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Mezuzah: Difference between revisions
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There is a positive commandment to set up a mezuzah on every doorpost. <ref> Rambam Sefer HaMitzvot Positive Commandment 15, Sefer HaChinuch Mitzvah 423, Kitzur S"A 11:1 from Devarim 6:9 and 11:20. Shulchan Aruch YD 285:1, Chayei Adam 5:13, Aruch Hashulchan 285:2 say that one should be very meticulous with this mitzva. Tur YD 285 writes based on the pasuk that follows in Parashat Ekev, 11:21, that one who is meticulous in this mitzva merits long life. Bach YD 285 and Aruch Hashulchan YD 285:3 write that a house with a mezuzah has extra protection. </ref> The details as to which doorways, how the mezuzah should be placed, and the bracha are described below. | There is a positive commandment to set up a mezuzah on every doorpost. <ref> Rambam Sefer HaMitzvot Positive Commandment 15, Sefer HaChinuch Mitzvah 423, Kitzur S"A 11:1 from Devarim 6:9 and 11:20. Shulchan Aruch YD 285:1, Chayei Adam 5:13, Aruch Hashulchan 285:2 say that one should be very meticulous with this mitzva. Tur YD 285 writes based on the pasuk that follows in Parashat Ekev, 11:21, that one who is meticulous in this mitzva merits long life. Bach YD 285 and Aruch Hashulchan YD 285:3 write that a house with a mezuzah has extra protection. </ref> The details as to which doorways, how the mezuzah should be placed, and the bracha are described below. | ||
==Which doorposts require a mezuzah== | ==Which doorposts require a mezuzah== | ||
# Every | # Every doorway of one's house is obligated in mezuzah. Even if a room has several doorways, each one is obligated in having a mezuzah, unless a room has one doorway that is used for entering and exiting and one entrances that isn't used for entering or exiting except that it is used sometimes to put packages down there, then the entrance not used for entering or exiting isn't obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:1</ref> | ||
# 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 on the right side as one enters. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:2-3</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 - 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> | # 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 | # 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, such as 2 by 8 [[amot]], there is a dispute whether the doorway is obligated in a mezuzah. In such a case one should put up a mezuzah without a bracha, or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated and then put up this mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:10 records a dispute between the Rambam and Rosh on this matter. S"A YD 296:13 writes the opinion of the Rambam that if the room has an area of 4 by 4 [[amot]] even if it isn't a square it is obligated in a mezuzah. The Shach 296:23 notes that the opinion of the Rosh is that the doorway isn't obligated unless there is a 4 by 4 [[amot]] square area. Due to this dispute, the Shach concludes that one should put up the mezuzah without a bracha or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated and then put up this mezuzah.</ref> | ||
# A doorway is | # A doorway is usually obligated in a mezuzah if it has two doorposts that are 10 [[Tefachim]] tall and a lintel on top. <ref>S"A YD 287:1, Kitzur S"A 11:11</ref> Here are some exceptions: | ||
## A mezuzah should not be put up by the doorway to a bathroom.<ref> S"A YD 296:4, Aruch HaShulchan YD 286:5, Yalkut Yosef 285:43</ref> | |||
## A linen closet or electricity closet, that a person doesn't enter and only uses by takes things out of it isn't obligated in a mezuzah. However, if it is a large closet that is 4 by 4 [[amot]] and a person enters is obligated in a mezuzah without a bracha.<Ref>Pitchei [[Mezuzot]] 19:10-1 (p. 257), Minchat Yitzchak 4:92 </ref> | |||
[[Image:one-doorpost.png|200px|right]] | [[Image:one-doorpost.png|200px|right]] | ||
# If a doorway only has one doorpost, such as if the lintel is connected to a wall, then if the standing doorpost is on the right, one should put up a mezuzah without a bracha or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated and then put up this mezuzah. If the standing doorpost is on the left, that doorway isn't obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Kitzur S"A 11:11, HaMezuzah VeHilchoteha 10:4</ref> | # If a doorway only has one doorpost, such as if the lintel is connected to a wall, then if the standing doorpost is on the right, one should put up a mezuzah without a bracha or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated and then put up this mezuzah. If the standing doorpost is on the left, that doorway isn't obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Kitzur S"A 11:11, HaMezuzah VeHilchoteha 10:4</ref> | ||
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# If one's mezuzah became wet one should check it immediately.<ref>Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (comment on Kitzur S"A 11:22)</ref> | # If one's mezuzah became wet one should check it immediately.<ref>Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (comment on Kitzur S"A 11:22)</ref> | ||
==The Bracha on putting up a Mezuzah== | ==The Bracha on putting up a Mezuzah== | ||
# In general, before putting up a Mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated in a mezuzah, one should recite the bracha. However, if one is putting up a mezuzah on a doorway that doesn't have a door or a doorway that leads into an area that doesn't have 4 by 4 [[amot]] | # In general, before putting up a Mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated in a mezuzah, one should recite the bracha. However, if one is putting up a mezuzah on a doorway that doesn't have a door or a doorway that leads into an area that doesn't have 4 by 4 [[amot]] square, no bracha is recited.<ref>S"A YD 296:15 writes that a doorway that doesn't have a door is obligated in a mezuzah, however, some disagree. The Shach YD 296:25 writes that because of this dispute one should put up the mezuzah without a bracha, or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in another doorway that is obligated, and afterwards put up this mezuzah as well. Similarly, S"A YD 296:13 writes the opinion of the Rambam that if the room has an area of 4 by 4 [[amot]] even if it isn't a square it is obligated in a mezuzah. The Shach 296:23 notes that the opinion of the Rosh is that the doorway isn't obligated unless there is a 4 by 4 [[amot]] square area. Due to this dispute, the Shach concludes that one should put up the mezuzah without a bracha or recite a bracha when putting up a mezuzah in a doorway that is obligated and then put up this mezuzah. </ref> | ||
# Before putting up a mezuzah one should recite the bracha of "Asher Kideshanu Bemizvotav vetzivanu likboah Mezuzah" - " אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לקבוע מזוזה" . <ref> Gemara Menachot 42b, Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 5:7, Kitzur S"A 11:7, Aruch Hashulchan 289:3 </ref> If one puts up several [[mezuzot]] at one time one bracha suffices for all of them. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:7, Aruch Hashulchan YD 289:4, Shevet Ha’Levi 6:160, Rivevot Ephraim 3:508, Az Nidberu 3:61 </ref> In a situation like this one should be careful not to make a [[hefsek]] (pause) between [[mezuzot]] by talking. <ref> Mezuzat Baitecha 289:6, Rivevot Ephraim 2:29:21, Pitchei Mezuzat 289:10, Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:8 </ref> If one did speak some poskim would require you to say a new beracha. <ref> Chovat Hadar 11:9, Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:8. Mikdash Miat 289:6 and Birchot Habayis 59:1 disagree. </ref> | # Before putting up a mezuzah one should recite the bracha of "Asher Kideshanu Bemizvotav vetzivanu likboah Mezuzah" - " אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לקבוע מזוזה" . <ref> Gemara Menachot 42b, Rambam Hilchot Mezuzah 5:7, Kitzur S"A 11:7, Aruch Hashulchan 289:3 </ref> If one puts up several [[mezuzot]] at one time one bracha suffices for all of them. <ref>Kitzur S"A 11:7, Aruch Hashulchan YD 289:4, Shevet Ha’Levi 6:160, Rivevot Ephraim 3:508, Az Nidberu 3:61 </ref> In a situation like this one should be careful not to make a [[hefsek]] (pause) between [[mezuzot]] by talking. <ref> Mezuzat Baitecha 289:6, Rivevot Ephraim 2:29:21, Pitchei Mezuzat 289:10, Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:8 </ref> If one did speak some poskim would require you to say a new beracha. <ref> Chovat Hadar 11:9, Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:8. Mikdash Miat 289:6 and Birchot Habayis 59:1 disagree. </ref> | ||
# A [[shehecheyanu]] isn't recited when putting up a mezuzah on the doorpost. <ref> Chovat Hadar 11:2, Mezuzat Baitecha 289:3 </ref> | # A [[shehecheyanu]] isn't recited when putting up a mezuzah on the doorpost. <ref> Chovat Hadar 11:2, Mezuzat Baitecha 289:3 </ref> | ||
# If a mezuzah fell down and one is putting it up again one must recite a bracha before putting it up again. <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:7, Beer Moshe 6:6, Chovat Hadar (11:15:footnote 29), Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:7, Avnei Yashfei 1:207:3-4, Rivevos Ephraim 2:28:5. Orchos Rabbeinu (v. 3, p. 178 #38) however, disagrees. </ref> | # If a mezuzah fell down and one is putting it up again one must recite a bracha before putting it up again if the doorway has a door and the room is at least 4 by 4 [[amot]] in size. <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:7, Beer Moshe 6:6, Chovat Hadar (11:15:footnote 29), Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:7, Avnei Yashfei 1:207:3-4, Rivevos Ephraim 2:28:5. Orchos Rabbeinu (v. 3, p. 178 #38) however, disagrees. </ref> | ||
# If one took down one's [[Mezuzot]] in order to have them checked by the sofer and they were found to be kosher, one should put them back up | # If one took down one's [[Mezuzot]] in order to have them checked by the sofer and they were found to be kosher, according to Ashkenazim one should put them back up without a Bracha of Lekvoh Mezuzah.<ref>Kitzur S"A 11:7 writes that there's a doubt if one should make a bracha if a mezuzah was taken down to check it.</ref> According to Sephardim, one should make a bracha up putting them back up after being checked by the sofer.<ref>Yalkut Yosef YD 285:93 writes that one should recite a bracha if they were taken down to be checked by a sofer.</ref> If one checks the mezuzah by himself, he need not say a new beracha. <ref> Ben Ish Chai Parashat Ki Tavo Year 2 Halacha 8, Pitchei Teshuva 289:1, Aruch Hashulchan 289:4, Chovat Hadar 11:14 </ref> If a mezuzah was found to be not kosher, then a beracha is recited when it is replaced with a kosher one. <ref> Kitzur S"A 11:3,5, Rivevot Ephraim 1:19, Beer Moshe 2:92:13, Kuntres Hamezuzah 289:6, Chovat Hador 11:11:footnote 20, Yabia Omer YD 3:17 </ref> Please note that a bracha is only said when replacing the mezuzah if the doorway has a door and the room is at least 4 by 4 [[amot]] in size. (See above [[#The Bracha on putting up a Mezuzah]]). | ||
# However, if one took down one's Mezuzah just to put it in a nicer case, one doesn't need to make a new Bracha when putting it up unless it was taken down for several hours so that one stopped thinking about the Mezuzah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef YD 285:94 </ref> | # However, if one took down one's Mezuzah just to put it in a nicer case, one doesn't need to make a new Bracha when putting it up unless it was taken down for several hours so that one stopped thinking about the Mezuzah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef YD 285:94 </ref> | ||
# When replacing the [[mezuzot]], a new beracha is recited. <ref> Maharam Shik YD 285, Rivevot Ephraim 7:239, Beer Moshe 2:92, Avnei | # When replacing the [[mezuzot]], a new beracha is recited. <ref> Maharam Shik YD 285, Rivevot Ephraim 7:239, Beer Moshe 2:92, Avnei | ||
Yashfei 1:207:1, Doleh Umashke | Yashfei 1:207:1, Doleh Umashke (p. 275, footnote 69) quoting Rav Elyashiv and Rav Nissim Karelitz. </ref> | ||
==Proper behavior when passing mezuzah== | ==Proper behavior when passing mezuzah== | ||
