Amsterdam Day 36; Our Mezuzah

Since we moved into our place, we have been wondering what these things are on our doorpost to our house and on the doorposts to most of our bedrooms. 

After 36 days, we had a friend come over and ask us if we were Jewish. He goes to church with us so of course he knew the answer to the question. He said that he didn't know much about it but that he was pretty sure they were placed on Jewish homes. 

So I looked it up, and here is what I found. As it serves as a reminder that God is with us inside and outside our home and as it is consistent with our faith that the home should be a refuge from the world, I think we will keep it. 

In Judaism, A mezuzah (from the Hebrew for "doorpost") is a small parchment inscribed with short Torah passages in Hebrew. The parchment is rolled up, placed in a decorative case, and attached to the doorpost of Jewish homes.

The word "mezuzah" technically refers to the scroll only, but in common usage it means either the scroll, the case, or both together. Because the first passage written on the mezuzah is the Shema ("Hear O Israel..."), the mezuzah itself is sometimes also referred to as the Shema.

The practice of hanging mezuzot (the plural of mezuzah) on doorposts is mandated in the Torah and is observed by most Jewish families, even those who are not otherwise very observant or traditional.

Purpose of the Mezuzah

In Deuteronomy, after receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai, Moses tells the Israelites:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ... Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6,9) The primary purpose of hanging a mezuzah is to fulfill this biblical command. The mezuzah also serves as a reminder of God's laws and presence and is a symbol of Jewish identity.

The first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote in his Antiquities, "The greatest benefits of God are to be written on the doors... in order that his benevolent providence may be made known everywhere. According to Maimonides, the great 12th-century rabbi and philosopher, "By the commandment of the mezuzah, man is reminded of the unity of God and is aroused to the love of him."

Modern rabbi and author Joseph Teluskhin explains in Jewish Literacy, "When a Jew enters his house, he sees the mezuzah and is thereby reminded how he should act in his home. Likewise, when a Jew leaves the house, the mezuzah reminds him of the high level of behavior he is expected to maintain wherever he goes.