Religious Services

Putting a Mezuza on doorposts of our home is an important - and easy - Mitzva to do. Having a Mezuza is the best way to protect your home, display your Jewish pride, fulfil the Mitzva from Hashem 

It works better than any sophisticated alarm system and is more effective than a guard dog. Mezuzah (plural: mezuzot) is an easy mitzvah to perform and may be the best way to protect yourself, your family, your home and all of your belongings.

On the reverse side of the mezuzah scroll is the Hebrew name of God, Shaddai. This name is an acronym for "Guardian of the Doors of Israel." (Shin, the first letter of this Name, often appears on the mezuzah case.)

It is a foundation of Judaism that the Almighty cares about us; He wants to give us long life and protection. And as in all relationships, the more we put into it, the more we get out of it. By declaring our loyalty to God and His precepts – i.e. by protecting the mezuzah and its ideals – God will protect us in turn. In fact, fulfilling this mitzvah carries God's promise of long life.

The mezuzah recalls the Exodus from Egypt, when the lamb's blood smeared on the doorpost "identified" the Jewish homes that God passed over during the plague of the first born.

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From that day forward, the mezuzah has always identified a home as being Jewish. Traveling throughout the world, one can often seek out fellow Jews by looking for a mezuzah on the door. In areas where Jews have been exiled (e.g. Eastern Europe and Middle East countries), many doorposts still bear the mark of a mezuzah removed.

The purpose of a mezuzah is to remind us every time we pass through a doorway that God is present. Having a mezuzah on each room means that as we move from one domain, one sphere of activity, to another, we renew our consciousness of God's presence and act in a way that sanctifies His Name.

It is proper to place your hand on the mezuzah when passing through the entranceway, and then kiss the hand to demonstrate a fondness for this important mitzvah.

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What is a Mezuzah?

Contrary to popular belief, the little rectangular box that you see on people's doorpost is not a mezuzah. That is merely a mezuzah case.

The mezuzah itself is a small scroll inscribed with two paragraphs of the Shema. These contain the themes of unity of God, our love for God, and the reward for mitzvot.

A "kosher" mezuzah is hand-written on genuine parchment, prepared from the skin of a kosher animal. A specially-trained scribe, known as a sofer, carefully writes the words using special black ink and a quill pen. Any mistakes or missing letters invalidates the entire parchment.

Since the laws of writing a mezuzah are complex, make sure that you purchase a mezuzah only from a very trustworthy source. A beautiful mezuzah case that contains a non-kosher scroll does not fulfill any mitzvah, and does not warrant the special divine protection.

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For more information about Mezuza, including how to install your own, and which rooms require a Mezuza,  read the full article above here.

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The Kollel is happy to assist all Jews in Jacksonville acquire and install a kosher Mezuza in their home. If you do not have a Mezuza in your home, we will give you a FREE kosher Mezuza to put on your front door. We'll help you understand the precise placement of the Mezuza, and the blessing one makes when installing one. We'll even come to your house and do it for you, if you prefer, at no charge. 

It is important to note that according to Jewish law, one should have a Kosher Mezuza on every doorway in their home, with only a few exceptions. The Kollel will can supply you with Kosher Mezuzas for other rooms in your home at a greatly reduced rate. 

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Fill out our simple form to request your FREE Mezuza today!

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