« My home is my castle » is not only an old English proverb, but a
simple truth, as old as mankind. It is man’s home where he actually
« lives, » where he is really himself.
Judaism, being the « teaching of life » (Torat Chaim) is a faith
not confined to synagogues. « The entire earth is full of His
glory. » [Isaiah 6:3]
Not only synagogues or other official places of worship, but man’s
home is the Jew’s sanctuary. « How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy
dwelling places, O Israel » — the non-Jewish Balaam was compelled to
admit.
The sanctity of the Jewish home is symbolized by the « Mezuzah, » a
small scroll affixed at the doorpost of every Jewish home, and in
every room therein.
It is a solemn reminder to all who go out and in, that the house is a
Jewish home, devoted to the ideals of the Scripture-passages appearing
on it. It is also a symbol of G-d’s watchful care over the house and
its dwellers. It reminds both dwellers and visitors of the house,
right at the entrance: This house is a sanctuary to the Almighty.
* * * * *
What does the « Mezuzoh » contain? It contains the two Biblical
passages in which mention is made of this Divine commandment: « Shema »
and « Vehaya » (Deut. 6:4-9, Deut. 11:13-21).
« Shema » declares the Unity of the One G-d, and our sacred, eternal
duty to serve Him, and only Him, and never to forsake our faithfulness
to Him.
« Vehaya » — expresses G-d’s assurance to us of compensation that
will follow our observance of the Torah’s precepts, and warns of
retribution for disobedience to them.
Both passages, as said, contain the Commandment (Mitzvah): « And thou
shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house and upon thy gates. »
Thus, it is already « the door post » of the Jewish house that testifies
to the effect that it is an entrance to a place where the Unity of G-d
is being proclaimed by every phase of every-day life taking place
within its walls.
And it is not only « upon the door post of thy house » that the Mezuzoh
has to be affixed. To be sure, it is « thy » house, the house of the
Jewish individual, the Jewish Family, in the first place; but Judaism
does not embrace only the life of the individual; it is not a « private
matter. » The Mezuzoh is not affixed only on doors of private houses;
it has to be affixed also « upon thy gates. » The affixing of the
Mezuzoh on gates leading to communal places, even on gates of cities
(where there are such), symbolizes the sovereignty of the Divine
commandments as outlined in « Shema, » also over the Jewish social and
communal life in all its aspects.
On the other hand, a Mezuzoh affixed – for example – at the entrance –
gate of a city, would not exempt each individual house within that
city from the duty of affixing a « Mezuzoh » of its own. The Jewish
Community is health and wholesome only if composed of spiritually
healthy and wholesome individuals and families.