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‘May God protect my going out and my coming in, now and forever.’ This is a common prayer recited by Jewish faithful as they leave and enter their homes. It is commonly used to accompany the ritual touching of the Mezuzah case that is affixed to the doorpost of the residence. It is a general custom amongst Jews to kiss objects that are considered holy. This is done to show reverence. You will often see a Jew touch a Mezuzah with their fingertips and kiss their fingertips as they enter the doorway of their residence or the residence of a fellow Jew.
Moses is one of the Jewish Patriarchs. He is the prophet through whom God gave His commandments. After Moses received these commandments, he returned to his people at the foot of Mt. Sinai and declared the word revealed to him. He commanded the people of Israel to keep the commandments of God with them always, in their hearts and to write them in the doorframes of their houses and gates.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. …Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates’
(Deuteronomy 6:4 -6, 9 NIV)
This commandment was taken up by the Jews and is still practiced today.
The word Mezuzah is Hebrew for doorpost. It refers to a small specially prepared parchment that has been inscribed with Torah passages. This parchment is rolled up and placed in a case that is attached to the doorpost of a Jewish home. The Mezuzah is prepared and affixed as obedience to the commandment given by God through Moses.
The term Mezuzah traditionally refers to the parchment but has come to include the decorative case in which the parchment is placed. The Mezuzah scroll is prepared by a Sofer (a devout Jewish Scribe). The parchment is made of the skin of a Kosher animal (e.g. a goat or lamb) and the words are written using specially prepared ink and a Kosher quill from a Kosher foul (e.g. a turkey or goose). The Ink is prepared from vegetable ingredients and is indelible (permanent).
The text inscribed in the parchment comes from Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9 and 11:13 – 21. The name of the Lord, Shaddai, is inscribed at the back of the scroll. The primary purpose of the Jewish Mezuzah is to remind Jews of the high ideals God expects them to carry into their homes and out as they mingle in society. As the Jewish faithful enter their homes, they touch the Mezuzah and are reminded of how they should act within their homes. As they leave their homes, they touch the Mezuzah and are reminded of the high standard they are to live by amongst other people within society. The Mezuzah cases is placed above high level to symbolize that we are constantly reaching up to God.
