A mezuzah is a small case affixed to the doorframe of each room in Jewish homes and workplaces which contains a tiny scroll of parchment inscribed with a prayer. It is customary for religious Jews to touch the mezuzah every time they pass through a door and kiss the fingers that touched it.

What do you say when you touch a mezuzah?

The blessing said while hanging a mezuzah: Transliteration: Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam, asher keedishanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu leek'boa mezuzah. Translation: Blessed are you, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with God's commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.

What do you do when you walk by a mezuzah?

However, it's easy to walk by the mezuzah and not notice it. It's also easy to walk by, kiss your fingers and touch it–the way Jews traditionally complete the ritual, without thinking about why you do so. Don't do it by rote.

Why is a mezuzah hung at an angle?

This is done to accommodate the variant opinions of Rashi (1040–1105) and of his grandson, Rabbeinu Tam, as to whether it should be placed vertically (Rashi) or horizontally (Rabbeinu Tam), and also to imply that God and the Torah (which the mezuzah symbolizes) are entering the room.

Can a woman put up a mezuzah?

Can a woman hang a mezuzah? Yes, a woman can and should make the bracha (blessing) and put up the mezuzah herself.

Kiss the Mezuzah

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Can I put up a mezuzah at night?

Mezuzah is also one of the only mitzvos that can be observed constantly, even while sleeping. Others disagree with the notion that a mezuzah cannot be affixed with protection as the motivation since this is not the actual reward for fulfilling the mitzvah but a side (and natural) benefit.

What is the purpose of a mezuzah?

The purpose of the mezuzah is to act as a constant reminder of God's presence. Jews will often touch the mezuzah as they go through the door. The instruction for this comes from the Torah.

Why do Jews Rock when they pray?

Today, shuckling is generally understood as a physical accompaniment to the rhythm of prayers and as a way to concentrate on them more deeply.

What prayer is inside a mezuzah?

The mezuzah opens up and inside is the Shema prayer, written on a small piece of parchment. The Shema is the most important prayer in Judaism because it reminds Jewish people that there is only one God.

Is a mezuzah good luck?

Even people who are not Jewish give mezuzahs a try. ''We do have non-Jews coming in to buy mezuzahs because they see it as a good luck symbol, '' said Marla Cohen, a sales assistant at the Judaica Store in West Hartford, which carries a large selection of mezuzahs.

Does a walk in closet need a mezuzah?

The mezuzah should be attached to the left side when walking from the room into the closet. If the floor area of the walk-in closet is so small that one does not actually walk into it when retrieving objects from the closet, then the doorway of the closet does not require a mezuzah.

Can you write your own mezuzah scroll?

For this homemade mezuzah, you can make your own scroll. You can print out an online version of the Shema or write the first line of the prayer “Shema Yisrael: Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad: Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” on a piece of paper.

What makes a mezuzah invalid?

Velcro or Magnet Attached Mezuzah Cases. The mezuzah needs to be affixed strongly to the doorpost. Therefore, a mezuzah case affixed by way of magnet or Velcro is invalid since these methods are intended for attaching and detaching easily, without effort.

Where are Ashkenazi Jews from?

One of two major ancestral groups of Jewish individuals, comprised of those whose ancestors lived in Central and Eastern Europe (e.g., Germany, Poland, Russia). The other group is designated Sephardic Jews and includes those whose ancestors lived in North Africa, the Middle East, and Spain.

Why do we kiss the mezuzah?

It is customary for religious Jews to touch the mezuzah every time they pass through a door and kiss the fingers that touched it. However, kissing the mezuzah has also become customary for many secular Jews who think of the mezuzah as a good luck charm.

What yeshiva means?

yeshiva, also spelled yeshivah, or yeshibah (Hebrew “sitting”), plural yeshivas, yeshivot, yeshivoth, or yeshibot, any of numerous Jewish academies of Talmudic learning, whose biblical and legal exegesis and application of Scripture have defined and regulated Jewish religious life for centuries.

Is it appropriate to wish someone a happy Passover?

Unlike Yom Kippur, which occurs in the fall and is a somber holiday, it's appropriate to wish someone a "Happy Passover" because it's also about celebrating life after being enslaved. A person could also wish someone a "Happy Pesach," as "Pesach" is Hebrew for "Passover."

Why do Jews place stones on graves?

Jews believed that placing the stones on a grave would keep the soul down in this world. Some people find comfort in this. Another interpretation suggests that the stones will keep demons and golems from getting into the graves. permanence of memory and will not die.

Why do Jews break glass at weddings?

The breaking of the glass holds multiple meanings. Some say it represents the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Others say it demonstrates that marriage holds sorrow as well as joy and is a representation of the commitment to stand by one another even in hard times.

What does Mazel Tov mean in Yiddish?

History and Etymology for mazel tov

Late Hebrew mazzāl tōbh, literally, good luck.