What is a Mezuzah?

mezuzah \ mə-ˈzu̇-zə \

The mezuzah is piece of parchment that is held in a decorative case that is often placed in the doorway of an entrance of a Jewish home or certain rooms in a Jewish home. ⁠

The parchment is inscribed with verses from Deuteronomy consisting of the Shema Y’israel - the Jewish prayer that reads, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." The Jewish letter shin (ש) engraved on each mezuzah stands for Shaddai, a Biblical name of God and also serves as an acronym Shomer Daltot Yisrael, "Guardian of Israel's doors."⁠

What is the purpose of a mezuzah? Many Jewish people view this as the fulfillment of the Biblical commandment in Deuteronomy 6:9 which says to "write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house." It is a reminder of faith. The tradition of hanging a mezuzah is widely practiced by both religious and secular Jewish people alike.⁠

Some Jewish people also believe the mezuzah keeps out evil.⁠

It is customary to kiss your fingers and then touch the mezuzah when passing through an adorned doorway out of respect for God and in place of reciting the Shema prayer.⁠