How to Put Up a Mezuzah to Bless Your Home
The Mezuzah is a reminder of God’s word. The seemingly simple device carries an important purpose. Anyone visiting Jerusalem will find the Mezuzah on the busy main gates of the city and also on every home, even every room of the observant Jewish homes.
So, if you are looking to hang a Mezuzah on the main door of your house and you have never done this before, you have nothing to worry about, as Mezuzahs are super easy to hang up. You can buy Mezuzahs online or get them from any Judaica store.
Basically, the Jewish community puts Mezuzahs on the doorposts of their homes – any room that has a full door post. Inside the Mezuzah, there is a scroll, also known as the “klaf” and on it are written two verses of the Shema prayer. The two verses are written in Hebrew. The two verses are the most important verses, and they teach about loving God.
The verses also talk about remembering the words and posting the verses on the doorposts of the house, which is how the tradition of putting up Mezuzahs came to be.
Speaking of today, you can find a wide range of beautiful Mezuzahs that you can get for your main door and other doors inside your house.
Inside the Mezuzah, there should be a scroll, which is known as the “klaf.” And for the “klaf” to be Kosher, it is supposed to be hand-written and shouldn’t contain a single mistake. You will need the “klaf,” the Mezuzah, nails, and a hammer to put it up at any door – except the bathroom door in your house.
How to Put Up a Mezuzah
As you decide on the room where you want to put up the Mezuzah, you will want to look at the right side of the door and pick up a spot that is a bit higher than your height. Ideally, the Mezuzah should be a little higher than your eye level.
Once you have decided on the spot and you are ready to hang up the Mezuzah, you will need to say the prayer. It is a very simple prayer, and it should be said before you hammer in the first nail. The prayer serves as a blessing and translates as sending blessings to God, the Lord, and the King who has commanded to affix a Mezuzah.
While putting up the Mezuzah, you will want the top part of the Mezuzah facing towards the room. This way, the Mezuzah is at the top third spot of the doorpost and located on the right-hand side as you walk into the room or house. Also, it is slanted towards the inside of the room at the top.
The Mezuzah symbolizes the prayer of God freeing the dwellers of the home from the burdens of the outside world. The Mezuzah is also a symbol of power and protection and serves as a way to make the home a sanctuary for the people who live inside the walls.
The Mezuzah & Home Blessings
In the Jewish tradition, the home plays a significant role, which is why house blessings are amongst the most popular events that many Rabbis specialize in. Typically, home blessings are offered in English and Hebrew. Amongst the different house blessings, you can find the “Birkat HaBayit” and the “Shema Yisrael” among others.
The central prayer that is an essential part of most home blessings includes prohibiting sadness from coming through the gates of the house. This way, the home blessings and the Mezuzah represent the spirit of blessings, strength, and hope – the three aspects elements that embody the Jewish community.
