Frequently Asked Questions
Mezuzah Store FAQs
Welcome to the Mezuzah Store FAQ page. Here you will find helpful answers about choosing a mezuzah case, adding a kosher mezuzah scroll, ordering kosher tefillin, sending meaningful Jewish gifts, understanding shipping options, and starting a return.
Our goal is to make the process simple, warm, and reliable. Whether you are buying your first mezuzah, replacing a case, preparing a new home, choosing a gift, or asking a scribe-related question, our team is happy to help you feel confident before placing your order.
FAQ Topic Guide
- Gifts
- Mezuzahs and Kosher Scrolls
- Choosing and Placing a Mezuzah
- Tefillin
- Shipping
- Returns and Satisfaction Guarantee
- Contact Mezuzah Store
Gifts
Can I send a gift message with my order?
Yes. You can add a gift message during checkout, and we will include it with your order. Mezuzahs make meaningful Jewish gifts for a new home, wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, office, holiday, or special doorway.
Will the recipient see the price of my gift?
No. If the billing and shipping information are different, we do not include prices in the package. We include a packing slip with the order details, but the price of the gift is not shown.
Can you help me choose a mezuzah as a gift?
Absolutely. If you are not sure which style, size, material, or scroll option to choose, contact us and we will be happy to help. Tell us who the gift is for, the occasion, and the kind of doorway or home style you have in mind, and we can guide you toward a meaningful option.
You can also browse our mezuzah gifts, Jewish housewarming gifts, and Jewish wedding gifts for popular gift ideas.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes. If you are not sure which mezuzah case, kosher scroll, tefillin set, or Judaica piece someone would love most, a Mezuzah Store gift card is a thoughtful way to let them choose something meaningful for their own home, doorway, or mitzvah.
Mezuzahs and Kosher Scrolls
Do your mezuzahs come with a scroll inside?
Mezuzah cases and kosher scrolls are sold separately. Some customers already have a scroll and only need a new mezuzah case or mezuzah cover, while others want a complete mezuzah with a kosher scroll included.
To make the process easier, most mezuzah product pages give you the option to add the proper size kosher scroll before checkout. If you add a scroll, we can ship the mezuzah with the scroll already rolled, wrapped, protected, and inserted inside the case.
Which mezuzah scroll size do I need?
Each mezuzah product page shows the kosher scroll size that fits that specific case. Choose the scroll option listed on the product page, and we will prepare it with the correct fit.
If you already have a scroll and are buying a new mezuzah cover, check the product details carefully to make sure your scroll will fit inside the case. If you are not sure, contact us before ordering and we will help you choose the right size.
What makes a mezuzah kosher?
A kosher mezuzah contains a handwritten klaf (קְלָף, parchment scroll) written by a certified sofer STaM (סוֹפֵר סת״ם, Jewish scribe). The scroll includes the required Torah passages and must be written according to halacha (הֲלָכָה, Jewish law).
A printed, photocopied, decorative, or machine-produced scroll is not a kosher mezuzah scroll. The case protects and beautifies the mitzvah, but the handwritten scroll is what makes the mezuzah kosher. You can learn more in our guide to what is a mezuzah scroll.
Are your mezuzah scrolls kosher?
Yes. Our kosher mezuzah scrolls are handwritten on real parchment by certified sofrim. They are checked for textual accuracy and reviewed carefully so you can feel confident that the scroll inside your mezuzah is kosher.
We only sell kosher mezuzah scrolls because the scroll is the heart of the mitzvah.
Who certifies or checks your mezuzahs?
Every kosher mezuzah scroll we sell is handwritten by a certified sofer STaM and carefully checked before it is shipped. Our scrolls are reviewed for textual accuracy and inspected with care so customers can feel confident that the klaf inside their mezuzah is kosher.
There is not one universal organization that certifies every kosher mezuzah scroll. Instead, the trust comes from the sofer, the checking process, and the standards used before the scroll is sold. We stand behind the kosher mezuzah scrolls we offer, and many rabbis, synagogues, Jewish families, and institutions rely on Mezuzah Store for scrolls they can trust.
If you have a scribe-related question about kosher scrolls, tefillin, checking, or parchment, you can email scribe@mezuzahstore.com. You can also learn more about the role of a sofer STaM.
Do you sell non-kosher or printed mezuzah scrolls?
No. Mezuzah Store only sells kosher mezuzah scrolls. We know some shoppers are looking for a lower-cost option, but a printed or photocopied scroll does not fulfill the mitzvah of mezuzah.
Our goal is to help every Jewish home place a real kosher mezuzah on the door, with a handwritten scroll that is prepared according to Jewish law.
Can you insert the scroll into the mezuzah case for me?
Yes. If you purchase a kosher mezuzah scroll together with a mezuzah case, we can prepare it for you before it ships. Our team will carefully roll and wrap the scroll, place it inside the mezuzah case, and make sure it is protected for the journey to your home.
This way, your mezuzah arrives ready to affix to your doorway, making the process simple and meaningful. Once it arrives, you can place it on the doorpost and recite the mezuzah blessing when appropriate, bringing the mitzvah into your home with care, beauty, and confidence.
Why don't you sell car mezuzahs?
We do not sell decorative "car mezuzahs" made with printed prayers, photocopied text, or non-kosher scrolls. Those items may be meaningful to some people as travel-themed Judaica, but they are not kosher mezuzahs.
A true mezuzah requires a kosher handwritten scroll and is traditionally placed on the doorposts of a Jewish home or qualifying room. Because we focus on kosher mezuzahs and properly prepared scrolls, we do not sell car mezuzahs as a substitute for the mitzvah of mezuzah.
If you have a specific halachic question about travel, protection, or what is appropriate to keep in a car, we recommend asking your rabbi.
How often should mezuzah scrolls be checked?
The halachic standard is twice every seven years, roughly once every three and a half years. Many families have their mezuzahs checked annually, often during Elul before Rosh Hashanah. Heat, moisture, age, and wear can affect the parchment and the letters over time.
We check mezuzahs and tefillin ourselves, at our Los Angeles workshop, using the same team that examines every scroll we sell. Mezuzah checking is $19.95 per scroll, or $14.95 per scroll when you send five or more. Shipping is included in both directions and turnaround is typically 2 to 5 business days after your scrolls arrive. To begin, email service@mezuzahstore.com and we will send you the labels. You can read more on our mezuzah checking and tefillin checking page.
Choosing and Placing a Mezuzah
How do I choose the right mezuzah case?
Start with the doorway where the mezuzah will be placed. Consider the size of the doorway, whether the mezuzah will be used indoors or outdoors, the scroll size you need, and the style of the home.
Some customers prefer a modern mezuzah case, while others choose a traditional, glass, wood, Jerusalem stone, pewter, sterling silver, or children's mezuzah. If you want more background before shopping, our guide to what is a mezuzah explains the meaning, purpose, and scroll inside.
Can I use a mezuzah outdoors?
Some mezuzah cases are better suited for exterior doorways than others. Outdoor placement depends on the material, design, weather exposure, and how the case is sealed.
If you are shopping for an exterior doorway, look for products marked for outdoor or water-resistant use, or browse our water-resistant mezuzahs. If you are unsure, contact us before ordering and we will help you choose a suitable mezuzah case.
Which side of the door does a mezuzah go on?
A mezuzah is generally placed on the right side of the doorway as you enter the room or home. Doorway layout can sometimes make the answer more complicated, especially with unusual entrances or connecting rooms.
For more detail, read our guide on which side of the door the mezuzah goes on.
How high should a mezuzah be placed?
A mezuzah is traditionally placed on the upper third of the doorway. The exact placement can depend on the height and structure of the doorpost.
For more guidance, see our article on how high the mezuzah should be placed.
Do I need a blessing when putting up a mezuzah?
In many cases, a bracha (בְּרָכָה, blessing) is recited when placing a kosher mezuzah. The details can depend on the doorway, home, timing, and whether the scroll is kosher.
You can read the mezuzah blessing on our site, and we recommend asking your rabbi if you are unsure whether a blessing should be recited in your specific situation.
How do I put up a mezuzah?
Many mezuzah cases attach with screws, nails, mounting tape, or another method depending on the design. The product page should list the mounting method for that specific mezuzah case.
For step-by-step guidance, visit our page on putting up a mezuzah. If you purchased a kosher scroll with your case, we can prepare the scroll inside the mezuzah so it arrives ready to affix to the doorway.
Which rooms need a mezuzah?
A mezuzah belongs on the doorposts of many rooms in a Jewish home, though some spaces have exceptions. Bathrooms, very small closets, and certain other spaces may not require one.
For more details, read our guide on which rooms need a mezuzah, or ask your rabbi for guidance about your specific home layout.
Tefillin
How do I know which tefillin custom to choose?
If your family or community follows a specific minhag (מִנְהָג, custom), it is best to choose tefillin that match that custom. If you are not sure which option is right for you, we recommend asking your rabbi.
If you still need help understanding the options, contact us and we will be happy to guide you.
If all of your tefillin are kosher, what is the difference between the different tefillin levels?
All kosher tefillin must meet the basic requirements of Jewish law, but there are different levels of craftsmanship, materials, stringencies, and hiddur mitzvah (הִדּוּר מִצְוָה, beautifying a commandment).
Higher-level tefillin may use more carefully selected batim (בָּתִּים, tefillin boxes), retzuot (רְצוּעוֹת, straps), handwritten parshiyot (פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת, Torah passages), and construction standards that follow stricter halachic opinions. In general, choose the best kosher tefillin set that fits your needs, custom, and budget.
What affects the price of a kosher tefillin set?
Tefillin price can vary based on the quality of the batim, the level of the handwritten parshiyot, the retzuot, the minhag, the level of checking, and the overall hiddur mitzvah. A higher-level set usually reflects more careful materials, craftsmanship, and halachic stringency.
If you are choosing tefillin for a Bar Mitzvah, daily use, a gift, or a first set, our team can help explain the options in a clear and respectful way.
I write with my left hand and do other things with my right hand. Should I choose lefty or righty tefillin?
For tefillin, the writing hand is usually the main factor. If you write with your left hand, you would generally choose left-handed tefillin.
If your situation is more complicated, such as writing with one hand but doing most other activities with the other, we recommend asking a competent rabbi before ordering.
What is included when I order a kosher tefillin set?
A kosher tefillin set generally includes the shel yad and shel rosh, the hand and head tefillin, with kosher handwritten parshiyot inside and black retzuot attached. Product details may vary by set, so please review the specific tefillin product page before ordering.
If you are purchasing tefillin for a Bar Mitzvah, daily use, or a meaningful gift, contact us and we will help you understand the options clearly.
Can you help me choose tefillin for a Bar Mitzvah?
Yes. Choosing tefillin for a Bar Mitzvah is a meaningful decision, and we are happy to help you compare the different kosher tefillin levels, minhag options, and quality differences.
If your family, rabbi, school, or community has specific tefillin requirements, we recommend confirming those details before ordering. You can also browse our kosher tefillin collection or contact us for help.
Do tefillin need to be checked?
Yes. Tefillin should be checked periodically to make sure the parshiyot, batim, and retzuot remain kosher and in proper condition. If you have old or inherited tefillin, or tefillin that have been exposed to moisture, heat, or heavy wear, it is a good idea to have them checked.
We check tefillin at our Los Angeles workshop for $100 per pair, which reflects the additional work of opening the batim, examining the parshiyot, and reassembling everything with kosher sinew. Shipping is included both ways and turnaround is typically 2 to 5 business days. To begin, email service@mezuzahstore.com. For halachic or scribe related questions, email scribe@mezuzahstore.com. Read more on our mezuzah checking and tefillin checking page.
Shipping
What happens to an order placed on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday?
Our website takes orders around the clock, but our workshop keeps Jewish time. We are closed Saturday for Shabbat and on most Jewish holidays, so anything that comes in while we are closed is picked and packed as soon as we reopen. Nothing is lost in the meantime, and you keep your place in line.
The rest of the week, orders ship the same or the next business day, with tracking emailed to you when the package leaves us. Our full timing details are on the shipping and returns page.
Is free shipping ever available on an order going overseas?
It can be. Free international shipping is available to certain countries once your order reaches that country's threshold, and the discount appears at checkout once your order reaches it. Otherwise, international flat rates start at $12 and vary by destination.
Inside the United States the rule is simpler: standard shipping is a flat $5, and it is free once your order passes $100. You can read both sets of rates on our shipping and returns page.
Why is your domestic shipping a flat rate?
Because it is easier for everyone. Standard domestic shipping is a flat $5 for any order size to any address in the United States, so a single kosher mezuzah scroll and a full set of cases for a new home cost the same to send. Once the order passes $100, standard shipping is free.
Faster domestic services are the one exception, since they are priced live by the carriers at checkout based on your address and the size of the order. You can see how the two work together on our shipping and returns page.
Will I owe customs duties or import taxes on an international order?
You may. Duties, taxes, import fees, and brokerage charges are set and collected by the destination country and the carrier, not by Mezuzah Store, and they are the responsibility of the recipient. We cannot calculate them in advance or absorb them, and they are not part of the shipping rate you pay us.
If you are ordering kosher tefillin or a larger Judaica order to another country, it is worth checking your own country's import rules first so the total cost holds no surprises.
Can I have my order sent by FedEx or DHL within the United States?
Not at the moment. DHL and FedEx carry our international shipments only, so they will not appear as options for a delivery inside the United States. Domestic orders travel with USPS and UPS, and both offer several speeds depending on your destination.
Enter your address at checkout and every service available to you is listed with a live rate and a delivery estimate. More on carriers and timing is on our shipping and returns page.
Why are express prices only shown at checkout?
Faster domestic services are priced live by the carriers, based on your delivery address, the size of the order, the carrier, and the speed you choose. A single number printed on a product page would be wrong for most customers, so we show you the real ones instead, next to the estimated delivery date for each option.
If your order is tied to a date, such as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or a move-in, contact us with your date and zip code before ordering and we will point you to the service that gets it there.
Do you ship to APO and other military addresses?
Many orders can be delivered to military addresses, and to PO Boxes, when a compatible carrier service is available for that destination. Enter the address at checkout and the options that can actually reach it will be listed with live rates and delivery estimates.
If nothing suitable appears, or you have a delivery requirement that needs a human, contact us before placing the order. Our carrier and address details are on the shipping and returns page.
Returns and Satisfaction Guarantee
What condition does an item need to be in for me to return it?
Unused and in the same condition you received it, in its original packaging, with your receipt or proof of purchase. Request the return within 90 days of the day your order arrived and we will take care of it. There is no restocking fee, ever.
Gift cards cannot be returned, and personalized or made-to-order pieces are final sale because they were made for you specifically. That last point never applies to an item that arrives damaged or not as described. The full terms are on our shipping and returns page.
Should I contact you before mailing something back?
Please do. Request the return first, either from your Mezuzah Store customer account or by emailing service@mezuzahstore.com, so we can confirm exactly where to send the package and have your order record open when it lands.
Tuck your name, your order number, and a short note inside the box. The note is never required, but knowing why something came back is how we get better at helping the next customer.
The mezuzah I received does not match how it looked on your website. What now?
Tell us and we will fix it. An item that is not as described, or that turns out to be a different size than advertised, is our error, not yours. We will arrange an exchange, a replacement, or a refund, and we send you a prepaid label so the return costs you nothing.
Photos of the item and the packaging help us sort it out faster, so send those along if you can. Email service@mezuzahstore.com or call +1 (310) 278-4428 and a person will pick it up from there.
Can I bring a return into the Los Angeles store instead of mailing it?
You are welcome to. Bring it within the same 90 day window, and please contact us first so we know to expect you and can have your order record ready when you walk in. If you would rather mail it, send it to the same address with your name, order number, and a short note inside the package.
Mezuzah Store1440 1/2 S Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
United States
Store hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We are closed Saturday for Shabbat and on most Jewish holidays. Return terms in full are on our shipping and returns page.
Contact Mezuzah Store
Who should I reach out to about an order, and who handles halachic questions?
For anything about an order, a delivery, a return, or choosing between mezuzah cases, email service@mezuzahstore.com or call and text us at +1 (310) 278-4428. For halachic and scribe questions, about klaf, checking, tefillin parshiyot, or what a specific doorway needs, write to scribe@mezuzahstore.com and our scribe will answer you directly.
You are always welcome to come see us in person during store hours, Sunday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We are closed Saturday for Shabbat and on most Jewish holidays.
Mezuzah Store1440 1/2 S Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
United States