1. What Is a Mezuzah?

Hear O Israel: G‑d is our G‑d; G‑d is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Words we recite every morning and evening. Words that contain the primal statement of what it means to be a Jew.

Regarding these words, G‑d has commanded us, "And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of you home, and on your gates" (ibid., verse 9). Hence the mezuzah: a parchment scroll inscribed with the verses of the Shema and affixed to the right doorpost of every room in a Jewish home.

In addition to its role as a declaration and reminder of our faith, the mezuzah is also a symbol of G‑d's watchful care. The name of G‑d, Sha-dai, which appears on the reverse side of the parchment, is an acronym for the Hebrew words which mean "Guardian of the doorways of Israel." The placing of a mezuzah on the doors of a home or office protects the inhabitant--whether they are inside or out.