Mezuzah

Mezuzah (Hebrew מזוזה, even Mezuzah mezuzah or, plural: mezuzah ) means doorpost and refers to a font capsule in the door jamb, which in Judaism has meaning and is used. This goes back to several passages in the Torah:

"Thou shalt [ these words ] Write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates. "

Accordingly, the corresponding two sections of the Shema by a specially to trained scribe ( Sofer ) with a non-metallic writing instrument ( quill ) must be written on a parchment ( Klaf ), on the back the word Shaddai (Hebrew שדי, German Almighty ), and rolled placed in a small container to the door post. The metal-free ink used for writing is mostly self- produced by the Sofer of gall, copper sulphate and gum arabic. The container may be made ​​of metal, ceramics, wood, glass, stone or plastic. Many mezuzah inscribed with the Hebrew letter ש ( Shin ). This also stands for Shaddai. The Klaf is checked regularly and replaced if damaged or discoloration.

In a traditional Jewish household is located at each doorway a mezuzah (except bathroom or the toilet or to cellar doors and storage rooms ).

Mezuzah is placed within arm inclined in the upper third of the right ( seen from outside ), the door post, in such a way that the top end facing the space. This grew out of a discussion among Jewish scholars as to whether the mezuzah is to install vertical ( opinion of Rashi ) or horizontally ( opinion of Rabbeinu Tam ); as a compromise agreement was reached on the inclined position.

One other explanation is that the mezuzah hang at an angle to express the fact that only God the things quite right (straight) can do, but not the people whose actions always remain incomplete ( wrong ). There is also the idea that the mezuzah imitate by the direction of the upper end towards the room, the inclination of the upper body when entering the room after.

Some religious Jews kiss the mezuzah upon entering a room, in that they lead the fingertips of your right hand on the mezuzah and then to the mouth.

From the mitzvah of mezuzah also secular traditions have emerged. For example, it is common that the affixing of the mezuzah is connected to a housewarming party. Particularly beautifully crafted mezuzah are also popular gifts.