This week, Rabbi David Woznica reflects on the meaning and importance of a specific mitzvah: the mezuzah.  The Mezuzah: How Many Mezuzot?  The mitzvah of the mezuzah is to affix one to every entrance to your home and entrances of every interior room (with the exception of a closet or bathroom). Mezuzot should be attached within 30 days of moving into a rented home or immediately if you are the owner. The mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door (as you face the direction of entering the home or the room), on the upper third of the doorpost, at an angle with the top of the mezuzah slanted inward. It can be affixed by any member of the family (indeed anyone who lives there) and a blessing is recited just before attaching it. Often friends in your community join with you for a Chanukat HaBayit (dedication of the [...]

This week, Rabbi David Woznica reflects on the meaning and importance of a specific mitzvah: the mezuzah.  The Mezuzah: Does it Stay or Does it Go? You’re moving to a new home. Do you leave your mezuzot or take them with you? It may surprise you to learn that if a Jew will be occupying your former home, it is appropriate to leave them. If someone who is not Jewish will be the new occupants, or you are unsure, you should remove the mezuzot. The reason is that someone who is not Jewish would not see the mezuzah as a religious or sacred object and may, understandably, remove it and discard it improperly. What makes the mezuzah a sacred object is that the parchment inside (klaf in Hebrew) contains God’s name and passages from the Torah. Therefore, if someone who is not Jewish likes the look of the mezuzah (for decoration), [...]

This week, Rabbi David Woznica reflects on the meaning and importance of a specific mitzvah: the mezuzah.  The Mezuzah: A Good Luck Charm? Not Exactly  Do you see the mezuzah on your doorpost as a lucky charm or an amulet? I confess, there are times I do and I suspect I am not alone. The great Rabbinic scholar Maimonidies, also known as Rambam (1135-1204), cautions against that idea with rather harsh words. “Those fools not only fail to fulfil the mitzvah itself, but they have taken a great mitzvah, which involves the Oneness of God and the reminder to love Him and worship Him, and treat it as though it were an amulet designed to benefit them personally…” (Hil. Mezuzah 5:4) Before we express indignance toward Maimonidies, we should acknowledge that a very large percentage of Jews are not aware of what is written on the parchment inside the mezuzah [...]

This week, Rabbi David Woznica reflects on the meaning and importance of a specific mitzvah: the mezuzah.  The Mezuzah: What’s on the Parchment? Contrary to common thought, the mezuzah is not the case affixed to the doorpost. The mezuzah is the scroll of parchment found inside. The scroll is typically rolled and placed in a case. On the parchment are two handwritten Biblical passages: “Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One...” (Deuteronomy 6:4-6-9) and “And if you will carefully obey my commandments…” (Deuteronomy 11:13-21). The mezuzah affirms our commitment to God and to observing God’s commandments.  In addition, for many Jews, a mezuzah serves as a public statement: “This is a Jewish home.” Some see the mezuzah as a way of bringing “good luck.” If you are among them, you’ll find Maimonides' perspective both challenging and of interest. Read tomorrow’s Daily Kavanah for more on Maimonides’ teachings regarding the mezuzah. [...]

A Note from Rabbi Woznica: Many thoughtful words have been conveyed about the pandemic in our Eyes on Wise, so this week I am shifting focus. I invite you to join me on a study of a frequently observed—but often not fully appreciated mitzvah—the mezuzah. It’s my hope that by week’s end, you’ll have greater knowledge of the object on your doorpost and even greater reverence for what it represents. The Commandment of the Mezuzah The origin of the commandment to affix the mezuzah is Biblical. “And these words which I command you this day… you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:9) Mezuzah is the Hebrew word for “doorpost.” And yet, we also refer to the scroll (parchment), placed inside the case, as “mezuzah.” Having a mezuzah on the entrance to our home is one of the most frequently observed of [...]