The Mezuzot in Our House

Traditional Jewish homes hang a mezuzah (plural mezuzot) on our doorposts.  A mezuzah is a holy scroll with excerpts from scripture, protected by a case.  There can be just one on the front door, or one on every door (except the bathroom!).  My family has one on every doorpost (mezuzot go on the right hand side of the room you are entering).  Here are pictures, and the stories that go with them.  I did forget to photograph the ones on the back porch, but you can enjoy these!

Naturally enough, I am starting this tour with my bedroom.  Over the years, I have used several mezuzah cases (this is my third), and my father moved them up the door for me as I got taller.  I remember how grown-up I felt when my father brought this one  home for me.  I don't remember exactly how long it's been hanging, but I would guess about eight to ten years.

And here is the one on the door of my younger brother's old bedroom.  He has since moved to the basement, which explains why this is still a childish case attached down low.

And here is the one on my parents' bedroom.  I adore that case; don't you think it looks so folk-artsy and unique?

Here is the mezuzah on my older brother's bedroom.  He too moved from case to case and up the doorpost over the years.  This is a bad angle for the picture.  Fortunately, we have a duplicate case elsewhere in the house, and I was able to get a much better picture of that one.

This is the mezuzah on the doorway between our front hall and our  living room.  I had to tell my brother to get out of the picture; he's behind the couch.

...And wrappinng around, coming from our living room into our dining room.  This case is gorgeous too, no?

Here is a case (dining room to kitchen) that I decorated in elementary or middle school (can't remember exactly).  The clay is formed over a two-part wooden form (you drive a nail through part A, then part B, then the wall, to hang it); the scene is meant to be evocative of Jerusalem.  Never having been there at the time, I did the best I could.

This is the mezuzah on the basement door.  I think this one is very pretty, too.

Front hall to den.  I'm pretty sure I picked this one out.

Front hall to kitchen, way up high.  I couldn't reach this one for several years after it was hung.

And the other tree: a much better picture.  This one hangs on our other den door, leading into the kitchen.

Kitchen to back hall.  I used to like to search for the Hebrew letter ש on this one. Traditionally mezuzah cases are supposed to have them, and on this one, it's hard to find.

Lastly, here is one made by my younger brother when he was much younger! The holy scroll, or klaf, goes inside that test tube thingy.

 

I hope you have enjoyed your tour of the doorposts in our Jewish home! I certainly enjoyed showing them to you!