Mezuzah: God's Word on the Doorpost

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

The Mezuzah signifies the sanctity and blessing of the Jewish home. Actually it is a portion of the Holy Torah, inscribed in the same manner and script as a Torah. It is an "original" sanctified document in accord with laws and precepts that dare not be compromised.

On this sacred scroll of parchment are inscribed two passages from the Torah, "Shema Yisroel" and "Vehaya" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) are rolled up placed behind the Mezuzah when attached to the doorpost.

It is customary, upon entering or leaving a residence, to touch the Mezuzah. This reverence acknowledges our belief in the "Shema Yisroel," the Jewish declaration of faith, which expresses the unity of G-D, the duty of loving and serving Him with our whole being, and our obligation to observe the mitzvoth in and out of the home.


A gift given by the Taylors of Middlebury a year after we moved into our home.