Mezuzah Madness
Last week, I finally got around to hanging the Mezuzahs around the house. We've only been living here 6 years, and we bought the Mezuzahs 4 years ago. So last week, the day before we were interviewed by a reporter for a Jewish Newspaper, Robert and I decided it was time to hang them.
The Hebrew word Mezuzah means "doorpost". In our tradition, it is placed on the doorframes except the bathrooms. It is a casing that contains a scroll with the words from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. They contain the words of the main prayer of Judaism. It is called the Shema. We do this because of the biblical commandment to write the words of the Shema upon the doorposts of our houses.
It is a symbol that we are a Jewish home.
Robert showed Gabriel the general practice of people to touch the Mezuzah with their hand then bring their hands to their face and kiss them out of respect for the words of God. They do it every time they enter a Jewish home. It is a cool practice. Gabriel has taken it up. He has also started yelling at me because I don't do it.
I'm using it as an opportunity to teach him religious tolerance and Judaism. Wish me luck. I'm trying to split hairs on what is a practice and what is required by God. I'm also trying to teach him that respect and deeds are the most important thing: not whether or not a person just does what everyone else is doing.
--Mom
