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Marty Teal D'Var Torah Men's Club Shabbat Service - April, 2008
Phyllis Savin D'Var Torah - March, 2008
Keith Liker D'Var Torah - February, 2008
Matthew Shugart Conversion Speech - May 23, 2007
Freda Heller D'Var Torah - June 9, 2007
Natalie Diamond D'Var Torah - February 2007
Keith Liker D'Var Torah - January 2007
Karina Liker's Bat Mitzvah Speech on Mezuzot
Mary Lou Criqui's Conversion Speech
Mary Klein Conversion Speech - April 1, 2006


Mezuzot by Karina Liker

Does anyone know how many mezuzot there are on doorposts at Temple Adat Shalom? By the end of my speech, you will know the answer to that question and much more about mezuzot.

The word "mezuzah" is the Hebrew word for "doorpost". The idea of putting G-d's commandments on doorposts comes from Deuteronomy chapter six, verse four: "And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates". The mezuzah itself is not the cases you see on doors, but the parchment inside the cases. The parchment is inscribed with the texts of Deuteronomy, chapter six, verses four through nine, and chapter 11, verses 13 through 21. These verses speak about having only one G-d, loving G-d, remembering G-d's commandments, and teaching this to your children. This text is also known as the Sh'ma. A mezuzah is a reminder of G-d's presence and a symbol of a Jewish home.

The parchment inside the case is called the klaf. The klaf must be made from the skin of a kosher animal, such as a goat. The quill used for writing the text must be from a kosher bird, and the ink has to be black vegetable ink. Also, the klaf must be written in Hebrew by a sofer, a scribe. On the back of the klaf, one of G-d's names "Shaddai" is written, so that when the scroll is rolled from left to right, the Hebrew letter shin is in the little window in the case. Sometimes, the case is decorated with a shin. The Hebrew letters of Shaddai--shin, daled, yud-can also stand for the phrase "shomer daltot yisrael", which means "protector of the doors of Israel". G-d's protection is always with us, but Jewish tradition makes it clear that the role of a mezuzah is to fulfill G-d's commandments, and not to serve as a magical or protective amulet.

After the klaf is written, it is placed in a protective case, which is not permanently sealed because the scroll must be checked twice every seven years. If the klaf becomes faded or damaged or the case cracks, the mezuzah becomes invalid and is no longer kosher. The mezuzah case is affixed to the outside right-hand doorpost. The rabbis argued whether the mezuzah case should be hung horizontally or vertically, and they couldn't agree which way was better, so they compromised and hung it at a 30 degree angle. The top is pointing inward to the room, possibly symbolizing inviting G-d and others into the room and into our lives. It is usually affixed by nails or glue and hung at the bottom of the top third of the right-hand doorpost (about eye level). One should be hung at the entrance to every room in the house, except for bathrooms or closets. It should not be hung on the doorposts of Sukkot, as they are not permanent dwellings.

Before attaching the mezuzah to your doorposts, you must perform a short ceremony called Channukat Ha-Bayit which means "dedication of the house". You must say the blessing "Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kiddushanu be-mitzvotav v'tzivanu likboa mezuzah". This translates to "Blessed are you Lord our G-d, ruler of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to affix a mezuzah". Immediately after saying the blessing, you should hang all the mezuzot in your house without speaking until the task is finished, so that the blessing will be connected to the action. It is also important to hang your mezuzot within 30 days of moving into your new home.

During my research on mezuzot I wondered whether the Jews in the Holocaust affixed mezuzot to their dwellings. According to Rabbi Efroyim Oshry, a survivor from the Kovno ghetto, the ghetto apartments did not require mezuzot on the doorposts because they were only temporary dwellings. Moreover, given the chance, the Jews living there would leave. However, if a Jew still wanted to hang a mezuzah as a reminder of G-d's presence, it was allowed, but he or she should not recite a b'racha, or blessing, as attaching the mezuzah was not required.

One interesting fact that I learned in my studies is that if another Jewish family is moving into your home, you should leave your mezuzot on the doorposts, as that is another mitzvah, or a good deed, of welcoming them into the home. If the mezuzah case is valuable, it may be changed out, but the klaf should remain. If a family of a different faith moves in, you should remove your mezuzot so they are not painted over or thrown out. Also, many Jews will kiss mezuzot with their fingertips when entering a house or synagogue.

I was surprised to learn that mezuzot have no connection with the blood put on the doorposts of Jew's dwellings in Egypt before we escaped from Pharaoh. I found this topic interesting as we have many mezuzot throughout our house, including one on the right-hand doorpost of my bedroom. When I see a mezuzah on the doorposts of someone else's house, I know the people there are Jewish and it makes me feel connected to them.

I'd like to thank all my Hebrew school teachers for preparing me for this special day. I would especially like to say a big "todah rabah" to Morah Esther Wulff, Rabbi Malino, and Cantor Lori Frank for assisting me in my studies in preparation for today. I'd also like to thank my parents and my brother Noah, for putting up with my chantings and readings when I had to practice, and also to Ben for being such a hard-working partner. And, by the way, there are now 24 mezuzot at Temple Adat Shalom, as my family and I hung a new one this week at the main entrance to the courtyard. Finally, thank you for supporting me and sharing in my special day.