Is There A Mezuzah In The House?

Oh it took me so long to get the mezuzahs up in my house.  Everytime I would say the Shema I was reminded that I was not meeting this commandment.  It was disturbing to me because it  was something relatively easy to do--buy the mezuzahs and scrolls and hang them on the doorposts of the house. 

I was blessed unexpectedly last week,  Sar Shalom had mezuzahs and scrolls available for purchase.  I purchased as many as I needed.  As I left the building I quietly thanked HaShem for helping me meet this mitzvah. 

The following day, I set myself up with the blessing to recite when affixing a mezuzah in one hand, my trusted hammer and nail in the other.  To the front door I go.  My daughter cheering me on.  Was that trepidation in her voice?  After several failed attempts at driving the nail into the wood, and in the process hitting the ceramic mezuzah case so hard that I break it, and get a piece of ceramic stuck in my finger.  I come back into the house and retrieve the electric drill from under several items that were on the bottom of the pantry closet.  Why the pantry closet?  I store it there so I can get it in a hurry.  Ok, I'm in denial.  My daughter is looking at my bleeding finger and wishes I would let my son-in-law do this.  It's nothing I say and move on.

Back at the front door, I once again realize that the drill is  a wonderful invention.  In minutes the new mezuzah (I purchased more then one) is on the doorpost of the front door and I am feeling quite accomplished.  I proceed to place one in several other rooms of the house.  The drill is my friend and I am feeling confident that I will be able to get to the back door before dinner time.  Not. 

Here it is now several days later and there are still 3 doorposts in need of mezuzahs.  I am promising myself that tomorrow it will get done.  Notwithstanding, I am blessed.

In the meantime, this is what I have learned about this mitzvah:

• Mezuzah literally means doorpost.
• Mezuzah also means the parchment paper where Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21 are written.
• Mezuzah can also refer to the case holding the scroll.
• There are guidelines to how the scroll is written.
• There are guidelines to who can write the scroll.
• There are guidelines for inspecting the scrolls for damage twice in 7 years.
• There are many guidelines to affixing a mezuzah.
• There are guidelines for a mezuzah when you move.

Aside from all that, having a mezuzah up on my front door ia an affirmation for me that I am trying to live a Torah observant life.  Reaching up to touch the mezuzah as I walk into my bedroom is a reminder that I love the living Torah and that His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  It is much in the same way that I kiss the scriptures after I finish reading them. 

My beautiful grand daughter smiles from ear to ear as I hold her in my arms and help her reach up to touch the mezuzah by her bedroom doorpost.  She is so young and yet she seems to understand that it is a delight to obey His commandments.




Chabad.org is an excellent reference for learning about the mezuzah.  Just write mezuzah on their search engine.