Mezuzah: Difference between revisions

#An elevator is obligated in a mezuzah from the elevator shaft to the building.<ref>Lehorot Natan 3:72 writes that there should be a mezuzah from the elevator to the building. He writes that it is like a foyer (bet shaar) that leads to a house. Additionally he adds that according to Rabbi Akiva Eiger 286:13 even if it doesn't require a mezuzah itself it needs a mezuzah since it opens to a room that requires a mezuzah.</ref>

#Even if the balcony is less than 4x4 amot and isn't roofed, according to Sephardim, the mezuzah should be placed on the right side going from the house to the balcony.<ref>Yabia Omer 4:23:6, Or Letzion 1:14, Hamezuzah Vehilchoteha 3:11. Or Letzion 1:14 writes that the minhag is to put a mezuzah on the right going from the house to the balcony. He explains that if the balcony is less than 4x4 amot it isn't considered obligated in a mezuzah in it of itself. Additionally, if it doesn't have a roof it isn't obligated in it of itself. However, since the balcony opens to the house which is obligated we can treat the balcony like a foyer (bet shaar) before the house which is obligated even if it is less than 4x4. However, the dispute is why the foyer is obligated. According to the Tosfot and Rosh it is only obligated rabbinically but it is obligated as a structure that is useful for its designated purpose. However, according to the Rambam, it is obligated Biblically because it opens to a house. According to the Rambam the mezuzah should be placed on the right side going in from the balcony since the balcony is only obligated as it serves the house. However, according to the Tosfot and Rosh the mezuzah should be placed on the right side going from the house to the balcony as it is obligated in it of itself. Yet, the minhag is just to put a mezuzah on the right side going from the house to the balcony like the Rosh since perhaps we follow the Rosh and even if we don't we follow the opinion of the Chikrei Lev who holds that the balcony door can't be considered an entrance for the house since you can only use it if you first exited through it. He quotes that this was also the opinion of the Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef, Rav Ezra Attiyah. </ref> Ashkenazim hold that if the balcony is less than the equivalent of 16 square amot  the mezuzah should be put on the right side going from the balcony to the house.<ref>Hamezuzah Vehilchoteha ch. 3 fnt. 19 cites the Chiko Mamtakim p. 359 who quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach has holding that a balcony that is 4x4 amot square or the equivalent should have the mezuzah from the house to the balcony like the Maharil, but if the balcony is smaller than that it should have a mezuzah on the right side from the balcony to the house like the Bet Meir, Chazon Ish, and Rabbi Akiva Eiger.</ref>

##Most poskim hold that an area 2x8 amot is obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>The Rambam (Mezuzah 2:6) holds that an area that is 2x8 amot is obligated in a mezuzah as would any area that is larger than 16 square amot. The Rosh (Mezuzah no. 16) disagrees and holds that unless it is 4x4 amot square it isn’t obligated. Shulchan Aruch YD 286:13 holds like the Rambam. Levush 286:13 agrees. The Shach 286:23 holds that it is obligated but the mezuzah should be put up without a bracha. Chayei Adam 15:6, Aruch Hashulchan YD 286:21, and Yalkut Yosef 285:24 agree.

##If a closet is exempt from mezuzah should it have a mezuzah going from the exempt area into the room since it is like an entrance to the room? Most Ashkenazim hold that a mezuzah is placed on the left side going into an area that is exempt, while Sephardim hold that the mezuzah is placed on the right side. <ref>Rabbi Akiva Eiger 286:13 writes that since the area is exempt from a mezuzah it can still be considered an entrance into the room. The Chazon Ish YD 168:5 agrees and adds that accordingly the mezuzah should be placed on the left side going from the exempt area into the room. Rav Shlomo Zalman (cited by Hamezuzah Vehilchoteha ch. 3 fnt. 19), [http://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/788640/rabbi-hershel-schachter/the-laws-of-mezuzah/ Rav Hershel Schachter in “The Laws of Mezuzah” (min 34-42)], Binyan Tzion 99, and Rav Heinemann (Star-K Kashrut Kurrents Winter 5779 p. 2) agree.  

 

*Derech Hachayim 240:8 writes that if a doorpost doesn't reach the ceiling the mezuzah should be placed on that doorpost as long as it is ten tefachim tall. The Mikdash Me'at 286:36 establishes the case of the Derech Hachaim to only when the door reaches within a third of the entire doorway. However, the Keviyut Mezuzah Khilchata p. 389 points out that this Mikdash Me'at is a very difficult explanation of the Derech Hachaim. He agrees with the Derech Hachaim. Also, Chovat Hadar 8:2:2 p. 73 writes that if there are doorposts which are ten tefachim they are considered the right place for the mezuzah even if there is a wall which does reach the ceiling. Sechel Tov 289:73 quotes others who agree with the Chovat Hadar. However, [http://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/839765/rabbi-baruch-simon/%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%95%D7%96%D7%94/] discusses this case at length and comes to the conclusion that it should be placed on the wall if the doorposts aren't shoulder height (spot א in the picture).