Question for someone who's jewish?

NoH8

I want to get my grandmother one of those things (mozalas?) jewish people hang on their doors in a slanted fashion. Does anyone know where I could get an inexpensive one and what they're exactly called and how it's spelled? Thanks

OneBadBoob

Hi Amy--

I believe you are looking for a Mezuzah

"The Mezuzah signifies the sanctity and blessing of the home. It is a portion of Holy Torah (The Old Testament) inscribed in the same manner and script as a Torah. It is an "original" sanctified document in accord with laws and precepts that dare not be compromised.

On this sacred scroll of parchment are inscribed two passages from the book of Deuteronomy. It is customary upon entering or leaving a residence to touch the mezuzah.

This reverence acknowledges the belief in the declaration of faith which expresses the unity of God, the duty of loving and serving Him with our whole being and our obligation to observe the Mitzvoth (Deeds) in and out of the home. Because it presents basic principles of faith the Mezuzah is our responsibility to visitors as well as to us. The Mezuzah fulfills the saying of the Psalmist, "God will guard your going and coming from now and for all time."

You can google it, but I found some nice ones at http://www.holylandmarket.com/dept.asp?id=27

BethNY

A mezuzah (Hebrew: מזוזה‎ "doorpost") (plural: mezuzot (מזוזות)) is a piece of parchment (usually contained in a decorative case) inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael," and begin with the phrase "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One."

A mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house."(Deuteronomy 6:9) Many families place a mezuzah on the front door only, but observant Jews fix one on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms, and closets too small to qualify as rooms.^[1] The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe (a "sofer stam") who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in indelible black ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case.

I'm a reformed jew, so growing up we only had ours on the front door.  My orthodox friend would always touch hers before entering her house.  You can find so many beautiful Mezuzah's at judaica shops-- there are tons on line... a good one is

www.jewishsource.com

NoH8

Thanks!

Member_of_the_Club

Most synagogues have judaica shops that sell mezuzah's.

saluki

If you are anywhere within driving distance of Northeast Philly--the Jerusalem shop on Castor Avenue will have some beautiful ones-----Just don't go there past noon on Friday.  LOL

JoanofArdmore

Amy, on the Main Street of Narberth, which is called Haverford Avenue, there's a handcrafts stope right side of the treet.

They have utterly GORGEOUS hand-blown glas mezuzat(thanks, Beth)in a range of beautiful colors and designs.I lust after these things and would have bought one years ago were I not a gypsy who moves constantly.

For the more traditional, there's a Judeaca shop on Montgomery Ave in Bala-Cynwyd.

BTW this will be a marvellous gift for your Granma's new place.You're a very nice granddaughter!

Anonymous

 And everytime I've seen one on a door, they are not straight up and down or sideways ... they were all hung slanted ...  like this / 

I don't know why. And hung on the right hand side.

Anonymous

Fllorik

They are on a slant so the top faces the inside of the door.

If you can't find one, I will happily get it for you. They also have them for cars, necklaces (I wear one all the time), keychains, you name.

I am a Reform Jew also and have them posted on all the doors on my house. I couldn't decide on just one for the outside door. They are too beautiful!!

May I mention that the prayer inside also says that you should" put them on the doorpost of your house and upon your gates, teach them faithfully to your children, ......" The prayer is telling you to practice the laws of Judaism and to pass it on to generation to generation. (L'dor v'dor)

Member_of_the_Club

We have them on our front door and all the bedroom doors. I enjoyed picking them out for the children. We're reform as well, but active in our synagogue and I do try o have a jewish home.

NoH8

I did some searching on the internet and quickly got overwhelmed. The one my grandmother had on her old place before she moved was gorgeous. I wish someone had remembered to take it for her. I think she got it in Israel when she was there with my grandfather about 30 years ago. I'll probably check out the Narberth store since I can hit Trader Joes while I'm near there. Is the main street there rte 30?

I don't remember seeing my grandparents have them on bedroom doors, just the front door.

BethNY

The interesting thing is that there is only one piece of parchment inside them.  The prayer needs to fit on one rolled up piece.  My sister wears one on  a chain and never takes it off, and I've always wondered to myself, that there's no way a huge entire prayer can be in that tiny necklace...

I digress.

If I can get over to my mom's house this week I have to post a picture of hers.  It is so absolutely stunning.  Amy, it can totally be overwhelming b/c I'm guessing there are millions to choose from.

I remember making them in Sunday school when I was little out of popsicle sticks and other crafty supplies.

NoH8

Beth I'm searching on Ebay right now. I've never held one in my hand, but I always assumed they were metal. I'm seeing a lot of wooden ones. The one she had before seemed to be metal and there were flat stones in it to make some kind of pattern, almost like a stained glass window. I don't want to get her some cheap looking thing. 

Do you like this one?  http://cgi.ebay.com/Judaica-New-Handpainted-Wooden-Mezuzah-Israel_W0QQitemZ130180134778QQihZ003QQcategoryZ1449QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

NoH8

I like this one too- but it's for the car.

  http://cgi.ebay.com/METAL-CAR-EPOXY-2-4-MEZUZAH-MEZZUZAH-MEZUZA-JUDAICA_W0QQitemZ370002966420QQihZ024QQcategoryZ1449QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem 

ravdeb

Living in Israel..it's easy to find the mezuzah "case" but the parchment usually needs to be bought separately. Please make sure the parchment is inside. That is the part that makes it "kosher" and is what makes it a mezuzah.

The blessing for putting the mezuzah on the door post is: Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam asher kiddishanu b'mitzvotav vetzivanu likboa mezuzah.

Usually the doorpost is prepared for either hammering it on or using some other adhesive. Then the blessing is said as you put it on the doorpost.

As for putting it on an angle..it all depends. There is controversy on this issue. Ashkenazi Jews usually put it on an angle facing into the house/room. Sephardic Jews usually put it straight/vertical. If there isn't a lot of room on the doorpost, you might have to put it vertically. And that's okay!

Traditionally, the family or friends gather around when putting it up and saying the blessing and it's a kind of "ceremony".

Lovely gift. One of my favorites...

BethNY

http://www.mezuzahstore.com/Mezuzahs-Mezuzah-Covers/c21_23/index.html

thats a great place-- they have beautiful covers, and they sell the scrolls too.

JoanofArdmore

"I'll probably check out the Narberth store since I can hit Trader Joes while I'm near there. Is the main street there rte 30"

AMY, Sorry!! Didnt see this til now!

No, Dear.Rte 30 is Lancaster Ave.

TJs is off of Montgomery Ave.

And Haverford Ave, (Narb's main Street) is off Montgomery Ave too.

Narberth is further east (closer to Philly) down Montgomery than Ardmore(TJs).

celia088

Wow Joan, you just described my school bus ride to my high school: Montgomery Ave.near 54th and City Line Ave. to Haverford Ave. in Narbeth and back out to Montgomery Ave. till you get to Lower Merion High School.

Beth, the tiny scroll inside the Mezuzah that you wear on a chain DOES have the whole prayer on it in eensy teensy Hebrew. Really amazing looking too.

I just looked at the painted Mezuzat that Amy had links to and i don't care for the painted ones as much as the ones i am used to seeing.  My personal choice is for fairly plain metal actually 2 metals together, very simple, maybe with a Hebrew letter.  I guess i am a minimalist.  I like the round metal one in Beth's link--the top one.

NoH8

Rav I wondered what they meant by case. So if I buy a "case" I guess I have to buy the parchment prayer separately? I'm glad you told me about that ritual because I was just going to bring a hammer and nail and stick it up.

Celia, I was trying to find one more like she used to have, rather than going with my tastes (a pink ribbon mezuzah perhaps LOL ). I probably should just call her and find out, but that would spoil the surprise. I'm too late for Hannukah I guess, because I won't get down there for another few weeks.

Beth--- omg, the scrolls are so expensive. I guess I was naive when I thought they'd be a dollar or two lol. I have champagne tastes on a tap water budget. I really love the ones on the site you showed me.

ravdeb

Amy..you need to check. I guess that sometimes they come together but I've not had that experience. Usually you buy them separately here. Maybe in the States it's different. Not sure! Just be sure to check it out. The parchment can be VERY expensive and much more than the "case" itself.

It's a lovely gift and identifies the house as a Jewish home. If you move from the house and a Jewish family moves into the house, then you are to keep the mezuzah on the doorpost/s. If it's a gentile moving in, you need to remove it.

Just call me Mrs. Ritual. I love Jewish rituals!

saluki

Rav Deb--There is Kosher and then there is KOSHER.  When my young niece fell ill with Ocular melanoma all the mezuzahs were replaced.  My sisters house is very orthodox but no matter--The Rabbi examined or had examined all the existing mezuzahs and found them flawed---they all were replaced in both our houses because of the scrolls. 

BethNY

I like the copper metal ones... the painted ones are a little too jazzy for my tastes.

I did see a nice pink stained glass one on that link that I thought was cute.

ravdeb

Saluki..absolutely. If the words on the parchment are not right or something is not right with it, you must replace it. This is for sure. I would only buy one from a reputable person who I know has kosher parchments.

And there is some superstition about the mezuzah and replacing them when somebody is ill in the house. They also change their names (first names) if they are very sick.

I say "they" because there are those who follow this tradition and those who don't.

Anonymous

dEB, have some suggested you change your name from Devorah??

hwill

it is called a mezzuza and it is actually only a case for a prayer that is put inside.  it is mounted to the right side of the door and slanted into the room.  a special prayer is said.

type in judaica and hit enter.  numerous websites will come up.  you can browse them until you find a mezuzza that you like and that is in your price range.  one good site is "the source for everything jewish".

saluki

Rockermom--I doubt that that would come up in Israel, because Devorah is a very honored name

as the only woman Prophetess/Judge--in Jewish history.---- in the book of Judges in our Tanakh (Hebrew: תנ״ך‎) (also Tanach) which is the Hebrew bible.

JoanofArdmore

In big cities, in apartment buildings, the mezuzza is always left behind."Goyem" live with left-behind mezuzzet.Jews dont have to bring their own.

The reason?

When the buildings paint the hallways, the painters paint right over the mezzuzet.

So you have these lumps, under millions of layers of paint.The lumps are all slanted to the right.

Impossible to remove them-you'd have to chisel them and all that paint off , then repaint doorway, building up the paint where the "hole" is..

Maybe better system in newer buildings.

But I have only (including now) lived in pre-war bldgs.

A house, of course, is different.

Celia, yes.We lived in that area too, and my kids had that ride.Nostalgic, huh?

celia088

I have read that once the mezuzah has been painted over, it is no longer considered "good" because the paint may have damaged the scroll inside.  This is probably why many are left behind.

Yeah Joanie, makes me think of driving right by Murray's Specials too!!!  (or was it Hymie's??) 

ravdeb

My name IS Devora and I'm called both Debbie and Devora here in Israel. It's a popular name here for women my age and older (I'm in my fifties) but it's an "old" name if you know what I mean. The Hebrew names given today are much more modern. However, my daughter's name, Yael, and mine (Devora) are together in the Tanach (Bible). :-)

I have a problem with my name Debbie when it's written in Hebrew script (as opposed to being printed). It's a funny kind of problem. First of all, there are other Israelis who use the nickname Debbie but it's not that popular. But the funny thing is that the letter that is like "D" in Hebrew, when written in the script can look just like a different letter that has a "tz" sound to it. If they write the letter a bit wrong (the tail of it) it will look like that "tz" and my name turns into Tzvi which is a guy's name. I've been called on the phone Tzvi and yesterday I went to pick up something that had been repaired and the guy looked at me and said, "Tzvi?". When my daughter and I had a magazine subscription together when she was a little girl, it was addressed to Tzvi and Yael.

Celia..I didn't know about the paint making the mezuzah non-kosher. That could be. It also could depend on the rabbi who said it. So much depends on who you talk to!

Joan..that's funny about the buildings in the big cities. I never knew that. I always lived in a private home and still do. Here in Israel they don't take the mezuzot off the doorposts. No need to, in most cases..except when the settlers left Gaza and the West Bank.

NoH8

Ravdeb- what language do you speak in the home? Your information on jewish culture is fascinating. Thank you for sharing it with us.