Mezuzah On Doorpost

Dear rabbi i want to understand why some people touch the mezuzah on the doorpost of their home as they enter or leave.

Mezuzah on doorpost.

Each mezuzah contains a rolled kosher parchment with the shema prayer meant to protect the inhabitants. A mezuzah is a small box that is placed on the right doorpost of jewish homes. In other words measure the height of the doorway and divide by three. The mezuzah which is placed on doorways in jewish homes holds a piece of parchment containing two selections of verses deuteronomy 6 4 9 and deuteronomy 11 13 21 this is the shema prayer which expresses the unity of g d.

Then align the bottom of the mezuzah with the point two thirds of the way up the doorpost see illustration. The hebrew word mezuzah means doorpost according to tradition the mezuzah is to be affixed to the doorpost at the entrance to a jewish home as well as at the entrance to each of the interior rooms except for bathrooms. The proper place for the mezuzah is at the bottom of the top third of the doorway. The mezuzah as it is known is actually a piece of parchment called a klaf with specific verses from the torah that is then placed inside a mezuzah case which is then affixed to the doorposts of a jewish home.

Observant jews recite the passage twice a day with the shema. In other words if your door swings open from hallway into bedroom the mezuzah would be nailed to the right hand doorpost as your face the bedroom from the hall. According to halakha the mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door or doorpost in the upper third of the doorpost i e approximately shoulder height within approximately 3 inches 8 cm of the doorway opening. Inside the box is a parchment scroll with verses from the torah inscribed on it including the shema prayer deuteronomy 6 4 9 11 13 21.

The mezuzah itself consists of a small scroll of parchment k laf on which are written two biblical passages. The mezuzah is affixed to the right side of the door as one enters a room. Doorpost represents the dividing line between the inside of a jewish home or business and the outside world. The mitzvah commandment of mezuzah is one of the core practices of jewsacross religious observance and belief.