Mezuzah
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A mezuzah is a parchment that is inscribed with the verses composes the Jewish prayer “Shema-Yisrael”, (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21). beginning with the phrase: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD (is) our God, the LORD is One”. A mezuzah is affixed on the right side of the door or doorpost, in the upper third of the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema “on the doorposts of your house” (Deuteronomy 6:9). The Jewish law requires a mezuzah on every doorway in the house apart from bathrooms and closets too small to qualify as rooms. The parchment is prepared on Kosher processed animal skin by a qualified scribe (a “sofer stam”) who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in black indelible ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside a case.
The procedure of affixing it is to hold the mezuzah against the spot upon which it will be affixed, then recite a blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשַׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לִקְבּוֹעַ מְזוּזָה
Barukh atah Adona Eloheinu melekh ha‘olam, asher qideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu liqboˈa mezuzah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvoth, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.