Mezuzah as Protection, Part 5

Hi,

"When one enters and departs [a room] one should encounter the unification of Gd’s Name, and remember love of Gd, and awaken from his slumber and his errant involvement in temporary vanities, and he will know that nothing lasts forever, other than the knowledge of the Rock of the World. Immediately he will return to his proper mind and travel a just path."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Mezuzah 6:13)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuzah as Protection, Part 4

Hi,

"Rabbi Eliezer of Metz wrote: 'People are accustomed, for the sake of additional domestic protection, to write at the end of the mezuzah various seals and names of angels. This is not required, and it isn’t a mitzvah; it is only for added protection.'…It is clear that there is no disqualification [of the mezuzah] in this practice."

(Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Yabia Omer 8:Yoreh Deah 28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuzah as Protection, Part 3

Hi,

"When one places a mezuzah one does not intend to guard the house, but rather to fulfill the mitzvah of Gd. The automatic result is protection of the home."

(Rabbi Yosef Karo, Kesef Mishneh to Laws of Mezuzah 5:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuzah as Protection, Part 2

Hi,

"The practice has spread, to write on the external surface of the mezuzah, opposite the blank space between paragraphs, Shin-Daled-Yud. There is no loss in this, for it is on the outside.

"Those who write the names of angels inside, though, or the Holy Names, or a verse or a seal, are in the category of those who have no share in the next world. It is not enough for these fools that they annul the mitzvah! They also take a great mitzvah, the declaration of the unified Name of Gd, love of Gd and service of Gd, and treat it as an amulet for their personal benefit, as it has entered their foolish hearts that this is something meant to provide them with pleasure in this vain world!"

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Mezuzah 5:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mezuzah as protection

Hi,

"Rabbi Abba said: How many holy forces are prepared [to provide protection] when a person places a mezuzah on his gate! They all announce, 'This is the gate of Gd, etc.'

"The share of Israel is meritorious, and thus the Jews are known as the children of the Holy King, for all of them bear His sign…they are marked in their homes with the mezuzah at the entrance."

(Zohar, Vaetchanan pg. 266a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The reward for care in mitzvot

Hi,

"Rav Huna said: One who is careful regarding Shabbat lights and Chanukah lights will merit to have children who are Torah scholars. [Rashi explains that this is linked to the verse, 'For a mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light.']

"One who is careful regarding mezuzah will merit to have a beautiful dwelling.

"One who is careful regarding the tzitzit will merit to have a nice garment.

"One who is careful regarding the mitzvah of kiddush will merit to fill barrels of wine."

(Talmud, Shabbat 23b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Turning a mezuzah into an amulet

Hi,

"A popular practice is to write upon the outside of the mezuzah, opposite the space between portions, the Name Sha-dai. There is no loss; this is external. However, one who writes the names of angels, or Holy Names, or a sentence or seals, inside the parchment, is included among those who have no share in the next world. Not only do these fools nullify the mitzvah, but they treat a great mitzvah, the unification of Gd's Name and love of Him and service of Him as though it was an amulet for personal benefit, as has arisen in their foolishness."

(Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Tefillin, Mezuzah v'Sefer Torah 5:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Profiteering from mitzvot

Hi,

"Scribes of scrolls, tefillin and mezuzot, as well as their merchants and their merchants’ merchants, and anyone involved in Heavenly business - to include techelet merchants - will never see a sign of blessing, unless they are involved for the sake of heaven."

(Talmud, Pesachim 50a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The mezuzah reminder

Hi,

"Among the roots of this mitzvah is to act as a reminder of faith on HaShem whenever a person enters or exits the home."

(Sefer haChinuch, Mitzvah 423)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Surrounded by the beauty of mitzvot

Hi,

"The mitzvah is to place the Chanukah light at the entrance that is close to the road [as opposed to a home entrance set back from the road, within a front yard].

"The mezuzah should be on the right and the Chanukah light on the left. This fulfills the verse (Shir haShirim 7:7), 'How beautiful you are, how pleasant you are!' How beautiful you are with the mezuzah, how pleasant you are with the Chanukah light."

(Masechet Sofrim 20:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai