Mezuza - part 2

Richard B. Aiken

Placement

Right Side of Doorway

Attach a mezuza to the right side of the doorway as you follow the main traffic through the house. If there is one continuous path to go further into the house, place all of the mezuzot on the right side as you go further into the house.

Balcony

Place a balcony door mezuza on the right side of the doorway as you enter the house from the balcony, if the balcony has an outside entrance. If the balcony does not have an outside entrance, put the mezuza on the right side as you exit the house.

Note: If the balcony has a roof, you may be able to put it on the right side as you go out. Consult a rabbi.

Door Frame

Place the mezuza outside the door but within the door frame. If not possible, you may place the mezuza inside the door frame.

Note: You may recess a mezuza into the door frame.

Note: If the door frame is wider than 4” (10 cm), place the mezuza toward the outer edge of the frame, not centered in the middle.

Note: You may attach a mezuza to a piece of wood that extends the doorway.

Height

Place the mezuza at shoulder height for the average person. Leave at least one tefach (4”, or 10 cm) between mezuza and lintel.

If possible, affix a mezuza just above where the top 1/3 of the doorpost meets the middle 1/3.

Note: This rule is superseded by the rule that the mezuza must be near shoulder height.

Angle

Place the mezuza on a 45-degree angle from the vertical, with the top of the mezuza toward the inside of the main room. If you cannot, any angle toward the entrance is OK.

When To Affix

In Eretz Yisrael

In Eretz Yisrael, whether you buy or rent, you must affix mezuzot immediately upon moving in.

Outside Eretz Yisrael: Buying (or Renting for More Than 30 Days)

Outside of Eretz Yisrael, you must affix a mezuza immediately once you begin "living" in your house--determined by the first time you eat or sleep in the house. If you buy a house but do not move in immediately (for any reason--repairs, you are still in your previous house, etc.), you should affix a mezuza but do not say the blessing. Then, when you do move in, remove the mezuza and re-affix it and say the blessing.

You need not affix a mezuza if you will be renting for less than 30 days, and you may delay putting up a mezuza until the 30th day if you will be renting longer than that. Here are the types of rentals that will require a mezuza by the 30th day:

A home,
An apartment, or
Other accommodation--such as a camper, trailer, recreational vehicle (RV), etc.--in which you will live at some time.

Note: If you are renting a vehicle/trailer that you will live in but might not keep it for 30 days, put on mezuzas as needed immediately but do not say a blessing (this is the same for in Eretz Yisrael or outside). Then, even if you keep it for more than 30 days, do not do anything additional (don't remove them and replace; don't say a blessing).

If you live in a vehicle for more than 30 days, you must affix mezuzas next to each of the doors.

Outside Eretz Yisrael: Renting for Fewer Than 30 Days

Outside of Eretz Yisrael, you do not need to affix a mezuza (even without a blessing) to an apartment, house, or other accommodation that you rent for less than 30 days.

Determining 30-Day Mezuza-Affixing Period

If you are living in a rented house, apartment, RV, etc., and remove all of your possessions used for living (such as clothing, bedding, and toiletries) at some time before 30 days have elapsed, the place is not considered to be your domicile. You restart counting the 30 days from the day you move the personal items back inside.

Situation: You rent a vehicle for 30 or more days but live and sleep there only five days a week (and remove all your personal items to spend Fridays and Shabbats with a family or in a hotel)

What to Do: You will not be considered to be living there; you must affix a mezuza only if you leave some personal effects in the vehicle continuously for at least 30 days.

Blessing

When you attach a mezuza to the correct doorpost, affix it at the bottom first and then say the blessing likbo'a mezuza.

Note: Do not say the blessing if there is no door in the doorway

Blessing If Mezuza Falls Off

Say the blessing again when you replace a mezuza that falls off.

Blessing If You Removed Mezuza

Don't say a new blessing when you replace a mezuza that you took off (for example, to have it checked).

Kissing: Custom

Kissing a mezuza (and tefilin) is not halacha but rather a custom to show our love for those mitzvot.

Which To Kiss

If your custom is to kiss mezuzot, only kiss them when entering or leaving a house. Do not kiss the mezuzot on the interior room doorways.

Checking: How Often

Have your mezuzot checked twice every seven years.

Bedroom

You may not be naked or have intercourse in a room with a mezuza inside the room, unless:

There is a wall or divider within 10.5 inches of the ground and at least 40 inches tall between yourself and the mezuza, or
The mezuza is covered by two layers (kis b'toch kis) of paper or other material.

Note: This is true even if the couple is covered, as is the proper practice, and even if they are more than 4 amot/7 feet away, since the entire room is considered to be one domain.

Removal: Do Not Remove When...

Do not remove your mezuzot if you:

Leave your house, even for a long period such as a year.
Sell your house to a Jew.

Mezuza - part 2

Next In This Series

Other Halacha Series