Flight and hotel bookings are at the front of our minds at this time of year. You may even be reading this in some exotic, far flung location; but no matter where you are, the Yom Tov season will soon be upon us, and with it, the focus turns towards improvement in areas of mitzva performance.
This in mind, many use the month of Elul as the opportunity to bring in their Mezuzahs for a service check. How often should the Mezuzahs be checked and what is the sofer looking for anyway? In the first of a series about this special mitzva, we will explore what makes a mezuza kosher and how to go about checking it.
What could be wrong – it looks Kosher?
It’s a verse from a couple of week’s ago Sedra, which was repeated in last week’s Sedra. The Torah instructs us to “write them on the doorposts of your houses and in your gateways”. The term “writing” is somewhat self-explanatory in precluding modern inventions such as 3D printers. Less obvious though in the verse’s meaning, are the halachic directives that the mezuza and tefillin be written “in order”. Practically speaking, this would mean that if a letter was omitted in the first line of the mezuza, the mistake could not be rectified unless the next lines and words were erased, and written again. This can mean that hours of painstaking, laborious work may need to be repeated.
Adding to the difficulties, is the prohibition against erasing Hashem’s name. If the omission is noticed only after the name of Hashem has been written in the coming lines, an almost complete Mezuza, or entire pair of Tefillin may need to be discarded and respectfully buried with the Sheimos.
And this is only one of the many intricate halochos which a sofer – religious scribe will need to be cognisant of when writing. The single most important ingredient in any mezuzah is the integrity of the sofer. No one knows or is watching and it we put our trust in him.
Getting it right in the first place.
Going to a Mezuza shop may sound easy. But coming home with a mezuza – is frankly not. Neither a gleaming shop front nor a religiously dressed salesmen guarantee that the parchments being sold are the genuine kosher item. The most reliable way of buying these items is by enquiring after certification and licensing. Local salesmen here in our home town of Manchester do exhaustive enquiries before purchasing stock, and it may be worth the extra few pounds to ensure peace of mind that the mitzva is being performed as it should.
Removing mezuzahs – some things you may not have considered….
When a mezuzah is initially fixed, a brocho is made. This brocho is repeated any time the mezuzah falls off accidentally. If, however, it was intentionally removed, the brocho is not recited if it is returned soon after. If it is replaced after a significant delay, then a brocho is made. The rule of thumb is that if the mezuzahs are down for longer than a day, then a new brocho is recited when it is fixed back in place.
When replacing the mezuzahs, many halachic sources suggest that there is a strong preference in returning them to the same doorpost they were removed from. It is considered to be a degradation for a Mezuzah to be removed from service. Having served in Mitzva use for so long, it is inappropriate for it to be downgraded to a lesser status. In a similar vein, moving the mezuzah to a less prestigious location in the house should be avoided. When removing the mezuzahs, it is worth labelling them so you know which door way they each came from.
When does it need to be checked?
Technically, the mezuza should be checked twice every seven years. Some have the custom to make an annual check in Elul. In all cases, this should in general be a brief check to see whether the scroll has suffered any damage. Anyone who lived for more than a few months in a location as wet as a Manchester front door would be showing signs of deterioration after a short time. Caution should teach us to ensure that all mezuzah cases are water tight. Mezuzahs are delicate items; but look after them and they’ll look after you!
In Part 2 of this series, we will discuss the locations in the house where Mezuzahs should be fixed, and how to decide on which side of the doorway to place the mezuzah. Keep posted.
Good Shabbos, Sruli