You Can Learn a Lot from a Mezuzah

Mr. Mezuzah Man

That was what we called the little googly-eyed children’s sticker of a mezuzah dressed up as a little security guard.

Our Mr. Mezuzah had a place of honor on our Sukkah. Why? Because as kids, we played with these Jewish-themed stickers, and Mr. Mezuzah Man was a good way to remember how to properly set up the door of our Sukkah each year. Using it, we had a surefire way of knowing we were putting the panel up the right way, which made putting up the rest of the Sukkah easier.

Obviously, a Sukkah doesn’t need a mezuzah.

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃

“Write these words on the doorposts of your homes and on your gates.” (Devarim 6:9 and 11:20)

A.J. Jacobs, in The Year of Living Biblically, notes that, literally, this means we should be writing verses of Torah on our doorposts. We know, however, that the mitzvah is to write the verses of the Shema on a scroll and affix it (usually in a case) on our doorways.

Nevertheless, we liked the idea of a quasi-mezuzah on the Sukkah because a mezuzah is more than a mitzvah. A mezuzah is a reminder, a prayer, and a statement of Jewish identity.  

Rambam (Laws of Mezuzah 6:13) writes:

“A person must show great care in the observance of the mitzvah of mezuzah, because it is an obligation which is constantly incumbent upon everyone. Through its observance, whenever a person enters or leaves the house, he will encounter the unity of the name of the Holy One, blessed and remember his love for God. Thus, he will awake from his sleep…and recognize that there is nothing which lasts for eternity except the knowledge of the Creator of the world. This will motivate him to regain full awareness and follow the paths of the upright.”

Rambam generally does not qualify or rank mitzvot, yet here he writes we need to show “great care” for mezuzah. Why? Rambam recognizes the role a mezuzah can have in our religious identities and personalities. It is an ever-present reminder of our faith in God and practice of Judaism.

It started with Onkelos, the famed translator of the Torah into Aramaic, who was also a convert.

The Talmud (Avoda Zara 11a) informs us that the Roman emperor was displeased that Onkelos converted and sent soldiers to bring him back to Rome. When they reached his home, Onkelos engaged them in conversation quoting verses from the Torah. They were so inspired that they, too, converted.

The emperor sent another group of soldiers, telling them not to engage Onkelos in conversation. When they came to take him, they didn’t utter a word of explanation. Nevertheless, Onkelos said, “Let me tell you something trivial…” What he shared was so impactful and inspirational, they all converted.

The emperor sent another group of soldiers and told them to order Onkelos to remain silent. As they were taking him out of the house, Onkelos saw a mezuzah on the door and stretched out his arm to touch it. The soldiers paused curiously, leaving Onkelos an opening. He asked them, “What is this that I am touching?” The soldiers responded, “You tell us.” Onkelos explained to them, “It is the custom of the world that the king sits in the inside of the palace, and the guards protect him from the outside. However, with the God of the Jews, His servants are inside their homes, and He protects them from the outside.”

The soldiers were inspired, and they converted. The emperor did not send any additional soldiers.

The mezuzah is more than a mitzvah. It is a symbol of our relationship with God. It is placed on the doors of our home – the outside doors as well as the inside doors – to declare – to ourselves and anyone who sees it – that we have a connection to God who watches us.

The religious importance of the mezuzah prompted the practice to touch the mezuzah (like Onkelos in the Talmudic story) or even kiss the finger that touches the mezuzah when walking into a room as if the holiness of the mezuzah is transferred to the hand. While not the most widespread practice, it is an extension of the desire to connect to the power of the symbolism of the mitzvah.

The Talmud, in connection with Onkelos and the mezuzah, quotes Tehillim 121:8, “God will note your departure and your arrival from now and forever.” God is watching us. God notices our behavior, and God protects us. This led to the idea that a mezuzah is a form of protection and for some people to check the mezuzah should, God forbid, things go wrong.

It’s not only Jews who appreciate this powerful symbolism of the mezuzah.

The late Senator Orrin Hatch noted in a speech on the Senate floor in 2018:

“As a symbol of my respect, I wear a mezuzah around my neck. I have done so every day for more than four decades. The mezuzah reminds me of the affinity that I, as a member of the Mormon faith, hold for the Jewish people and their history.”

The mezuzah is a timely mitzvah deserving of our affinity and, to quote Rambam, "great care."

The mezuzah has been a popular symbol since October 7. Many Jews have sought ways to express their Judaism through symbols like the Magen David or Chai. The mezuzah is a terrific choice. Not only as a necklace, but the real thing, a mezuzah on the door. Now more than ever, we need the mezuzah as a sign of our religious faith, a prayer for protection, and a declaration of our Jewish identity.

On this Shabbat when we read of the mezuzah, please make sure your mezuzot are in order. See if any are missing from any doorways. Maybe it’s time to buy a new one or replace the case to make the mezuzah more secure or visible. Ask your Jewish neighbors to do the same if they don’t have theirs. It’s a small mitzvah, which carries great significance and meaning.

We can learn a lot from the mezuzah.