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Aug 25, 1997 - 13:51 - I have a question: The mezzuza is a small container mounted to the doorpost at the entrance to most rooms in which Jews dwell. You will find it on the upper third of the right hand doorpost as you enter. It is mounted at an angle, with the top toward the inside. The word mezzuzah literally means "doorpost", but it is most commonly used to refer to the container. The container holds a parchment on which is written Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. Affixing this parchment to the doorposts is an explicit biblical commandment. This text affirms the unity of God, our devotion to divine service, the duty to educate ourselves and our children to be part of the progress towards God's utopia, the inevitability of consequences, and the importance of ritual to maintain peak performance. Many Jews follow the custom of kissing the mezzuzah when they enter or leave. This is done by touching your fingertips first to the mezzuzah and then to your lips. In addition to its significance as an emblem of the values contained in the text , a mezzuzah evokes warm feelings as a symbol of a traditional home, and is an appeal to divine sheltering protection (because it is reminiscent of the protection from the last plague of the Exodus). --- adapted from material in "The Synagogue Survival Kit" Dec 12, 1997 - 13:47 - I have a question: See the question below for more info. The blessing is: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai The blessing takes this form, since affixing a m'zu-zah is an explicit biblical commandment. Dec 26, 1997 - 11:24 - I have a question: On the upper third of the doorpost to any room where Jews dwell (excluding bathrooms), on the right side as you enter, with the top toward the inside. See question above for the blessing. Mar 29, 1998 - 10:32 - I have a question: Yes. See any siddur, or see http://siddur.webjew.org, for the text of the prayer. |
