How to Hang Your Mezuzah
Click to see Gallery Judaica's entire mezuzah section
Once you have purchased your new mezuzah, you are ready to dedicate your home in the hanging ceremony called Hanukat Ha'Bayit. Although a mezuzah is primarily displayed at the front door, it is appropriate for almost every room of the house.
How the Mezuzah is Prepared and Hung:
The scroll must be rolled up and placed inside the Mezuzah cover. Place the parchment in your hand with the prayer facing up. Roll it, with the prayer on the inside, from left to right. Once rolled, the Hebrew word Shaddai should be visible on the outside.
Insert the rolled parchment into the cover so that the word Shaddai " 
" is behind the Shin "
".
The mezuzah is fastened on the outside of the door post and usually on the right hand side as one enters. It should be within the upper third of the doorway, and hung diagonally with the top of the case leaning into the house. The bottom leans toward the outside. It can also be fastened vertically if the door post is not wide enough.
The following prayer is recited while hanging the mezuzah:
Baruch Ata A-do-nai E-lo-hey-nu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitz-votav v'tzi-vanu lik-bo-ah mezuza.
Praised be Thou O Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who teaches us holiness through commandments and instructs us to perform the mitzvah of attaching the mezuzah.
The second blessing is the Shahecheyanu:
Baruch Ata A-do-nai E-lo-hey-nu Melech ha-olam, she-he-chee-yanu v'ki-y'manu v'higi-yanu laz'man ha-zeh.
Praised be Thou O Lord our God, Who has granted us life, sustained and permitted us to reach this time.
Congratulations on hanging your new mezuzah!
Interesting Facts
- The content of the mezuzah scroll reads as follows:
"Shema Yisrael A-do-nai E-lo-hey-nu A-do-nai Echad."
Hear O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One. Love God your Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words which I am commanding you today must remain on your heart. Teach them to your children and speak of them when you are at home, when traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind [these words] as a sign on your hand, and let them be an emblem in the center of your head. [Also] write them on [parchments affixed to] the doorposts of your houses and gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
If you are careful to pay heed to my commandments, which I am prescribing to you today, and if you love God your Lord with all your heart and soul, [then God has made this promise]: 'I will grant the fall and spring rains in your land at their proper time, so that you will have an ample harvest of grain, oil and wine. I will grant forage in your fields for your animals, and you will eat and be satisfied.' Be careful that your heart not be tempted to go astray and worship other gods, bowing down to them. God's anger will then be directed against you, and He will lock up the skies so that there will not be any rain. The land will not give forth its crops, and you will rapidly vanish from the good land that God is giving you. Place these words of mine on your heart and soul. Bind them as a sign on your arm, and let them be an insignia in the center of your head. Teach your children to speak of them, when you are at home, when traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [Also] write them on [parchments affixed to] the doorposts of your houses and gates. [If you do this,] you and your children will long endure on the land that God swore to your ancestors, [promising that] He would give it to them as long as the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:13-21
The above text was acquired at Wikipedia's (www.wikipedia.org) mezuzah article.
- The mezuzah is actually the parchment within the case, not the decorative tube mounted upon the door post. The laws that apply to the writing of the Torah also apply to the writing of a mezuzah -- a scribe uses a kosher quill and black ink prepared from vegetable ingredients and hand-writes the passage on parchment.
- When entering the house, it is customary to kiss our finger tips and touch the mezuzah. The mezuzah is usually hung on the right side of the door because most people are right-handed. It is customary to recite, "May G-d protect my going and coming in, now and forever."
- Shaddai, one of the oldest Hebrew words for G-d, is often considered an acronym for "Shomner Daltot Yisrael" -- Protector of the Doors of Israel.
- The Shehecheyanu is a blessing for performing a new ceremony.
Hang Your Mezuzah. How To Hang A Jewish Mezuzah