Mezuzahs

Mezuzahs and mezuzah cases are as fascinating as they are beautiful. The Mezuzah itself is a piece of parchment paper, hand-written with two specific passages from the Torah. Both Biblical passages are from Devarim, also known as Deuteronomy.

The Mezuzah is written and displayed according to a very specific set of rituals and regulations. First, it must be hand-written. In fact, it must be written in a special type of ink, by a trained scribe. The words are written within 22 lines, all in one column. Upon completion, the kosher scroll is rolled, from left to right. It is never folded.

Displaying Mezuzahs

The Mezuzah is displayed in a case which is hung in the upper third of a doorway. It can be placed in every entryway in the house, but is very often affixed only to the front entrance. Ideally, the Mezuzah case should be hung in the right side of the doorway, tilting in toward the house.

Mezuzah cases come in an incredible variety of styles, and are made from dozens of different materials. These cases are very exciting items for designers and artists to create, and they seem to stir up exceptional creativity. Perhaps working in a medium that is so ancient, so important and yet so small inspires these artists. You can find Mezuzahs carved from stone, made from glass, poured from pewter, or adorned with beads or jewels. Many cases depict scenes from the Torah, such as the story of Noah's Ark. Other Mezuzah cases are specifically created for newlyweds.