The Mezuzah on the Right and the Hanukkah Menorah on the Left

The Talmud in Tractate Shabbat states that one should place the Hanukkah Menorah to the left of the door and the Mezuzah to the right. This is referring to the original custom where people would light their Menorahs outside their front door to the left of the door. They would place the Menorah very low to the ground in order to make it perfectly clear that the lights were not for our use, but only to publicize the Hanukkah miracle. By having the Mezuzah on one side and the Menorah on the other side, you would be surrounded by Mitzvot (good deeds) when you entered your home. 

Later during medieval times it became unsafe to light the Menorah outside the house where all could see it. It became customary in most places to light the Menorah inside the home. At least the miracle would be publicized in this way to one's own family and friends, if not to the world at large. 

Today in Jerusalem and many other places in Israel, it is still customary to light the Menorah on the outside to the left of the door, opposite the Mezuzah.

The Dedication of the Temple

There is another connection between the Hanukkah Menorah and the Mezuzah. It is the idea of dedication. The Menorah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it had been defiled and turned into a pagan temple by the Seleucids (Greek speaking Syrians). The oil for the Menorah of the Temple should have lasted only one day but it lasted eight allowing for the production of new ritually pure oil. The eight candles of our Menorah commemorate this re-dedication miracle. In fact the word "Hanukkah" means "Dedication" in Hebrew.

Now that we have no Temple, we are taught in the Talmud that God dwells in the synagogues and in the homes of those who dedicate their home to God. This is one of the reasons why we put Mezuzahs on each and every door of our home. By placing a Mezuzah on each room, we show that our home is dedicated to the service of God.

A Mezuzah - The Perfect Hanukkah Gift!

Giving gifts on Hanukkah is not an original Jewish custom. It is something that has developed in America mostly as a Jewish response to Christmas presents. American Jews did not want their children to feel left out of the gift receiving of the holiday season and thereby be attracted to other religions. 

But the gift of a Mezuzah is actually in keeping with the true spirit of Hanukkah which is all about rededicating our lives to service of God. What better gift can you give for Hanukkah than one which so perfectly expresses the spirit of the holiday? 

Mezuzahs are also a great Hanukkah gift since they come in so many styles and colors that allow you to buy something that fits the taste of the recipient. Also since many people don't have Mezuzahs on every door of their home, they can always use another one.

This one is definitely part of our 'Mezuzahs in Unusual Places" series.

The new state-of-the-art La Paz Medical Center has just been inaugurated in Equatorial Guinea by placing a Mezuzah on the front door. You may be wondering what a hospital in the poverty ridden former Spanish colony is doing with a Mezuzah on the front door.

The hospital in the port city of Bata has been opened with a lot of help from and Israeli businesswoman named Yardena Ovadia. She has close ties to President Teodoro Obiang. In addition the hospital has many Israeli staff members.

Because of this Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila of Chabad of Central Africa was invited to affix a Mezuzah to the front door of the medical center.

You can read more about this, and see a lot more pictures here.

Photo credit: Israel Bardugo/Collive.com

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1. Bring blessing into your home. 

Throughout the ages Jews have known that having Kosher Mezuzahs on all of one's doors is the key to bringing a special blessing and protection to the home. This is why when anything goes wrong in our home, the first thing we do is take the Mezuzah scrolls to have them checked. In order to gain the full benefit of this Divine blessing, we must make sure we have a kosher Mezuzah on every door which is obligated in one.

2. Show your Jewish pride.

It is one thing to have a little Mezuzah on your front door... but when you have Mezuzahs on all of your doors, it is sure to be a conversation starter with people who visit your home. This is a great way to show your Jewish pride.

3. Educate your children.

Today children are exposed to so many different ideas via television and the internet. In order to make sure to pass on the Jewish heritage to our children, we need to make sure that they have regular reminders that they are Jewish. When a child kisses Mezuzahs as he goes through the doors of his home many times a day, he is constantly reminded that being Jewish is important.

4. Keep up the tradition.

Stop for a second and think about this: For 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been in exile in foreign lands. We have always been a minority and we have been persecuted throughout most of history. If any one of your ancestors over the course of those 2,000 years had decided to give in and assimilate into the majority culture, you would not identify as Jewish today. What kept them Jewish was observing the Mitzvahs of the Torah despite persecution. We who live in a free country should not be the first ones to abandon these traditions!

5. It's a Mitzvah!

Last, and most importantly, it's a Mitzvah. Mitzvah is usually translated as 'good deed', but in actuality, it means 'commandment'. The commandments of the Torah are given for our benefit. When we keep them, it brings a blessing into our life.  There are many commandments in the Torah, and they are all important, but it is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Each Mitzvah has its own unique value. Once it has been performed, the light that it brings into the world can never be taken away.

Perhaps you are not ready to keep all of the Mitzvahs just yet, but having Mezuzahs on every door of your home is a one time expense which is a very good start in the right direction. Think of it as picking the low lying fruit first.

To find out more details about which doors are obligated to have a Mezuzah, read this article: