer such a product and refers the visitor to our Kosher Mezuzah scrolls.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

In my last post I showed you our new product, the fabric Mezuzah. Afterwards I was thinking that a lot of you may be wondering how you can put a fabric Mezuzah on your front door without it getting ruined.

The answer is that you can’t. You see, I always forget that a lot of people who stumble across this blog don’t know that you need to have Mezuzahs on pretty much all of the doors in your home. Many think that a Mezuzah is just for the front door. The fabric Mezuzah is perfect for the door to the living room or to a bedroom. In fact many of the Mezuzahs that we sell aren’t really intended for outdoor use.

As I was thinking about that, I got an email from a customer asking something similar. I thought that the answer might be interesting for everyone so here it is:

Hello:

I purchased my original mezuzahs from a scribe in Florida several years ago and am replacing the Mezuzah on our front door due to the fact that it got wet-despite being in a clear lucite cover. I recall the scribe telling me that the clear covers are best for the Mezuzahs. However, I would like to purchase at some point a case-both for decorative value and physical protection of the scroll. Is there any reason not to purchase a cover that is not clear?

Many thanks,
Mark R.

Here’s what I answered him:

Dear Mark,

Every situation requires a different kind of Mezuzah cover. For example, a Mezuzah which is in the direct sunlight should not be in a clear cover. The direct sunlight will dry out the parchment and cause it to become brittle and break. Such a door should have a cover which is light colored and made of something that doesn’t heat up such as plastic or wood. A mezuzah which is inside of a bedroom, say a Mezuzah which goes to a walk-in closet should also not be clear, because the scroll cannot be exposed in a place where people get undressed.

On the other hand, if a Mezuzah is on the entry to a dining room, you have much more leeway about what kind of cover you use because the scroll isn’t exposed to the elements. In such a case, it is preferable, if possible, to use a Mezuzah cover which exposes the name ‘Sha-dai’ which is written on the outside of the scroll. This is so that we will be reminded of G-d when we go through that door. Those cases which do not allow you to see the name of G-d on the scroll, generally have the letter ‘Shin’ on the them somewhere to remind us that the scroll inside, bears the name of G-d.

In any case (no pun intended), the most important thing is to choose a Mezuzah case which will properly protect the scroll and honor it.

Thanks for visiting our site.

Aaron Shaffier
MezuzahStore.com

As of writing this post, MezuzahStore.com is number 3 on Google for the search term Mezuzah. That makes us the highest ranking website selling Mezuzahs! (The first two sites are Wikipedia..org and Jewfaq.org which are both informational sites).

I am very excited about this for two reasons. First and most obvious: I am the owner and this will mean more business. Second: For a long time, the sites which were listed first on Google were sites which sold Mezuzah scrolls of questionable quality. With MezuzahStore.com at the top of the list, it means that more and more people will be getting good quality, Kosher Mezuzah scrolls.

Who knows, maybe soon we will reach number one. Wikipedia, watch your back!

When you browse around our website, you will find that we sell a very large selection of Mezuzah cases. There are so many different kinds, made of metal, ceramic, wood, plastic, etc. Also they range from very simple designs to cases with cartoon characters on them. This may lead a person to wonder, what does make a Mezuzah case Kosher.

In short, the rule is that pretty much anything can be used as a Mezuzah case. The only requirement is that the Mezuzah be affixed firmly to the door and that the scroll be protected.

Let me share with you this email that I received this morning,

Subject: Why Gentile-themed Mazuzah covers?

Hi,
Please explain your reasoning for carrying Mazuzah covers that are themed with things such as cartoon characters, dolls, etc. What are the Kosher requirements for Mazuzah covers? You say that you sell only kosher items because you sell only items you “believe in”. To me, this implies that you believe in the sanctity of the items you sell. Are Shrek, Popeye, etc. acceptable to God for covering sacred writings?

Thank you,
–Shannon (a Christian Gentile who prays for the Hebrew people, as the Bible says to)

Here is what I replied:

The Mezuzah cover has no holiness at all in Jewish law. It is simply a practical item to protect the Mezuzah scroll. You can decorate it however you like. Personally in my home, we do not use Mezuzah covers with characters etc (nor do I allow my children to play with such characters at all for that matter). But I don’t see any problem with it. In fact, I have had many situations in my store where a Jewish person who is not religious at all and otherwise wouldn’t bother to put a Mezuzah on their child’s door, purchases one because the child falls in love with one of the character covers.

In short, the way I see it is that if it is permitted by the Jewish Law, and it brings some Jewish people to fulfill a commandment that they may otherwise not do, it is a good thing.

Best wishes,

Aaron Shaffier
MezuzahStore.com

This is a picture of a Mezuzah which hangs in the office of Rabbi Landau in Bnei Brak. On the bottom is written, “this Mezuzah was written by an Arab.” It just goes to show how important it is to make sure that you get your Mezuzah from a reliable source. The Jewish law mandates that Mezuzahs be written by a Jewish, Torah observant scribe who is thoroughly trained in the laws of writting a Mezuzah.

Kosher hot dogs, Kosher pizza, Kosher Mezuzahs. Which one of these doesn’t fit in? If you said Mezuzahs, you are in good company. All of the time people come into our store or call us or email us asking us what does it mean for a Mezuzah to be Kosher. We know that food is Kosher when it conforms to the rules of what a Jewish person is allowed to eat according to the Torah, but what makes a Mezuzah Kosher?

The word Kosher literally means proper and it can really be applied to anything. A business deal can be Kosher. A person could be a Kosher person etc. A Kosher Mezuzah is a Mezuzah which has been written on parchment, by an expert scribe, according to all of the rules that are detailed in the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch). Such a Mezuzah is what the Torah is referring to when it says, “You shall inscribe them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates.”

Many people say to me, “I am not careful to eat Kosher food, so why should I care if my Mezuzah is Kosher?” The first thing that I tell them is that if they are Jewish, they should absolutely be eating only Kosher food, but that being said, there are many differences between “keeping Kosher” and having Kosher Mezuzahs on the doors of your home.

 

A person has to eat to live. It is possible that a person is not ready to keep the Mitzvah of eating Kosher just yet, but they still need to eat something. The Mezuzah on the other hand only exist in order to fulfill God’s commandment in the Torah. I is the same Torah that proscribes how the Mezuzah is to be prepared. 

Keeping Kosher is something that requires a full time commitment. It is understandable that a person may not feel ready to take on this commitment. The Mezuzah, on the other hand is just something that you purchase once. Externally there is no difference between a Mezuzah which is Kosher and one that is not. The only difference is a bigger financial investment. But this is an investment that you make once and then benefit from for many years.

The Jewish people have a tradition that a proper Mezuzah protects the home and its inhabitants. Why would anyone give up on the opportunity to have such divine protection.

 

So when you go to get a Mezuzah for your home, make sure to purchase it from a reliable source. Don’t just go into any Judaica store and buy the cheapest thing they have. Get you Mezuzah from a certified scribe who will personally assure you that you Mezuzah conforms to the Torah laws and will bring blessing and protection to your home. 

You can purchase Kosher Mezuzahs which have been thoroughly inspected from our online store.

• G-d said so.  The Torah records G-d’s commandment to place a Mezuzah with the words, “And you shall inscribe them on the doorpost of your houses and on your gates.”
• It reminds you of G-d’s presence.  Every time that you enter or leave a room in your home, you reach out and touch the Mezuzah (some even kiss their fingers after touching the Mezuzah).  When you see and touch the Mezuzah, you will be reminded that G-d is an important part of your life.  This will give you a great sense of peace and help you to strive to be a better person.
• It will remind your children that they are Jewish.  A child who kisses the Mezuzah every morning when she wakes up or every night when he goes to sleep will never forget that they are Jewish. 
• It brings Divine blessing to your home.  There is an ancient tradition that the name of G-d which is written on the outside of the Mezuzah (Sha-day) is an acronym for the Hebrew words, “Shomer Daltot Yisrael” - “He who protects the doors of the Jewish homes”.  From time to time I have the opportunity to go put up Mezuzahs in the home of a person who never had Mezuzahs before.  They usually call me back the next day and tell me that their home feels entirely different.  They feel a special sense of blessing.  This is what makes the Mezuzah and essential part of the Jewish home environment.
• Mezuzahs are fun.  The most important part of the Mezuzah is the scroll inside, but every Mezuzah scroll needs a Mezuzah cover.  This gives you an opportunity to do some home decorating.  There are hundreds of types of Mezuzah covers (or cases) to fit every kind of style.  You can pick a different one for every room for an eclectic look or you can put the same one throughout your home for a uniform, organized look.

The Mezuzah signifies the sanctity and blessing of the Jewish home. Actually, it is a portion of the Holy Torah, hand written on parchment, in the same manner and script as the Torah. There are many laws and traditions that govern who can write this scroll and how it is to be written. It is this scroll which is called a “Mezuzah”. The Mezuzah may be inserted into any number of decorative “Mezuzah Covers”. These may be decorated in many different ways and provide an opportunity to each person to choose a style that they like. But it is is the scroll which is crucial. It is an “original” sanctified document in accord with laws and precepts that dare not be compromised. On this sacred scroll of parchment are inscribed two passages from the Torah, “Shema Yisroel” and “Vehaya” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our G-d, the Lord is one. Love the the Lord your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

“So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today -to love the Lord your G-d and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Beware lest you be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”

It is customary, upon entering or leaving a residence, to touch the Mezuzah with the index and middle fingers of the right hand. This reverence acknowledges our belief in “Shema Yisroel,” the Jewish declaration of faith, which expresses the unity of G-d, the duty of loving, and serving Him with our whole being. It is our obligation to observe this mitzvah in and out of the home.

The presence of the Mezuzah on the right hand side of our doorpost represents basic principles of our faith. It is our responsibility to visitors as well as to ourselves! When a Mezuzah is not valid, its blessings are nullified. Even if one letter or part of a letter is missing or imperfect, the Mezuzah may not be used. Only a “Kosher” Mezuzah sanctifies and protects the home, as well as fulfills the saying of the Psalmist, “G-d will guard your going and coming from now and for all time.”

That is why when you purchase a Mezuzah for yourself or make it a gift to a relative or friend, you are obligated to assure its validity. Be certain that it is handwritten and that you obtain it from a reliable source.