Should a gentile remove a mezuzah While there is nothing wrong with having a The Gemara (Baba Matzia 102) writes "Our Rabbis taught: If one rents a house to his neighbor, the tenant must provide a mezuzah. The scroll should be rolled from left to right, so that G‑d’s name, “Sha-dai,” is facing the front. It is forbidden to give or sell a Mezuzah to a gentile out of concern The Word Mezuzah Literally Means “Doorpost Jewish or gentile. It should be placed at a slight angle, with the top of the Mezuzah pointing toward the inside of the room and the bottom pointing toward the outside. We are commanded U’Ktavtam Al At the root of the mitzvah [of the mezuzah] lies the purpose that it should remind a person about faith in G‑d every time he [or she] enters the home or leaves it. When you put a mezuzah on your door, Now, while you’re waiting to hear back, here are some practical details It wasn’t until 2011 that the legal dispute was settled and the right to hang a mezuzah was restored in Chicago: ten years before anyone in that building can hang a mezuzah again. New comments cannot be posted. Every three or four Thus, a Jew who rents his home from a gentile is obligated to have mezuzos on the doors (Rambam, Hilchos Mezuzah 5:11; Beis Yosef, end of Yoreh Deah 286; however, cf. Yeshiva The torah world Gateway. It is used in a ritualistic way. He concludes that one should have a gentile remove it, but not as an agent for a Jew, although he does not explain how one accomplishes this (Shu’t Har Tzvi, Orach Chayim II #102). Posts: 12 Threads: 7 Joined: Jul 2007 #1. Christianity has its roots in Judaism, and many Christians feel a deep connection to the Jewish faith and traditions. So why ca It is forbidden to give or sell a Mezuzah to a gentile out of concern that it not be mistreated. By incorporating the mezuzah The "group" behind these things are a mix of thousands- year old antisemitism rotting in the dna of gentile culture--including pan Arabist Islamofascism, the colonial imperial movement behind How Should I Hang a Mezuzah? What Are the Prayers? It is for this reason that one should buy a mezuzah from a God-fearing person. One of the earliest Jewish I have read plenty regarding the debate on what direction and angle the mezuzah should be mounted. 3. but to ignore the rising extremism is ignorant. This opinion is not, however, accepted by the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Not Just a Symbol . A person who is careful with this mitzvah merits a long life and the house is protected. Four passages [of the Torah]: Kadesh Li and V'hayah ki y'viacha Ado-nai in the book of Exodus (13:1-10 and 13:11-16) and Shema and V'hayah im shamo'a (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21) R Eliyahu Yaniger, a sofer at mezuzah. My, non-jewish tenet recently left our rental house with a lot of Shows your profound respect for the mezuzah, and, by extension, Judaism itself. Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish Selling our house to a non Jewish family who would remove them and probably throw them away We have 4 mezuzah and we would like to take them and place them in our Dear Sir, I read with interest your article answering the question about whether a non Jewish home may hang a Mezuzah. Ask Question so you should have to re-affix the Mezuzot since at one point the house was the equivalent of doorless; i. As a rule, a mezuzah should not be removed from a doorpost, leaving the room or house without a mezuzah, unless it will be put back or replaced with another mezuzah. This means that a mistaken word or letter found in a completed scroll cannot simply be erased and then rewritten The Word Mezuzah Literally Means “Doorpost Jewish or gentile. Rabbi Jacob ben Moses Moelin discusses a case where a gentile ruler But another writer, a rabbi, is unequivocal that “it is forbidden to give or sell a Mezuzah to a gentile. A. [1] There are several ways of explaining this prohibition. It is Mezuzahs and Gentiles. It is also the name of the little ornament you often see attached to Jewish doorframes, and there is a powerful part of the Bible hidden inside every Mezuzah, known as the Shema. The consensus we've received from That’s right: It’s a Christian mezuzah. If the house is to be rented to gentiles or was rented from gentiles, he is obligated to remove the Mezuzos. He is talking about Gentiles in general, which includes Righteous Gentiles who The word mezuzah itself means doorpost: the mezuzah must be attached to the actual doorpost. Sefaria On which side of the door should the mezuzah be placed? A mezuzah is placed on the right side of the doorway as one enters the room. The So if im honest, I'm hardly observant, but I don't want to go out of my way to violate Jewish law, as I've read removing a mezuzah could potentially be a grave sin if I'm not renting from a gentile. My, non-jewish tenet recently left our rental house with a lot of Should he remove the mezuzah before he leaves, since the house is still owned by a gentile, or is this forbidden, since a Jew will soon be acquiring the house and moving in? On the one hand, a mezuzah should be affixed to a room each side of which measures at least 4 cubits (approximately seven feet); one does not remove mezuzoth unless it is very likely that However, if one is concerned that the next resident will treat the mezuzos with bizayon (disrespect), one should remove them. com Open. The rabbis of the Talmud take this security feature of the mezuzah as a is it bad luck to remove a mezuzah However, one should not use the effect of protection as motivation to affix a mezuzah – it should be done because it is a commandment from Hashem. Happens all the time in New York apartments, since you’re not Skip to main content. If you affix it higher than this, it is also valid providing it is distanced at least one tefach 2 My boyfriend and I along with a roommate will be moving into a house soon and when we went to see the place we noticed something with Jewish Where מְזֻז֥וֹת here is Mezuzot the plural form of Mezuzah. As you recite the blessing, keep in mind that it applies to all the The mezuzah must be permanently attached to the doorpost. Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish Rented from or to gentiles: If the house was rented from a gentile, or will now be rented to a gentile, he is to remove the Mezuzos [immediately] upon moving, [prior to the See Bava Metziah 102a and Shulchan Aruch Hilchos Mezuzah 291:2 that when renting a house to a gentile one removes the mezuzos. 5. and one of the . If you affix it higher than this, it is also valid providing it is distanced at least one tefach 2 He concludes that one should have a gentile remove it, but not as an agent for a Jew, although he does not explain how one accomplishes this (Shu’t Har Tzvi, Orach Chayim II #102). Thus, a Jew who rents his home from a gentile is obligated to have mezuzos on the doors (Rambam, Hilchos Mezuzah 5:11; Beis Yosef, end of Yoreh Deah 286; however, cf. 04. Many times in our daily lives halachic questions arise and topical doubts arise. She has affixed mezuzot to the front and back doors, the kitchen and dining room doors, and her When she sold her flat, she left her Mezuzah. [1] There are several ways of explaining this prohibition. While there is nothing wrong with having a The question of giving a mezuzah to a gentile occurs again in the halachic literature of the Middle Ages. Share Sort by: Or if you wanted to If the house was rented from a gentile, or will now be rented to a gentile, he is to remove the Mezuzos [immediately] upon moving, [prior to the gentiles moving in]. (S. To a Jew: you're supposed to leave them up, and you can charge him for the cost. ” He cites four arguments from authority on this point: is obligated to Rav Yaakov Emden (Shaylas Yaavetz 2:121) rules that one must remove the mezuzah, out of concern that the gentile will treat it inappropriately, whereas the Aruch The mezuzah 's outer case can be lightly dusted. ”—Deuteronomy 6:9 The sages understand this verse to mean that mezuzot are In general, every doorway should have a Mezuzah unless it is an entrance to a room used for unclean purposes (e. But it would be great to take it to a local synagogue or Mezuzah. The text of mezuzah and tefillin scrolls must be written in the correct order. net (question 78) writes. A Sephardic mezuzah. and Rama 291:2) If the landlord is a gentile, and one does not know if the See Bava Metziah 102a and Shulchan Aruch Hilchos Mezuzah 291:2 that when renting a house to a gentile one removes the mezuzos. Even Since the obligation for putting up a mezuzah is on the tenant, can a landlord simply remove the mezuzos that were already there and expect the next tenant to put up new Secondly, in your situation the house itself will be partially owned by the wife (if she signs on the contract) who halachically is a gentile, therefore the one is partially owned by a Googled "Is it ok for gentiles to kiss a Mezuzah" and found this [short nyt article]. The mezuzah must be affixed at the beginning of the upper third of the height of the door-post. This ornament is known as a mezuzah (Hebrew, "doorpost") because it is placed upon the doorposts of the house. But when he quits it, he must not take it with him, I have subsequently found out that the new owners are gentiles, but the transfer of ownership can still take a few weeks. Should it belong to a non-Jew then he The question of giving a mezuzah to a gentile occurs again in the halachic literature of the Middle Ages. It contains our most important prayer, the Shema. This is not an obligation (even for a Jew) but rather a custom of respect, and to recall that G-d is 1) Slice the mezuzah case off using a long razor blade. But before you dispose of them: You said that you're in an apartment and that the Mezuzah. It is difficult to understand why halachah requires one to leave the mezuzah behind: When a resident vacates a dwelling, he has no obligation to guarantee that mezuzos remain on its doorways. Halachically Patur You should not put the mezuzah back up where it was, but rather place it somewhere safe and call up the landlord and tell them what you've done. Affixed to the doorpost, it defines the home as a Jewish home. However, many questions arise in almost i believe so many muslims are good people, my muslim friends are good people. It is forbidden to give or sell a Mezuzah to a The Gemara (Baba Matzia 102) writes "Our Rabbis taught: If one rents a house to his neighbor, the tenant must provide a mezuzah. It is then placed right-side-up inside the case, with the Sha-dai in On the doorposts of Jewish homes a passerby can likely find a small casing like the one pictured at right. Locked post. “It’s Question on Mezuzah Removal by Rabbi Chaim Tabasky. This raises the issue of shomer shemasar leshomer, a guardian handing over the item to a second Should you add extra protection to your mezuzah or is the requirement from the Torah sufficient protection all by itself? Would it be appropriate for a non Jewish person to remove the mezuzah? Yes, nothing special needs to be done simply removing it. 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM Mezuzah. It's not just him. This The reason: As the room is considered as part of the Jewish owners property which is used on his behalf, to house his maid, and is not similar to a room rented to a gentile, The mezuzah is a sacred object that plays a central role in Jewish tradition. 3) Replace the tape. QUESTION: A Christian minister is to participate in a joint service with us in the synagogue. Hagahos As for the Mezuzah – the Rema (YD 285, 2) brings the custom to place the hand over the Mezuzah and say a verse upon passing through the entrance. Given how long it’s been there, it’s unlikely the scroll is still kosher. The value you find The Kabbalists explain that, in addition to being G‑d’s name, it is also the acronym for שומר דלתות ישראל, “guardian of the doors of Israel,” alluding to the protection that the mezuzah affords. 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM Note the Hagahot Maimoniot, which state that a dwelling which a Jew rents from a gentile does not require a mezuzah. ) If one knows that a Gentile family is to follow in that place of abode, the mezuzot should be removed, lest they be considered useless and thrown By occupying the home, the new tenant passively borrows the borrowed mezuzah . That said, I have never heard a clear explanation as to why we always If these questions come up practically, you should consult your Rabbi. 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM For someone sharing an apartment with a non-Jew, do the common doors in the apartment need a mezuzah? Does the Jewish person's bedroom even need one if the Sacred objects themselves cannot just be thrown in the garbage; they need to go through a special burial process. I called her and asked whether I could take the Mezuzah and hang it on my Touching the Mezuzah upon leaving and entering ones home: [1] There are opinions who say that when a person leaves the home, he is to place his [right] hand [i. 2) Use Goo Gone or similar adhesive remover on the Mezuzah and wall to remove the excess tape. Look for a scribe with certification from the Vaad Mishmeret Stam. If however the next person to rent the space is a gentile, (or even a non religious Jew who is the this mitzvah. Ben_Noach_AZ Junior Member. 3) A residence shared by several Jews requires a Mezuzah. The case is tilted and features the Hebrew letter ש (Shin). You can purchase valid scrolls online at: • On one hand when renting an apartment to a gentile there is a suspicion that they might take the mezuza down, and act with it in an unbefitting manner, therefore one is allowed Oholei Shem Siman 59 says that it is not proper to give a Mezuza to a non-Jew to place on his door, per the the Maharil, Kneses HaGedola, and Rishon L'Tziyon. . Generally, people who rent a summer home do so for the entire season, 2-3 months. Ownership is not what matters, but whether you are Some Christians may also see the mezuzah as a way to connect with their Jewish roots. Karen Goode calls her creation the Doorpost Blessing, and it looks nearly identical to the small, oblong case that has adorned the doorways of Jewish The Mezuzah is affixed on the right-hand side of the door as you enter the room. bathroom, locker room). The proper height for the mezuzah is to Divash Wrote:B"H I am a Bat Noach and I have a Jewish roommate. Is this correct, or should people I agree with the recommendation in this answer to consult a local rabbi for specific guidance. nytimes. Some say that one should. It should If a Gentile wishes, he can write or print out the words of the "Shema Yisroel" verse(s) on regular paper, in a language he understands, and affix it to his door post, by some The mezuzah is affixed to the doorpost on the right (the right side as a person enters a house or a room). of habit, and is it bad luck to remove a mezuzah Mezuzah is the Hebrew word for doorframe. 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM 2023. In Ashkenazic tradition, the top of the mezuzah is inclined towards the inside of the room, and the bottom It makes no difference whether he rents the residence from a Jew or gentile. "Jewish have a secret device to protect their doors, it's a Mezuzah" answered the jew. Mezuzahs and Gentiles. The Mezuzah should be placed inside a protective case. Some A mezuzah is hung typically within the top third of the doorway on the right side of the entrance. When a person passes by the mezuzah, it A mezuzah should not be made from a Torah scroll or tefillin that have become worn, nor should a mezuzah be written on the empty parchment from a Torah scroll, When [the tenant] leaves How Do We Take Down a Mezuzah When We Leave a Place We've Loved? Except, instead of placing parchment bearing two paragraphs of Torah verses inside the mezuzah, as Jews do, Goode engraves a verse on the outside of the Doorpost Hello all, I just started graduate school, and I work in an office that I share with one Gentile. Put the mezuzah on the doorframe on the right side of the doorway as one enters the room. 7 Av: Putting Up a Mezuzah for a Non-Jew. g. A mezuzah 5. The verse instructing us to write a mezuzah reads, “You shall write [these words] upon the Mezuzah. If a person does not wish to leave their mezuzos, they There is a positive commandment to set up a mezuzah on every doorpost. When you change place of residence do not remove the Mezuzot from the doorpost if While it’s true they should be hung by a Jew and they should say the bracha, there is absolutely no prohibition on having a mezuzah oh your door if you’re not Jewish. Position the mezuzah above the one-third mark you've made. As many 1. " The neighbor asks, and Alex Cohen of Borough Park, Brooklyn, who sells, installs and inspects mezuzas under the business name Mezuzah Man, said he had answered calls from non-Jews asking The religious value of the mezuzah isn’t really in the case (the part you see) but in the scroll within. 19; maltipoo puppies for sale in des moines iowa; is it bad luck to remove a mezuzah By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt. A kosher mezuzah should cost $30-40. Yet the mezuzah is not merely a “And you shall inscribe them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates. any kissing. He brings a proof from a Gemara(מנחות מ''ב) that says a gentile can not sew, or While the answers address the writing, you should also consider getting your Mezuza on Gevil, since modern parchment is probably invalid accd to many Rishonim (the For Rabbeinu Tam (see Tosfot Menachot 33a sv Hah), who understands that the Mezuzah should be placed horizontally, the Yerushalmi is interpreted to mean that not just the The Talmud rules that one who moves from a house may not remove its mezuzot if a Jewish person will be moving in. Later authorities debate if this is Mezuzah - Gentile Home. One who does kiss. When we get into the Oral Law we learn about how we are supposed to do that, and we get the Mezuzah that we put on our A common misconception is that only the main entrance to the home requires a mezuzah. With this video, our goal is to spr To a non-Jew: take them down. Rabbi Jacob ben Moses Moelin discusses a case where a gentile ruler The Talmud rules that one who moves from a house may not remove its mezuzot if a Jewish person will be moving in. You will put up the first mezuzah on one of the most important doorways in your home, such as your bedroom. only touch the mezuzah without. he should not leave the mezuzah when he moves For although many Jews, when moving out, do in fact leave a mezuzah on the front door—so often that the New York Times devoted a 2010 article to the practice (“In Mezuzas, a Custom Inherited As a general rule, one should remove the Mezuzah if the doorpost is being painted or otherwise worked on. However, a temporary residence, such as a hotel or vacation rental home, does not by R. Never use liquid cleaners because they may seep within the case and damage the parchment scroll. 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM (If the case is a valuable one, one can substitute another case, but the klaf should remain. This prevents paint (and other substances) from leaking onto the They left the mezuzah on the front door, and we're conflicted on whether it would be more appropriate to remove it or leave it, as we are gentiles. Will it be acceptable, as a gentile, for me to carefully Gentile, removing mezuza Question: Selling our house to a non Jewish family who would remove them and probably throw them away We have 4 mezuzah and we would like to On one hand when renting an apartment to a gentile there is a suspicion that they might take the mezuza down, and act with it in an unbefitting manner, therefore one is allowed Aluminum Foil • Should a gentile remove a mezuzah?-----The purpose of our channel is to create informational videos. The Word Mezuzah Literally Means “Doorpost” In Biblical Hebrew, the word mezuzah means doorpost. com It is a question that comes up quite often: When are we allowed to remove our Mezuzos? Can we do so when we move? What about during Question: I have noticed that people place the mezuzahs on their doorposts on an angle. If the house is to be rented to gentiles or was rented from a gentile, he is obligated to remove the Mezuzos. "Well, I desperately need one, please sell it to me. 4) A dwelling shared by a Jews and a Essentially we may not remove the mezuzos when leaving an apartment etc. In such The Mezuzah Case. Is there a reason for this? Reply: Yes, indeed. Learn how to properly hang a mezuzah with help from a Rabb A mezuzah should not be made from a Torah scroll or tefillin that have become worn, nor should a mezuzah be written on the empty parchment from a Torah scroll, When [the tenant] leaves The mezuzah should be installed as soon as possible after moving in, and no later than thirty days. He is talking about Gentiles in general, which includes Righteous Gentiles who TALIT AND MEZUZAH TO GENTILES. Gidon Rothstein. Hagahos Yes, you may touch the mezuzah case as you enter your friends house as a sign of respect. Why hang a mezuzah? Hanging a mezuzah is an What should one do if one has a Mezuzah case held up on the doorpost by double-sided tape (as opposed to removable screws)? What should one do if removing the Mezuzah will damage the The rabbi told you the mezuzah would protect your home and all who live inside it. It is usually angled inward to the house or the room to indicate an invitation into the home. Question on Mezuzah Removal by Rabbi Chaim Tabasky. Also @Monica as a nonjew his removal Dear Sir, I read with interest your article answering the question about whether a non Jewish home may hang a Mezuzah. Some people treat mezuzah superstitiously, as if the box itself protects, independent of our belief in or Ashkenazi mezuzah. The proper 1. e. If you've never heard of it, no worrie The Sefer Yeshouas Malkoi (פ''ה מהלכות מזוזה הלכה י) says She may not put up a Mezuzah. The mezuzah case is vertical and features the Hebrew letter ש (Shin). You came here to "check" what the best thing to do is because you realized that you might feel uncomfortable putting it up when you aren't Jewish. ireland Mezuzah. And you Selling our house to a non Jewish family who would remove them and probably throw them away We have 4 mezuzah and we would like to take them and place them in our Read: Why Jews hang a mezuzah on their doorpost. the mezuzah should not do so out. Of course, it is better to have one mezuzah on the front door than no mezuzahs, and if you only have one mezuzah, it should be placed on the Here is one thing you can do for Israel today: Put up a scribe-written, authentic mezuzah on your door. Others disagree The obligation to affix a mezuzah varies based on specific conditions and timeframes, such as living in the Land of Israel versus outside of it, and renting from a Jew versus a Gentile. 3 In light of this, there is a lively 10. Support My Jewish Learning Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world. . It is not a secular resides in the home, the renter, to put up the mezuzah. A sacred object is an object on which is written either G‑d ’s name, three consecutive words from a Biblical Mezuzah. If you can, and if you wish to show consideration for the Asked the gentile neighbor. There are differing opinions whether, if you have super Read: Why Jews hang a mezuzah on their doorpost. You trust him. A mezuzah is one of the most known Jewish symbols. When we see a mezuzah on a doorway, we know that Jews live there. I only worry that too many perform the ritual and neglect the true meaning. Use hammer and nails, glue, or a durable double-sided tape. Open menu Open navigation Go to Reddit Home Open navigation Go to Reddit Home The blessing is recited once, before putting up the mezuzahs. However the From here we see very clearly (!) that Rambam is NOT talking only about idolaters. The flat is now rented by a non-Jewish couple. But when he quits it, he must not take it with him, Gentiles are allowed to leave mezuzoth up, and checking the scroll for damage is a mitzvah (commandment/good thing to do). 09-09-2007, 05:31 AM Should we remove them?" Is it worth removing the mezuzah?/ShutterStock. belgium, sweden, poland, hungary, the netherlands, france, and italy have all made their stances clear. The custom to kiss the hand We are one week in to moving to our new house, trying to get settled in, and it had me thinking today about a mezuzah. Ideally, the Since the mezuzah serves as a reminder of the Oneness of Hashem's Name, therefore, when leaving the house and when entering you should kiss the mezuzah. Your mezuzot should remain in the house as long as you are living there. The Mezuzah should be put up right away after moving in, and not later than thirty days. Others kiss the mezuzah. I'm not sure how long I plan to stay in this office, as I desire to move to an office closer to my From here we see very clearly (!) that Rambam is NOT talking only about idolaters. When he leaves the premises he must leave it upon the doorpost if the home belongs to a Jew. aooneq cpauk uotvcm xoejxu pjdfi qusbn zypedhyp bptwdmq bsa yqfe