How to Buy a Mezuzah

Mezuzahs have been prized for thousands of years as sacred, beautiful objects that immediately create a Jewish atmosphere in a home. Believed by many to provide protection against illness and danger, mezuzahs fulfill a Biblical commandment to place scrolls of Torah verses on doorways. Some mezuzahs have plain plastic covers and others have highly decorative cases. You can easily buy a mezuzah that fits your decor, customs and taste.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Count the number of doorways in your home to decide how many mezuzahs you will need to buy. A mezuzah should be mounted on every doorway, excluding the bathroom and small closet doors.

2. Decide what size you prefer. Mezuzahs may be as small as a few inches or may measure nearly a foot, while the average mezuzah is about four or five inches high. If you want to enclose your mezuzah in a decorative case, it is best to choose a mezuzah about this size.

3. Buy a few extra mezuzahs in case a mezuzah is rendered not kosher and has to be replaced. Since you need to have a mezuzah on every doorway, if one mezuzah is found not to be permitted for use, you will always have another on hand.

4. Purchase your mezuzah from a kosher source. You can find kosher mezuzahs in a reliable Judaica store, or they can be purchased directly from a sofer (scribe) who is well-versed in the laws of writing kosher mezuzahs.

5. Select a mezuzah case. Your mezuzah will need protection, so even a clear plastic cover will do, but most people enjoy placing their mezuzahs in brightly painted or beaded cases.

6. Have your mezuzah checked on a regular basis. An annual check by a sofer (scribe) before the holiday of Rosh Hashana is traditional among many Jews and is highly recommended.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a rabbi if you have a very small room or a shed. He can tell you whether it is large enough to need a mezuzah.
• Avoid buying your mezuzah in tourist shops or from unknown sources. Your mezuzah should be certified as kosher and purchased from observant Jews.

Resources

• Mezuzahstore.com
• Beingjewish.com on mezuzahs.

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on 2/9/2009 We Used Rabbi GAD ( not GOD GAD ) at http://www.MySofer.com