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Mezuzah: Difference between revisions
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==Which doorposts require a mezuzah== | ==Which doorposts require a mezuzah== | ||
[[Image:porch.jpg|100px|right]] | [[Image:porch.jpg|100px|right]] | ||
# 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> | # 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>Maharil (responsa 94) bemoans the fact that many people think that it is sufficient to have one mezuzah per house when in fact every doorway requires its own mezuzah. The Darkei Moshe 286:4 cites the Maharil. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:1 concurs.</ref> | ||
# The doorpost of a cellar that is [[lying]] flat on the ground is not obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Chaye Adam 15:15 writes that a cellar door on the floor is exempt from mezuzah based on Kiddushin 22b that states that a doorpost lying on the ground isn't considered a doorpost. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:20 concurs.</ref> | |||
# The doorpost of a cellar that is [[lying]] flat on the ground is not obligated in having a mezuzah. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 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, 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 Shulchan Aruch 11:10 records a dispute between the Rambam and Rosh on this matter. Shulchan Aruch 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 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 Shulchan Aruch 11:10 records a dispute between the Rambam and Rosh on this matter. Shulchan Aruch 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 usually obligated in a mezuzah if it has two doorposts that are 10 [[Tefachim]] tall and a lintel on top. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 287:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:11</ref> Here are some exceptions: | # A doorway is usually obligated in a mezuzah if it has two doorposts that are 10 [[Tefachim]] tall and a lintel on top. <ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 287:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:11</ref> Here are some exceptions: | ||
## A mezuzah should not be put up by the doorway to a bathroom.<ref> Shulchan Aruch YD | ## A mezuzah should not be put up by the doorway to a bathroom, mikveh room, or a room people wash in and stand there undressed.<ref> Yoma 11b, Shulchan Aruch YD 286:4, 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> | ## A small closet, such as 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 3:103, 4:92:3 </ref> | ||
# A roofed porch that has 4 amot by 4 amot of space leading up to a house is obligated in a mezuzah with a bracha. (If the area it surrounds is 16 square amah, one should put up a mezuzah without a bracha.)<ref>HaMezuzah VeHilchoteha 3:10</ref> | # A roofed porch that has 4 amot by 4 amot of space leading up to a house is obligated in a mezuzah with a bracha. (If the area it surrounds is 16 square amah, one should put up a mezuzah without a bracha.)<ref>HaMezuzah VeHilchoteha 3:10</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 Shulchan Aruch 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 Shulchan Aruch 11:11, HaMezuzah VeHilchoteha 10:4</ref> | ||
===Doorways to Courtyards and Cities=== | |||
# The doorway to a courtyard or city is obligated in having a mezuzah on the right side as one enters. <ref>Yoma 12a, Shulchan Aruch YD 286:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 11:2-3</ref> In a city that has some non-Jews the city gate does not need a mezuzah.<ref>Yoma 11a. Rama YD 286:1 quoting the Aguda that even if some non-Jews live in the city they are exempt from mezuzah on the city gate. The Taz 286:3 explains that the exemption is based on a danger.</ref> | |||
# The electrical posts used for an eruv do not need a mezuzah even though they function as a doorway.<ref>Chazon Ish YD 172:3 writes that even though the electrical posts with the wires on top can serve as doorways to enclose an eruv for Shabbat (under certain conditions) they do not need a mezuzah since the mezuzah won't be guarded and also some non-Jews might live in the city.</ref> | |||
==How the mezuzah should be placed== | ==How the mezuzah should be placed== | ||
