Hilchot Mezuzah
Learn with Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he teaches the halachot with regards to mezuzah and the mezuzah’s importance for a Jewish home.
Hilchot Mezuzah: Lesson
Hello Everyone,
My name is Stuart Fischman and I am writing to welcome you to this series of shiurim on Hilchot Mezuzah.
The mitzvah of mezuzah is deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the Jewish people. I think that we are all acquainted with people who insist on having mezuzot in their homes and workplaces even though they may be less than punctilious in their observance of other mitzvot. Even in the 14th century people thought that misfortunes of one sort or another were the result of their failure to observe this mitzvah:
שו”ת מהרי”ל סימן צד
שאלה מהח”ר אברהם נוימגין
אחלה פני מר] להאיר עיני בכמה ספיקות דאית לי בדיני מזוזה. חדא אי אית ביה משום יוהרא אם אקבע מזוזות בפתחי חצר וחדרוןא מאחר דלא נהיגי רובא דעלמא ולא נהגתיוב עד הנה. ועתה לבי נוקפי דשמא מחמת שלא הייתי זהיר באותה מצוה עברו עלי הרפתקי, ובדקתי מזוזות ביתי וקבעתי’ בשנוי בג’ ענינים. וסהדי במרומים דלא לטול השם איכווין רק לחבב המצות
The halachot of the mezuzah can be divided into two categories. There are the halachot of how it should be written and the halachot regarding its placement. In these shiurim we will study the second set of halachot since the first set can only be studied in a course in הלכות סת”ם.
My e-mail address is < fish9999@gmail.com> Please feel free to write to me with any questions or suggestions.
Hilchot Mezuzah: Lesson
Hello Everyone
In last week’s class we began the discussion of Hilchot Mezuzah by discussing what sort of structures require a mezuzah ( homes, commercial spaces and storerooms, to name a few ).
In this class we will begin a discussion of on which side of the doorway should the mezuzah be affixed. The discussion will center upon doorways that lead to enclosed courtyards (such as enclosed gardens or מרפסות). When asked about where to put the mezuzah, most people answer, “The mezuzah goes on the right side.” But we will see that while this is certainly true, there is no consensus as to the determination of “right.” Is the “right” side (in both senses- and please pardon this sad attempt at a pun) to the right of the person entering the garden from the house? Or perhaps is the “right” side to the right of the person entering the house from the garden?
This question has been discussed over the centuries and we will study it in this class.
Hilchot Mezuzah: Lesson
Hello Everyone,
Last week we began the discussion of where to put the mezuzot in our doorways. In this shiur we will continue the discussion. Last week’s discussion was a riff on the Led Zeppelin album “In Through the Out Door” inasmuch it dealt with determining how the Halacha determines which way is “in.”
In this shiur we will see how the Halacha ballances different factors that could determine “in.” The factors are, to name a few: foot traffic, primary usage and structural (how the door is fastened to the frame).
These questions are faced by most people when they move into their homes and there is no unanimity among the Poskim who answer these questions.
I would like to add one more point, The shiurim are very visual- in order to appreciate the subtleties of these halachot it is important to see the diagrams that I refer to as I discuss them.
I look forward to meeting with you either live or via the archives and if you have any questions or comments please write to me at <fish9999@gmail.com>
Stuart Fischman
Hilchot Mezuzah: Lesson
Hello Everyone,
This will be our final shiur on Hilchot Mezuzah. We have discussed what sort of rooms require a mezuzah and on which side of the doorway the mezuzah needs to be affixed.
In this shiur we will discuss what sort of doorway requires a mezuzah. Not all doorways require a mezuzah and not all contemporary doorways possess the characteristics of a doorway as described in the literature of Halacha.
I have posted the summary of Hilchot Mezuzah written by Rav Yakov Yeshaya Blau zt”l and published in the Siddur Minchat Yerushalayim . It is the finest summary of Hilchot Mezuzah that I have seen. I have also posted an outline of the shiur with photos to help anyone who cannot access the video .
I enjoyed studying Hilchot Mezuzah with you.
Stuart Fischman
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. Since 1989 he has been studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.