Mezuzah: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Which doorposts require a mezuzah
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
[[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 | #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. If a doorway isn't used for entering it doesn't need 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 and Aruch Hashulchan YD 286:41 concur.</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 and Aruch Hashulchan YD 286:41 concur.</ref> | ||
# | # An emergency exit or any door only used to exit is not obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Minchat Shlomo 2:100:5</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 286:13 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 286:23 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 286:13 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 286:23 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> | ||
#If a room is four by four amot even if there large items such as a refrigerator or oven in that room and it is normally there and enables the room to be used normally it is obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Mezuzah Vehilchoteha 9:3 writes that if there are large items in a room such as a refrigerator or oven they don't minimize the space of the room and count towards the four by four amot since they are normally there and enhance the use of the room. His sources include: Halichot Olam v. 8 p. 285, Maharsham 3:263, Shevet Halevi 2:187, and Chovat Hadar 4 fnt. 22.</ref> | #If a room is four by four amot even if there large items such as a refrigerator or oven in that room and it is normally there and enables the room to be used normally it is obligated in a mezuzah.<ref>Mezuzah Vehilchoteha 9:3 writes that if there are large items in a room such as a refrigerator or oven they don't minimize the space of the room and count towards the four by four amot since they are normally there and enhance the use of the room. His sources include: Halichot Olam v. 8 p. 285, Maharsham 3:263, Shevet Halevi 2:187, and Chovat Hadar 4 fnt. 22.</ref> | ||
| Line 84: | Line 84: | ||
===Elevator=== | ===Elevator=== | ||
#Some say that the entrances on each floor to the elevator should have a mezuzah on the right from the elevator to the building.<ref>Lehorot Natan 3:72, Rav Elyashiv (Ashrei Haish YD 286), Rav Wosner (cited by Madenei Yom Tov v. 7 p. 246). Minchat Yitzchak 4:93 holds one should put up a mezuzah on the elevator cab itself on the right side going in and not each floor. | #Some say that the entrances on each floor to the elevator should have a mezuzah on the right from the elevator to the building.<ref>Lehorot Natan 3:72, Rav Elyashiv (Ashrei Haish YD 286), Rav Wosner (cited by Madenei Yom Tov v. 7 p. 246). Minchat Yitzchak 4:93 holds one should put up a mezuzah on the elevator cab itself on the right side going in and not each floor. Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein (Tuvcha Yabiu - Hilchot Shecheinim 34) also holds that even if the elevator itself is not 4 by 4 amot, the doorpost from the hallway that leads into the elevator requires a mezuzah. | ||
* Lehorot Natan 3:72 writes that there should be a mezuzah from the elevator to the building. He explains 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. Minchat Yitzchak 4:93 agrees with his first point that it requires a mezuzah since it opens up to a house, but disagrees with the application to Rabbi Akiva Eiger. | * Lehorot Natan 3:72 writes that there should be a mezuzah from the elevator to the building. He explains 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. Minchat Yitzchak 4:93 agrees with his first point that it requires a mezuzah since it opens up to a house, but disagrees with the application to Rabbi Akiva Eiger. | ||
*Regarding the first point, there is a nuanced difference between the Lehorot Natan and Minchat Yitzchak. Minchat Yitzchak thinks that fundamentally the elevator should be exempt since it isn't meant for significant dwelling as it continually moves. However, since it allows passageway to houses it is obligated like a bet shaar, which doesn't meet the criteria for mezuzah but is obligated since it allows entrance to houses. This is the opinion of the Chamudei Doniel who obligates a bet shaar even though it lacks the area of 4x4 amot. Lehorot Natan responds that he believes the Chamudei Doniel is incorrect. However, if the elevator is 4x4 amot it is considered a bet shaar because of its function to enable passage from floor to floor and ultimately to houses. | *Regarding the first point, there is a nuanced difference between the Lehorot Natan and Minchat Yitzchak. Minchat Yitzchak thinks that fundamentally the elevator should be exempt since it isn't meant for significant dwelling as it continually moves. However, since it allows passageway to houses it is obligated like a bet shaar, which doesn't meet the criteria for mezuzah but is obligated since it allows entrance to houses. This is the opinion of the Chamudei Doniel who obligates a bet shaar even though it lacks the area of 4x4 amot. Lehorot Natan responds that he believes the Chamudei Doniel is incorrect. However, if the elevator is 4x4 amot it is considered a bet shaar because of its function to enable passage from floor to floor and ultimately to houses. | ||
