The Jewish community has many important traditions that are crucial to be aware of if you want to learn more about their culture. One of these traditions is exchanging housewarming gifts whenever someone moves in.
A very common gift is the Mezuzah cases, which is why we will discuss its importance in the following article. Keep reading if you want to learn more about them.
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What Is a Mezuzah?
The word Mezuzah can be translated to “doorpost,” It consists of a piece of parchment that’s kept in a decorative case and inscribed with certain verses in Hebrew from the Torah.
These verses are the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael. The Mezuzah is traditionally affixed to the door of Jewish homes to fulfill their Biblical commandment. Some Jewish people choose to put one in every doorway of their home, except in their bathrooms and other small rooms, as these aren’t living spaces.
A qualified scribe must write the Klaf in black indelible ink with a special pen made of a feather or a reed. Then, the Klaf must be rolled up and fit in the case.
Etymology
According to the Bible, the word Mezuzah refers to the doorposts of a door. Initially, it didn’t have a religious meaning, but it was later used to refer to the piece of parchment Jewish people hang on their entries according to the Deuteronomy commandment.
There are two main disputed origins for the word:
- The first one is that it comes from the word “motion” or “shift,” which describes the ability of doorposts to move doors.
- Another commonly known meaning explains that it comes from the word “stand”, as doorposts are the stand of the entrance.
Amuletic Usage of Mezuzah
The Mezuzah isn’t a simple decorative item, as Jewish people use it as an amulet to repel evil from entering their homes. This belief comes from early Rabbinic sources, which explain the anti-demonic properties of the Mezuzah and how it protects the household against divine anger.
Nowadays, Jewish people still believe in its protective power. There is historical evidence of Jewish representatives checking their communities’ Mezuzahs after several terrorist attacks in Ma’alot, as this would ensure their physical safety.
Several types of research have been conducted too, and they determined that around three-quarters of Israeli adults believe in the protective characteristics of the Mezuzah.
Check out our full range of Jewish Housewarming Gifts
Affixing the Mezuzah
If you want to properly place the Mezuzah in your home according to Jewish law, you must consider the following aspects.
Position and Integrity
Several rules need to be followed when placing the Mezuzah. One of them has to do with its position and integrity. Mezuzahs should always be placed on the right side and the upper third part of the doorpost. In addition, those who go into the house must be highly aware not to damage or tear the Mezuzah, or it will eliminate its protective characteristics.
Angle
In some cases, the doorway will be wide enough for Jewish people to tilt the Mezuzah towards the room to symbolize that God and the Torah are entering the room. However, not all Jewish people choose to do this, so they simply place it vertically.
Time
Jewish people who live in the Diaspora, which means living outside of Israel, must affix a Mezuzah in their new home within the first 30 days of living there. However, if they live in Israel, it must be affixed as soon as possible, as this will be their permanent residence.
In a hurry to get a stylish mezuzah case for your new home? Check out our collection of Silver Mezuzah Cases
Blessing
Setting up the Mezuzah has its own procedure that must be followed, which includes reciting a blessing. This blessing can be recited by any Jew who’s old enough to understand the Mitzvah. However, remember that if you affix several Mezuzahs, you can only recite the blessing once.
Touching the Mezuzah
It is a common religious practice to touch the Mezuzah with one finger when passing through the door, as this shows respect to God. Some Jewish people also choose to kiss their fingers after doing this.
Checking the Parchment
Sometimes, the Mezuzah will experience wear or tear over time. In these cases, it should be checked by a qualified scribe with special training in Jewish law. This procedure must be done at least twice every seven years to make sure the house is always protected.
Browse our collection of colorful aluminum mezuzah covers to protect your mezuzah in style
Mezuzah Cases
Mostly all Jewish people choose to follow the commandment to affix a Mezuzah in their homes, even those who don’t actively practice the religion. Although the most critical part is the parchment with the prayer, the case is also a crucial part of Mezuzahs, as it keeps them from getting damaged over time.
Therefore, these mezuzah cases have been produced in all sorts of materials, including precious metals, silver, stone, ceramics, etc., from which Jewish people can choose to decorate their homes.
We at Nadav Art offer you various styles and designs of mezuzah cases, from enameled colorful mezuzah case to traditional mezuzah cover with filigree
The 3 Purposes of Your Mezuzah Cover
Mezuzah covers commonly serve three primary purposes. Keep reading to learn more about them and consider them when purchasing one for yourself or a friend.
Halacha
This refers to the requirements imposed by Jewish law. According to it, the Klaf must be protected by a double covering, one that’s completely transparent and a second one that can be either opaque or translucent.
The most common method to protect the Mezuzah is to wrap it in waxed or greaseproof paper and then place it in the chosen Mezuzah cover. The Hebrew letters that spell one of God’s names must be entirely readable when the Mezuzah is properly rolled, especially if it is placed in a public area.
On the other hand, if you’re placing the Mezuzah in a private area, the best thing to do is to keep the scripture hidden by an opaque cover to safeguard its sanctity.
Practicalities
Regarding the Mezuzah’s practicalities, you must follow these simple rules.
Size
One of the main things you must make sure of is that the Mezuzah case isn’t smaller than the Klaf, as this could crush and damage it. Therefore, the case must have the correct dimensions to fit the Klaf after properly rolling it.
Nadav Art offers all kinds of mezuzah sizes, even mezuzah cases fit for 15 inches parchments
Type of Material
The Mezuzah cover must be durable enough to protect the Klaf against the passing of time. Therefore, you must consider your location to choose the best material. Some of the best advice we can give you is the following.
- Don’t choose a material that conducts heat, such as silver or gold.
- Avoid dark and transparent covers.
- Try to eliminate as much moisture as possible to prevent moss from growing in the case.
- Pick weather-resistant materials that won’t wear out over time.
Sterling Silver Mezuzah Cases are highly recommended for their value, shine and durability.
Mounting Method
Finally, the last practicality you must consider is the mounting method. In most cases, you can mount your Mezuzah with screws, making it easy to remove and re-attach whenever you need to check on the Klaf to ensure it is still intact. Nonetheless, if you can’t use screws, you can always order self-adhesive covers that don’t need any extra materials.
Aesthetics
Although not many consider aesthetics an important part of choosing a Mezuzah cover, picking an attractive one will demonstrate your love for the Mitzvah goes beyond doing the bare minimum. This is why you should put your best effort into finding a Mezuzah cover that’s pleasing to you and blends nicely with your home’s decoration, like our colorful mezuzah case with gemstones.
Additional Cautionary Notes
Taking proper care of your Mezuzah is crucial, which is why you should pay attention to the following advice.
- Some materials can damage your Mezuzah scrolls, such as open-backed covers only meant for interiors.
- Stone covers can also damage the scrolls, as they tend to accumulate moisture and can eat away the Klaf.
- Whenever you’re cleaning your Mezuzah cover, make sure to remove the scroll to prevent it from getting damaged.
- Don’t forget to remove your Mezuzah if you plan to paint the surface behind it.
The Jewish community has a vast cultural background, which includes wonderful practices, such as the mounting of Mezuzahs. If you’re planning to gift a Stylish Mezuzah Cover to someone in your community, please make sure to know their home’s conditions so that they can make the best out of your gift.
If this article was interesting to you, please check out the rest of our page for similar information about Jewish culture.
