Some time later, the professor again visited the student, for a class gathering. But when she approached the apartment, she did not see the mezuzah
14 Comments Posted
Beautiful example of a visible Mitzvah and showing ones Jewish Heritage....A Light for ohers to see.....
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I just had put up my myzuzah when I read this story. I have been reluctant to put it up, as I am concerned it might target me for mischief makers in the neighborhood. This story moved me greatly. Thanks.
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I can relate. When I moved into my own appartment, I was proud to buy my own Mezuzah. But when it came time to hang it up, I was suddenly nervious. I hung it up any ways, because I knew it was right. I am glad i did!!!!!!
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When I lived in Florida we were preparing for one of those terrible named storms. All my neighbors were boarding up their homes. I sat our on my front lawn doing nothing. They all came over to me and asked if I needed help to board up my home and I said my home is protected by the greatest power in the universe and I had nothing to worry about. After the storm as my neighbors were assessing their damage they noticed my home was untouched. They were amazed. They asked how I did that that. I explained the mitzvah of the mezuzah and how it protects the house. I lived in that house for 20 years from 1985 till 2005 and never had a scratch on it.
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This is the first week of doing business in our new location. I think there's like 5 Jews in our town. I have hesitated to put up a mezuzah on our front door because of business relationships with lovely people, who some happen to be anti-semitic. I have a special mezuzah given to me by my Hebrew teacher on my Bat Mitzvah (at age 50!) and decided to put it on MY office door...and was even thinking of putting it INSIDE my office door, so as not to disturb my Christain employees.
I was reading the Chabad page for this week's Parshah which reminds us of the Big Ten, the Shema, tefillin and mezuzot. I clicked on the word 'mezuzot', thinking it would link me to the prayer (it's been a few years since I needed to post one of these, and I want to do it properly). Instead, I find this story. WOW. I am inspired. My special mezuzah is going in it's correct location on my office door. We'll buy a new one for the front door.
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This is a very moving story. Thanks for sharing it.
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In my last year of college, I shared a house with four other friends. I also was becoming observant that year. I put up mezuzas on the front and back doors and on my room. When I moved, I was told I shouldn't take them down as one of my housemates was Jewish and had no plans to replace them. I reluctantly left them behind - reluctant, not only because of the expense, but I was afraid they'd be thrown out when the girls moved out. I always wondered what happened to them, but feel a bit more secure that they were well taken care of by somebody after reading your article.
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When I moved into this house over ten yers ago, I put mezuzot on the outside doors, on the doors of the attached garage, and on every door in the house (except the bathroom). Recently I had my mezuzot checked and to my dismay learned that six of them were not genuine parchment. So I got new ones, and also used a couple of new (larger) cases.
I really love the way the mezuzot are now arranged in my home, and it is good to know for sure that every one of them is now kosher. Whenever I enter any room it is an opportunity to say "I love you" to GD by touching my fingers to the doorpost and to my lips.
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My wife & I, on our return from Israel years ago, lived in a "less than desirable" neighborhood. We had klaf/parchment on all the doors. One day we noticed the klaf on the front door was missing. My wife, in casual conversation, mentioned this to our landlady, not a Jew and, I suspect, ignorant of Jewish ways. Within a week we had a new mezuzah - it wasn't kosher klaf but the woman tried to make good. We kept the case and bought new klaf.
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`I am not a Jew but a christian but have a heart to learn of the Jewish traditions in the Torah and how it relates to everyday life. This was such a touching story! It is amazing how a little piece of metal with some paper with G-D's words on it has such heart felt meaning! Pointing to our Almighty G-D, this reminds me to always have the doorposts of my OWN heart baring the Words of Eternity! I know the holocaust and the murders of so many families, have doused hearts' passion for a G-D that would allow such atrocities and devotion and trust in Him would be at risk to be 'betrayed' again, but there are many people who would like to know of the hope in you and your people in these varied traditions. They seem to me, to have such deep meaning even for me, a seeker and lover of the same Abba as you! Seeing such outward signs of faith is needed in this 'politically correct' age especially when it comes to religion. I would like the opportunity to ask of such thing of such a one some day.
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Two years ago I moved into a new apartment in a city where I had never before lived and where I was a total stranger. I hung my mezuzah on my door leading into my apartment from the common hallway. I could not help but wonder if my non Jewish neighbors might have a negative reaction.
A couple of days later I was stopped in the street by a total stranger. He told me he lived on the same floor where I lived. The gentleman went to say that he was not a Jew but thank me for putting up the mezuzah (no he did not know the word but did know it had something to do with Judaism). He then thanked me for hanging it saying that for some reason seeing it made him feel good.
I'm not sure what the moral of this is but every time I think about it I "feel good"
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Yesterday I opened a drawer and saw before me a mezzuzah, one of many that I have, and one that was not affixed. When I arrived here, I went to Kolbo, a wonderful store for Judaica and looked and saw beautiful mezzuzahs, but the right one did not "call to me", but one did, on line, and that one I purchased. It is Israeli too and I loved it, right away. So I "knew".
I read all that is written here, and I think it's all clear, about the right thing in terms of hanging and sanctifying a mezzuzah.
For me, it's a bit how it is being me, and I love, with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might, and for me, this is the commandment, and how I affix this mezzuzah is entirely about how affix myself to the Divine, and so in so doing, it is a bond, but a really personal bond. I do it, as everything, for LOVE.
I will never forget the phone call, just before I put up this mezzuzah and it is a story about cancer, and a dearly beloved man, who is still alive, a story that is amazing.
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Let's remember that it's what's inside that counts (the klaf) and while the biet (cover) enhances the mitzvah, it is basically protection for the klaf. In some places, a niche was dug out of the mezuzah (door post/frame) and the klaf inserted and sealed over. Not fancy, but effective (for the climate). We should keep the mezuzah and klaf in mind when we foolishly judge people - are we judging the biet (externals) or the klaf (the heart and soul) of the person?
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I am not sure if anonymous was commenting to me, but I do believe that art, this creative act, done with love, is also about G_d, so I disagree. There are so many beautiful works of art that are Jewish, such as menorahs, tzedakah boxes, calligraphy, paintings...the list is endless.
I want to support these wonderful artists and their work, and this too, is part of what we term tzedaka. If we don't they don't feel valued, and what they are doing is beautiful and should be honored. It's about love.
Of course the meaning of the mezzuzah, the personal meaning, that connect, is what is the reason for this, and any mezuzah that appeals to its owner, rich or poor, is equal.
Heart and soul is a difficult thing for anyone to judge, and I do not judge people based on what they own, or even, if they have a mezzuzah, because for me, it's what's inside, that humanity, that pulse, those acts of love that count, and not externals.
Klaf and the French word Clef, meaning KEY are close. Love is key.
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