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What is Mezuza?

The Torah commands us twice about the Mitzva of Mezuza.

The first is in Parshas Va’eschanan, and the second in Parshas Eikev:

It is the will of Hashem that the paragraphs where these two Pesukim are mentioned, should be written on parchment and affixed to the doorposts of our homes.

It would be worthy to quote a few Torah sources explaining the great power of protection that the Mezuza has on a person:

“Rebbe Chanina said: Look how different the ways of Hashem are from human beings made out of flesh and blood! A king usually sits inside his palace and his servants protect him from the outside. But Hashem does the opposite - His servants sit inside their houses, and he protects them from the outside!”

“Onkelos Bar Kelonimos converted to Judaism. His uncle the Caesar of Rome sent a legion of soldiers to take him back home. Onkelos spoke to them and convinced them to convert too. The Caesar sent more troops to get him. Onkelos asked them:“Is it customary that the king should hold the torch, showing the way before his people?” The soldiers answered:“Of course not!” Onkelos then said:“But our God did indeed do so when the Jews left Mitzrayim!” This convinced the second group of soldiers to convert too. The Caesar sent a third legion of soldiers warning them not to speak to him at all. When they were dragging him from his home, Onkelos put his hand on the Mezuza and asked them:“Do you know what this is?” They answered:“No, you tell us.” So he told them:“Our King in heaven is different than all human kings. They sit inside their palace while their servants protect them from the outside. But Hashem’s servants sit inside while he protects them from the outside!” The soldiers upon hearing this, converted too, and the Caesar stopped pursuing the matter.”

“Artevon sent Rabeinu Hakadosh a very precious diamond, asking him to return something of equal value. So Rabeinu Hakadosh sent him a Mezuza. When Artevon received the Mezuza, he was insulted. He said: “I send you such a precious gem, and you send me in return this cheap peace of parchment?!” Rabeinu Hakadosh replied: “All our wealth combined is not worth as much as this Mezuza. You sent me something which I must constantly watch over and protect, but I sent you something which protects you even when you sleep!” Afterwards a entered the only daughter of Artevon, and as soon as he put the Mezuza on the door, the fled.”

“The Mitzva that every person must affix a Mezuza on his doorpost, is in order that he should be protected by Hashem both when he leaves his home, and when he enters his home. A person is not considered protected, unless Hashem protects him, and Hashem stands by the door of a person to offer this protection. Another reason for this Mitzva of Mezuza is that a person should never forget Hakadosh Baruch Hu, similar to the Mitzva of Tzitzis. When a person sees the Mezuza on his door post, it should remind him to fulfill the Mitzvos of his Master Hakadosh Boruch Hu.

Next to the left side of the doorpost stands a Shed which has permission to afflict damage upon a person. But when the person lifts his eyes seeing the holy name of Hashem and he remembers Him, then the Shed is powerless to harm him. According to this, when a person leaves his home, the Shed now stands at his right side, while the Mezuza is at his left side. If so, how is the person now protected? The answer is as follows: Hashem created the world where everything is attracted to his own kind. Now, the Yetzer Hatov always stands on the right side of a person, and the Yetzer Hara on his left. When the person leaves his home, the Shed on his right sees the Yetzer Hara on his left, and he becomes attracted to him. But now the Mezuza is on his left side too, and therefore the Shed cannot harm him. Now, when he comes back into the house, the name of Hashem is on his right side, and once again, he cannot be harmed.

Therefore a person should be careful to keep the entrance of his house clean, and not to spill dirty water in that area. One reason for this is so not to profane the name of Hashem. Another reason is, because the Mazikim gain strength through this filth, and therefore a person should be careful to avoid this.

When a person affixes a Mezuza on his door, the Yetzer Hara and this Shed must protect him, and they say: . But if a person does not affix a Mezuza on his door, then they put their hands on this person when he enters the house and they say: “Woe is to this person who left the domain of his master Hakadosh Boruch Hu!” From then on, he is left without any protection.”

“When the Mazikim approach the door of a person, they lift their heads and see the holy name “Sha-dai” which is visible from the outside of the Mezuza. They are terrified of this holy name, so they flee from it. If that is the case, than why is the whole Mezuza necessary? Just writing this Shaim should suffice! The answer is because this Shaim alone has no power. It is only through the chapters of the Mezuza that it can have this effect. Then, the king comes out with his royal troops, and a great fear grips these Mazikim and they flee from the person. The word “Vehoya” is the same letters as the name of Hashem. Therefore, on the opposite side of the Mezuza, parallel to the word “Vehoya”, this name of “Sha-dai” is written. Vehoya on the inside, Sha-dai on the outside, so that the person should be protected from all sides.

Many holy soldiers are present when a person places a Mezuza on his doorpost! They all proclaim: How fortunate are B’nei Yisroel! At that time it becomes publicized that they are children of the holy king, because they all have His holy signs:
On their bodies they have the sign of Bris Milah!
On their clothing they have the sign of Tzitzis!
On their head they have the sign of Tefilin Shel Rosh!
On their hands they have the sign of Tefilin Shel Yad with the Retzuos!
On their shoes they have the sign of the Mitzva of Chalitza!
On their fields they have the sign of Kilayim, Leket, Shikcha, and Peiah!
On their doors they have the sign of Mezuza!
With everything, they are distinguished as being the children of the great king Hakadosh Baruch Hu! How fortune is their lot!”

“The letter “Yud” of the Shaim “Sha-dai” is like a lock on a chain, and the moment the Shaidim and Mazikim see it on the door, they instantly run away. (The Shaim of Sha-dai is the word “Shed” with a Yud added on.)”

“The word “Mezuzos” are comprised of the words . (Literally meaning: “Death is removed”.) The Mezuza has the strong Segula that it removes death from the house.”

“A person must always be careful to fulfill the Mitzva of Mezuza properly because this is a constant obligation. Every time he enters or exits the room, he should notice the name of Hashem, so that he should wake up from his slumber of his foolish way of life, and he should know that there is nothing that stands forever, besides the creator of the world, and upon remembering this, he will return on a righteous path. Our sages said: Whoever has Tefilin on his head and his hand, and Tzitzis on his clothing, and a Mezuza on his door, it is assumed that he will not sin, for he has many reminders. And these Mitzvos become Malachim who prevent him from sinning.”

“Since a person is a a lowly earthly creation, he will always be bound to his desires, because this is the nature of his whole being to have all the sweet earthly pleasures just like an animal. The Neshama which Hashem gives, is the only thing which can prevent him from sinning. But being that the Neshama is so far from its source, the Guf will always be more powerful. Therefore, the Neshama must have many protections from her bad neighbor the Guf which wants to kill her, since the Neshama is now in the territory of the Guf. Therefore, Hashem placed guards around her, meaning the Torah which we must always learn, and the Tzitzis on the four corners of our clothing, and the Mezuza on our door, and the Tefilin on our hand and head. All this is to remind us not to go after the desires of our eyes and heart. Now see my child, how strong the might of the Guf is over our Neshama, for after all these protections, we still need much mercy not to become enslaved by the Guf. May Hashem with his great mercy help us and protect us.”

“It is a Mitzva to write the Parshiyos of Shema and Vehoya Im Shamoa, and to place it on the doorpost of the house, as stated in the Torah. We should be very careful to fulfill this Mitzva properly as our sages have said that whoever has Tefilin on his head and his hand, and Tzitzis on his clothing, and a Mezuza on his door, it is assumed that he will not sin, because in the Mezuza, the Yichud of Hashem exists, and he will be afraid of him and not sin. And whoever fullfils this Mitzva properly will have his days lengthened, as stated in the Torah: “L’maan yirbu yemeichem veemei b’neichem”. From this we learn that whoever is neglectful with this Mitzva, will have his days shortened. And our sages say that because of not being careful with the Mitzva of Mezuza, the children of a person die at a young age. In addition, the whole house is protected through it as our sages have taught. Nevertheless, the reason for fulfilling this Mitzva should not be because of this protection. He should have in mind to fulfill this Mitzva just because Hashem commanded us to do so, just like all other Mitzvos, and the protection will come by itself.”

“The protection of the house through the Mezuza is an open miracle, because whoever lives in a house without a Mezuza is harmed, while whoever lives in a house with a Mezuza, is not.”

“Not only does Hashem reward a person with long life for him and his children, but the Mitzva itself protects the house, unlike all other Mitzvos that we know Hashem rewards us for, but from the Mitzvos themselves, a person does not benefit. However, the Mitzva of Mezuza is different, where the person benefits from the actual performance of the Mitzva. This is besides the reward which Hashem will give him for this Mitzva just like all other Mitzvos, according to his effort and toil.”

“Great is this Mitzva of Mezuza which even at the time that he is not involved in actually doing it, it still protects him. This is different than what is stated in the Gemara that a mitzva protects a person only at the time that he is actually fulfilling it. But the Mitzva of Mezuza is not so. It protects a person even while he sleeps.”

We plan in the future to explain the laws of Kevias Mezuza - placement of the Mezuza, in detail, B’ezras Hashem.