16,374
edits
Mezuzah: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
no edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
# The doorway to a courtyard or city is obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:2</ref> | # The doorway to a courtyard or city is obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:2</ref> | ||
# The doorpost of a cellar that is [[lying]] flat on the ground is not obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:20</ref> | # The doorpost of a cellar that is [[lying]] flat on the ground is not obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:20</ref> | ||
# It is a dispute whether or not the doorway leading into an elevator requires a mezuzah. <ref>Rav Zilberstein (Tuvcha Yabiu - | # It is a dispute whether or not the doorway leading into an elevator requires a mezuzah. <ref>Rav Zilberstein (Tuvcha Yabiu - Hilchot Shecheinim 34) says that even if the elevator itself is not 4 by 4 amos- the doorpost from the hallway that leads into the elevator requires a mezuzah. However, Rav Moshe Stern (Be'er Moshe 2:88) says that no matter what an elevator will never require a mezuzah.</ref> | ||
# A doorway is only obligated in a mezuzah if the room has 4 by 4 [[amot]] of space. If there's not 4 by 4 square [[amot]] but there is the same amount of area in another space, such as 2 by 8 [[amot]], there is a dispute whether the doorway is obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Kitzur S"A 11:10</ref> | |||
==How the mezuzah should be placed== | ==How the mezuzah should be placed== | ||
# The mezuzah should be put up on the doorpost which is to one's right upon one's entering the room. <ref> Gemara Menachot 33b, Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 6:12, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Taz 289:3, Levush 289:2, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Kitzur S"A 11:3. </ref> This is true for a left handed person as well. <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:3, Mordechai Halachot Ketanot 962, Bach 289:5, Shach 289:5, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Kuntres Hamezuzah page 102 | # The mezuzah should be put up on the doorpost which is to one's right upon one's entering the room. <ref> Gemara Menachot 33b, Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 6:12, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Taz 289:3, Levush 289:2, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Kitzur S"A 11:3. </ref> This is true for a left handed person as well. <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:3, Mordechai Halachot Ketanot 962, Bach 289:5, Shach 289:5, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Aruch Hashulchan 289:5, Kuntres Hamezuzah (page 102, note 22). </ref> | ||
# The mezuzah should be placed at the beginning of the upper third of the height of the doorway <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:5, Rashi Menachot 33a “bitechila,” Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 6:12, Tur 289, Prisha 289:6, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Pitchei Mezuzahs 289:24, Chovat Hadar 8:2:4, Teshuvot Vihanhagot 2:539. | # The mezuzah should be placed at the beginning of the upper third of the height of the doorway <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:5, Rashi Menachot 33a s.v. “bitechila,” Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 6:12, Tur 289, Prisha 289:6, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Pitchei Mezuzahs 289:24, Chovat Hadar 8:2:4, Teshuvot Vihanhagot 2:539. See Yabia Omer YD 2:21 where Chacham Ovadia Yosef quotes poskim who say that if it was placed higher than the beginning of the top third it should be moved without a beracha to there, but himself disagrees. </ref> but it should be placed at least a [[Tefach]] from the top of the doorway. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:5, Tur 289, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Levush 289:2 </ref> If it is not in the top third it isn't kosher. <ref> Beit Yosef 289, Shach 289:4, Taz 289:3. </ref> | ||
# While Sephardim place the mezuzah straight up<ref> Shulchan Aruch 289:6, Ben Ish Chai Ki Tavo Year 2 Halacha 7 based on Rashi Menachot 33a “pesula.” This was also the minhag of the Gr"a (Biurei Hagra 289:14. also see Orchos Rabbeinu 1:page 378:27) </ref>, Ashkenazim place it on a slant, with the top towards the inside and the bottom towards the outside. <ref>Rama 289:6, Levush 289:6, Chayei Adam 15:19, Minchas Elazar 1:36:1, Pitchei Mezuzahs 289:57, Chovat Hadar 9:footnote 20. Chovat Hadar 9:footnote 20 explains that the reason for this is that the opinion of Rashi says if you place it sideways it is not kosher, while Rabbienu Tam Menachot 33a "hu" holds that if it is straight up it is not kosher, so Ashkenazim try to fulfill the mitzva according to both opinions. </ref> | # While Sephardim place the mezuzah straight up<ref> Shulchan Aruch 289:6, Ben Ish Chai Ki Tavo Year 2 Halacha 7 based on Rashi Menachot 33a “pesula.” This was also the minhag of the Gr"a (Biurei Hagra 289:14. also see Orchos Rabbeinu 1:page 378:27) </ref>, Ashkenazim place it on a slant, with the top towards the inside and the bottom towards the outside. <ref>Rama 289:6, Levush 289:6, Chayei Adam 15:19, Minchas Elazar 1:36:1, Pitchei Mezuzahs 289:57, Chovat Hadar 9:footnote 20. Chovat Hadar 9:footnote 20 explains that the reason for this is that the opinion of Rashi says if you place it sideways it is not kosher, while Rabbienu Tam Menachot 33a "hu" holds that if it is straight up it is not kosher, so Ashkenazim try to fulfill the mitzva according to both opinions. </ref> | ||
# The mezuzah should be placed on the outer [[tefach]] of the doorpost. <ref> Gemara Menachot 32b, Tur 289, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Aruch Hashulchan 289:9. Taz 289:3 writes that the mezuzah is still kosher if the mezuzah isn't on the outer [[tefach]]. </ref> | # The mezuzah should be placed on the outer [[tefach]] of the doorpost. <ref> Gemara Menachot 32b, Tur 289, Shulchan Aruch 289:2, Levush 289:2, Chayei Adam 15:17, Aruch Hashulchan 289:9. Taz 289:3 writes that the mezuzah is still kosher if the mezuzah isn't on the outer [[tefach]]. </ref> | ||
| Line 26: | Line 27: | ||
Yashfei 1:207:1, Doleh Umashke page 275:footnote 69 quoting Rav Elyashiv and Rav Nissim Karelitz. </ref> | Yashfei 1:207:1, Doleh Umashke page 275:footnote 69 quoting Rav Elyashiv and Rav Nissim Karelitz. </ref> | ||
==Proper behavior when passing mezuzah== | ==Proper behavior when passing mezuzah== | ||
# When one leaves one's house should kiss the mezuzah to remind one of the unity of Hashem, as discussed below. There are different opinions as to how exactly one should behave when passing a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:24. | # When one leaves one's house should kiss the mezuzah to remind one of the unity of Hashem, as discussed below. There are different opinions as to how exactly one should behave when passing a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:24. Orchos Rabbeinu (v. 3, p. 164) writes that the Chazon Ish looked at the mezuzah without kissing it when he passed by one. </ref> | ||
# When one enters or exits a room one should think about the unity of Hashem, our love for Hashem, and be awakened from the slumber of the vanities of the world. One should think that there's nothing that last forever except knowledge of Hashem, and immediately this will help a person follow the proper path. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:23</ref> | # When one enters or exits a room one should think about the unity of Hashem, our love for Hashem, and be awakened from the slumber of the vanities of the world. One should think that there's nothing that last forever except knowledge of Hashem, and immediately this will help a person follow the proper path. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:23</ref> | ||
# One should be very careful with the mitzvah of mezuzah because it is a mitzvah that applies to everyone always. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:23</ref> | # One should be very careful with the mitzvah of mezuzah because it is a mitzvah that applies to everyone always. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:23</ref> | ||
