[net.religion.jewish] Kosher Mazuza?

liss@gramps.DEC (Frederick R. Liss DTN 237-3649) (08/15/85)

I had an interesting experience this past weekend that I would like to
share with everyone. But first let me give you a little background
information. As a child I had my Jewish education at an Orthodox Hebrew
school. Even though I became less and less observant as time went by,
the memories of growing up in a Jewish household in New York City,
during the 1950s with my parents and grand parents are always very dear
to me. I have recently married a woman from Iran. She does not think of
herself as Orthodox, however, she received a very strong Jewish
education and sense of tradition from her mother. 

We just moved to Worcester MA. I'm sure you have all heard of Worcester.
After all there are *four* Orthodox shuls, one Conservative shul, and
two Reformed "temples". After I bought my house in the West End (the
Jewish neighborhood) I shortly discovered that most of my neighbors were
Orthodox! 

Now, let me continue with my story. Last Saturday my family and I, took
a walk to the nearest Orthodox shul. After services a member of the
congregation, David, invited us to his house for Shabos lunch. Over
lunch I mentioned to David that I have several Mazuzos to hang. The
conversation went something like this. 

"Dave, I have several Mazuzos to put up. I don't know the brochos(sp).
Could you give me a hand?" 

"Of course. I'd be glad to. By the way, are the mazuzos kosher?" 

"Certainly. My mother bought them in Israel on her last trip." 

"Well, perhaps we should have the Rabbi look at them. Why don't you bring
them to shul Sunday morning. I am sure the Rabbi will be glad to let you
know." 

I don't have to tell you. They weren't kosher. 

I purchased a kosher mazuza from the shul. Then, Dave and I went back to
my house to hang the mazuza. We got out to the front door and Dave
exclaimed "I don't know if you say the blessing before, during, or after
you hang the mazuza." One call, by Dave, to the Rabbi and we got our
answer. 

This experience reminded me that I was away too long. I found the whole
situation very rewarding. Also, my wife and I have decided what shul we 
will eventually join.

By the way. I have one question. Exactly what makes a mazuza kosher?

			Regards,
				Fred
---
Frederick R. Liss        UUCP ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-gramps!liss
Digital Equipment Corp.	 ARPA	 liss%gramps.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
333 South St.    Shrewsbury MA, 01545	Mail Stop SHR1-4/D21

ccrdave@ucdavis.UUCP (Lord Kahless) (08/19/85)

> By the way. I have one question. Exactly what makes a mazuza kosher?
> Frederick R. Liss        UUCP ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-gramps!liss
> Digital Equipment Corp.	 ARPA	 liss%gramps.DEC@decwrl.ARPA


The scriptural quotes on the parchment scroll (klaf) must be hand written
by a proper scribe. I think you have to apply the same standards to the
parchment as to tefillin, i.e. that the parchment must be made of a
kosher animal.  It is regrettable that there are people who sell
improper or even printed mezuzahs.

The case is more or less irrelevant.  Simple plastic is good enough.
Money doesn't make it kosher.  Before the war in Europe, lots
of people drilled holes in the doorpost (mezuzah) and slipped the 
scrolls in there.

			ucbvax!ucdavis!vega!ccrdave

P.S.  You can't easily get good religious supplies in this area
either.  Could anybody out there possibly help me?!?!  Return e-mail
would be appreciated.  If there is enough response/ interest, I
will summarize and post a list of proper suppliers.

mis@mtunh.UUCP (Meyer Steinberg) (08/19/85)

A few things can render a Mazuza non-kosher.
The "paper" inside the mezuza must be made of real parchment,
usually made from deer skin.
The letters must be whole, not missing any parts of the letter.
Sometimes through age, heat and humidity, the ink of a letter cracks
and ruins the letter. Also when the parchment is rolled up to fit
inside the box, this can cause letters to crack and become partially
erased.
The letters must be hand written using certain natural inks (usully
made from tannic acid obtained form gall nuts).

A few suggestions when obtaining mazuzas:
The small ones usually don't last as long as the larger ones.
If you can get mazuzas that the parchment has not been dusted with
chalk or laquer, they will last longer.
Many parchments are dusted with chalk to make the writting easier, but
the chalk tends to crack under the folding of the parchment.
The uncoated mezuzas usually cost more.

	Meyer Steinberg

slerner@sesame.UUCP (Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner) (08/20/85)

> 
> By the way. I have one question. Exactly what makes a mazuza kosher?
> 
> 			Regards,
> 				Fred
> ---
> Frederick R. Liss        UUCP ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-gramps!liss

I will be brief:

1.  The ink has to be made from proper materials.
2.  The parchment must be from a kosher animal with proper sh'chita and
    preperation.
3.  They must be hand written.
4.  There are MANY detailed laws regarding the shapes of letters, non-merging
    of letters, cracks in letters, etc.
5.  If a correction needs to be made, there are limitations (can't scratch
    out G-d's Name)

Also, mezuzot, tephillin must be inspected every 3.5 yrs (some communities
hold every year, but this is stricter than the law).

The above is DEFINITELY not the opinion of Lotus Development Corp!


-- 
Opinions expressed are public domain, and do not belong to Lotus
Development Corp.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner

              {genrad|ihnp4|ima}!wjh12!talcott!sesame!slerner
                      {cbosgd|harvard}!talcott!sesame!slerner
                                slerner%sesame@harvard.ARPA 

meth@csd2.UUCP (Asher Meth) (08/20/85)

>The case is more or less irrelevant.  Simple plastic is good enough.
>Money doesn't make it kosher.  Before the war in Europe, lots
>of people drilled holes in the doorpost (mezuzah) and slipped the 
>scrolls in there.

In fact, in present day Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), I have seen many doorposts
with a "sunken in" mezuzah. I've even seen it thus in some places in NYC.

----------

A correction or my previous posting on this subject :
the source in the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, for these halachos is simanim
(sections) 285-291. These are preceded by the halachos of Sefer Torah, simanim
270-284.

Asher Meth ....... meth@nyu-csd2.arpa ....... allegra!cmcl2!csd2!meth

teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz) (08/20/85)

> 
> By the way. I have one question. Exactly what makes a mazuza kosher?
> 

	A mezuza must be written according to certain laws spelled out in
 the Shulchan Aruch ( Code of Jewish Law, ch. 34 [ or somewhere near there ]).
 ( oh, it's in Orach Chaim, the first of 4 sections ). These laws deal with
 the shapes of the letters as well a 
s how to write the words on the parchment.
 Any of a number of problems could arise. There could be a spelling error. Or
 a letter could not be formed properly ( the ink could have rubbed off, or it
 could have cracked ). Also, the words must be written in order. Once one letter is completed no corrections may be made to previous letters. These are but a
 few of the problems with mezuzas.

	When one goes to buy a mezuza one must be careful that the mezuza was
 handwritten and that it is legible. Many of the small mezuzas on the market
 are so small that the chance that all the letters are properly written is
 next to none. A good mezuza could run about $15- $20. Before buying a mezuza
 ask the person selling it to you if you can return it if it is found defective.


				Eliyahu Teitz.

de@moscom.UUCP (Dave Esan) (08/21/85)

> "Of course. I'd be glad to. By the way, are the mazuzos kosher?" 
> 
> "Certainly. My mother bought them in Israel on her last trip." 
> 
> "Well, perhaps we should have the Rabbi look at them. Why don't you bring
> them to shul Sunday morning. I am sure the Rabbi will be glad to let you
> know." 
> 
> I don't have to tell you. They weren't kosher. 


I too bought the klaf for a mezuza in Israel (in fact, I bought about twenty).
They had the mark of the Chief Rabbinate on the plastic bag they came in.  I
bought from a reputable dealer on a large street in Jerusalem.  I brought them
home and the sofer (scribe) told me they were all incorrect.  Not only that,
he showed me the errors (knowing that no one trusts someone who checks things
and then tries to sell you a replacement), and sure enough, every single one
was in error, even to a novice like myself.

Later, the Rabbi posted a notice that klaf from Israel was suspect because
of continuing scandal involving non-kosher klaf, and illegal use of the stamps
of the various rabbinates.

David Esan
(ritcv!moscom!de)

daver@hp-pcd.UUCP (daver) (08/23/85)

>A few things can render a Mazuza non-kosher.
>The "paper" inside the mezuza must be made of real parchment,
...
>The letters must be whole, not missing any parts of the letter.
...
>The letters must be hand written using certain natural inks (usully
>made from tannic acid obtained form gall nuts).

Why (what is the source of these rules?)

Dave Rabinowitz
hplabs!hp-pcd!daver

stanford@ssc-vax.UUCP (Stanford N Payzer) (08/23/85)

> 
> >The case is more or less irrelevant.  Simple plastic is good enough.
> >Money doesn't make it kosher.  Before the war in Europe, lots
> >of people drilled holes in the doorpost (mezuzah) and slipped the 
> >scrolls in there.
> 
> In fact, in present day Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), I have seen many doorposts
> with a "sunken in" mezuzah. I've even seen it thus in some places in NYC.

On a tour of Hebron in 1977 every doorpost I examined had a slot to hold the
scroll or a larger hole and/or patch where the slot would have been.
--

     "..Israeli authorities evicted jewish squatters from the Arab city of
     Hebron.."   ..from yesterday's morning radio news (local CBS and national
     NPR)
-- 
{allegra, cornell,decvax,ihnp4,tektronix,sdcvax,utcsrgv,largo,lento}! ==>
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