The 2 chapters written in a Mezuzah are the first two chapters of the Kriat Shema.
When entering a house or a room, the Mezuzah needs to be affixed on the right-hand doorpost. (On the way out you'll find it on the left-hand side.)
When there's a door between 2 homes, then the door-hinges are the deciding factor. The room with the hinges - the room where the door opens into - is the "inside", and the Mezuzah is put on the right-hand side when entering into that room.
The same would apply to any two inter-leading rooms that are equidistant from the front door.
A Mezuzah that is on the wrong doorpost needs to be taken down and affixed - with a Bracha - on the correct side.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:3-4
- Danny
Sunday, 24 Menachem Av 5779
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Halocho #2361 - Which side does the Mezuzah go on?
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Halocho #2233 - Mezuza checking
The Torah commands us to put a מְּזוּזָה on all our doorposts except for washrooms.
The מְּזוּזָה needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5").
Every מְּזוּזָה needs to be checked twice in seven years.
A מְּזוּזָה on public buildings only needs to be checked twice in 50 years.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:5,17,25
Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzot in Adar-I; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to keep track of.
- Danny
Sunday, 5 Adar-I 5779
Monday, January 14, 2013
Halocho #1025 – Mezuza checking
The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for the washroom.
- Danny
Monday, 3 Shvat 5773
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Halocho #740 - Mezuza checking
The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for washrooms.
The Mezuza needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5").
Every Mezuza needs to be checked twice in seven years.
A Mezuza on public buildings only needs to be checked twice in 50 years.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:5,17,25
Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzot in Adar-I; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to remember.
- Danny
Sunday, 2 Adar-I 5771
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Halocho #635 - Are your Mezuzot Kosher?
Some people have the custom to get their Tefillin and Mezuzot checked yearly during the month of Elul.
At the very least one should check ones Mezuzot twice every 7 years.
Tefillin that are used daily do not need to be checked unless they get wet. However, one should check them every few years since they do wear out eventually.
Tefillin that are only used occasionally should be checked twice every 7 years.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:3, 11:25, 10:26
Ktiva Vechatima Tova
- Danny
Wednesday, 8 Elul 5770
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Halocho #585 - Don't hang your Mezuzah
A Mezuzah is rolled-up from the left, so that a person opening it would see the word "Shma" - שמע.
A Mezuzah is not allowed to hang; it should preferably be put into a tube which is nailed - top and bottom - to the doorpost. At the very least the Mezuza case should be glued along it's entire length to the doorpost.
Care must be taken to ensure that the Mezuzah is not affixed upside-down. A Mezuzah has the 3 letters Shin-Daled-Yud (spelling one of Hashem's names) on the outside. If this is visible then the Mezuzah is the right way up.
A Mezuzah has 14 letters written upside-down along its upper edge. If these are on the bottom and right-way-up then the Mezuzah is upside down. Most Mezuzot are rolled tightly, so these letters are not visible.
These 14 letters are written behind the words "Hashem Elokeinu Hashem" of the first inside line, and are the letters following the letter they are behind; כ is behind the ו ,י is behind the ה, etc. This is the way Mezuzot have always been written.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:6
- Danny
Tuesday, 26 Sivan 5770
Monday, June 7, 2010
Halocho #584 - Can one put a Mezuzah on the inside?
The Mezuzah belongs on the outside on the doorpost. In a wide doorframe it belongs in the Tefach (~8cm - 3 inches) closest to the outside.
The Minhag in many places is to put it up at an angle, with the top leaning inwards. If there's not enough space, it can be affixed vertically.
If there is no space on the doorframe for the Mezuzah to be placed on the outside, then it can be affixed on the inside.
If one is worried about theft, then the Mezuzah can be put on the inside.
However, it's preferable to carve a hollow in the doorpost and affix the Mezuzah into the indent, rather than putting it inside the house.
When a Mezuzah is carved into the doorpost it must still be upright; one cannot drill a horizontal hole and put the Mezuzah into it. The indent cannot be more than a Tefach deep, and it cannot be totally hidden; it must be obvious to the keen observer that there's a Mezuzah on the door.
When a Mezuzah is affixed to the inside, care must be taken that it's affixed to the doorpost (and not to the wall, nor the door) and that it's within the Tefach (~8cm - 3 inches) of the door. The top should be slanted inwards.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:6, 9
- Danny
Monday, 25 Sivan 5770
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Halocho #583 - Which side does the Mezuzah go on?
The 2 chapters written in a Mezuzah are the first two chapters of the Kriat Shma.
When entering a house or a room, the Mezuzah needs to be affixed on the right-hand doorpost. (On the way out you'll find it on the left-hand side.)
When there's a door between 2 homes, then the door-hinges are the deciding factor. The room with the hinges - the room where the door opens into - is the "inside", and the Mezuzah is put on the right-hand side when entering into that room.
The same would apply to any two inter-leading rooms that are equidistant from the front door.
A Mezuzah that is on the wrong doorpost needs to be taken down and affixed - with a Bracha - to the right side.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:3-4
- Danny
Sunday, 24 Sivan 5770
Monday, November 9, 2009
Halocho # 445 - Buying stolen goods
One should not buy stolen Sefer Torah, Tefillin or Mezuzot for more than their worth, so as not to encourage them to be stolen.
However, if one is offered them at market value, one must buy them, even if they are no longer Kosher.
If the thief is asking above market value then one should bargain with him to try get the price down; if he insists on a higher price, then one does not buy them.
One should not offer a ridiculously low price so as not to annoy the seller, lest he get angry and destroy the religious items.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 28:11
- Danny
Monday, 22 Marcheshvan 5770
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Halocho #398 - Are your Mezuzot Kosher?
Some people have the custom to get their Tefillin and Mezuzot checked yearly during the month of Elul.
At the very least one should check ones Mezuzot twice every 7 years.
Tefillin that are used daily do not need to be checked unless they get wet. However, one should check them every few years since they do wear out eventually.
Tefillin that are only used occasionally should be checked twice every 7 years.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:3, 11:25, 10:26
Ktiva Vechatima Tova
- Danny Tuesday, 5 Elul 5769
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Halocho #252 - How soon does one need to affix the Mezzuza?
When renting an apartment outside of Israel, one need not affix the Mezuzot for the first 30 days.
If one buys an apartment one needs to affix the Mezuzot as soon as one moves in.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:21
- Danny Tuesday, 24 Tevet 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Halocho #152 - Don't hang your Mezuzah
A Mezuzah is rolled-up from the left, so that a person opening it would see the word "Shma".
A Mezuzah is not allowed to hang; it should preferably be put into a tube which is nailed - top and bottom - to the doorpost. At the very least it should be glued along it's entire length to the doorpost.
Care must be taken to ensure that the Mezuzah is not affixed upside-down. A Mezuzah has the 3 letters Shin-Daled-Yud (spelling one of Hashem's names) on the outside. If this is visible then the Mezuzah is the right way up.
A Mezuzah has 14 letters written upside-down along its upper edge. If these are on the bottom and right-way-up then the Mezuzah is upside down. Most Mezuzot are rolled tightly, so these letters are not visible.
These 14 letters are written behind the words "Hashem Elokeinu Hashem" of the first inside line, and are the letters following the letter they are behind; Kaf is behind the Yud, Vav is behind the Hey, etc. This is the way Mezuzot have always been written.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:6
- Danny Thursday, 20 Av 5768
Please daven for a little girl undergoing chemotherapy- TAMAR bat NAAMA -תמר בת נעמה
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Halocho #151 - Can one put a Mezuzah on the inside?
The Mezuzah belongs on the outside doorpost. In a wide doorframe it belongs in the Tefach (~8cm - 3 inches) closest to the outside.
The Minhag is to put it up at an angle, with the top leaning inwards. If there's not enough space, it can be affixed vertically.
If there is no space on the outside, then it can be affixed on the inside.
If one is worried about theft, then the Mezuzah can be put on the inside.
It's preferable to carve a hollow in the doorpost and affix the Mezuzah into the indent, rather than putting it inside the house.
When a Mezuzah is carved into the doorpost it must still be upright; one cannot drill a horizontal hole and put the Mezuzah into it. The indent cannot be more than a Tefach deep, and it cannot be totally hidden; it must be obvious that there's a Mezuzah on the door.
When a Mezuzah is affixed to the inside, care must be taken that it's affixed to the doorpost (and not to the wall, nor the door) and that it's within the Tefach (~8cm - 3 inches) of the door. The top should be slanted inwards.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:6, 9
- Danny Wednesday, 19 Av 5768
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Halocho #150 - Which side does the Mezuzah go on?
The 2 chapters written in a Mezuzah are the first two chapters of the Kriat Shma. The first chapter - Shma Yisrael (Devarim 6:5-9) - was in last week's Torah Reading. The second chapter - Vehaya (Devarim 11:13-21) - is in this week's Torah Reading. When entering a house or a room, the Mezuzah needs to be affixed on the right-hand doorpost. (On the way out you'll find it on the left-hand side.) When there's a door between 2 homes, then the door-hinges are the deciding factor. The room with the hinges - the room where the door opens into - is the "inside", and the Mezuzah is put on the right-hand side when entering into that room. The same would apply to any two inter-leading rooms that are equidistant from the front door. A Mezuzah that is on the wrong doorpost needs to be taken down and affixed - with a Bracha - to the right side. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:3-4 Other aspects of Mezuzah were discussed in Halocho a Day #57 - http://halocho.blogspot.com/2008/02/halocho-57-mezuza-checking.html - Danny Tuesday, 18 Av 5768
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Halocho #57 - Mezuza checking
The Torah commands us to put a Mezuza on all our doorposts except for the washroom. The Mezuza needs to be affixed to the top third of the doorpost - but not in the top 1 Tefach (~9 cm; 3.5"). Every Mezuza needs to be checked twice in seven years. (Some have the custom of checking their Mezuzos in Adar-1; this is slightly more frequent than twice in seven years, but it's easy to remember.) A Mezuza on public buildings needs to be checked only twice in 50 years. Source: Kitzur SA 11:5,17,25
