By Rabbi Dovid Bressman
Mezuzot can be ruined over time. One common problem found after a typical mezuzah inspection is faded connections within the letters or tagim. Things that ruin the validity of a mezuzah are letters touching each other, holes or cracks that form, and ink smears. Unfortunately a large number of Mezuzot are not written correctly from the outset. Needless to say, there are many forgeries and printed Mezuzot as well. Often serious halachic problems can be overlooked by an unprofessional, unordained Magiah (checker). Although in the past some Poskim[1] have allowed a commoner to check Mezuzot for oneself, today this is not the accepted practice, largely due to the great number of problems that can easily go unnoticed.[2] This possibility is reflected in this pithy saying: the mezuzah can be 99% kosher, and 100% passul (invalid).
The Obligation to Check Mezuzot
for Homes and Private Ownerships
Mezuzot placed on private property, according to the letter of the law need to be checked twice every seven years.[3] Even if one checked a few of one’s many Mezuzot and those were all found to be kosher, one still needs to check the rest that are up, because the condition of every place a mezuzah is mounted is not the same.[4]
Reasons for Checking Mezuzot
Mezuzot are checked periodically according to Halacha to ascertain whether they have not been damaged by water or some other external factor, or have not been stolen from their cases.[5] Perhaps the ink of a letter smeared[6] or the letters faded through time.[7] Therefore, if the Mezuzot are in a place that is exposed to harsh weather elements, then they should be checked more often than once every three and a half years.[8]
These Mezuzot were in a protective wrapping with casing and were still damaged and invalidated due to weather conditons.
Mezuzot that are of lower quality provide an additional reason to check them, for perhaps there are mistakes or other possible disqualifications; such problems can be detected by an expert Magiah. Our Sages teach us that one who checks their Mezuzot frequently and ensures that they are all always kosher will live long, be protected from bad spirits, and merit proper children.[9]
Custom to Check Mezuzot
During the Month of Elul and Every Twelve Months
Those that are scrupulous in mitzvah observance have their tefillin and Mezuzot checked once every year, during the month of Elul.[10]
According to an opinion brought in the Mechilta,[11] one should see to it that one’s tefillin and Mezuzot are checked every 12 months. The Lubavitcher Rebbe would quote this Mechilta and arouse people’s attention to checking their tefillin and Mezuzot periodically.[12] Therefore, according to this practice, one should check his tefillin and Mezuzot every 12 months, even if it is not specifically during the month of Elul.
Checking Mezuzot During Harsh or Difficult times
One of the ideas of mezuzah is protection. Therefore, when one is going through hard times, for example, illness,[13] enduring a robbery or infestation, etc., this is taken as a sign that one should check one’s Mezuzot.[14] See the footnote for a partial list of some other times in which people check their Mezuzot (and Tefillin).[15]
This article is an excerpt from the book that is soon to come out – Mezuzah: Divine Protection and Blessings.
[1] Chatam Sofer (Yoreh Deah 283) cited in the Pischei teshuva 291:3 and Mezuzot Melachim (Halacha Lemoshe 216).
[2] Virtually all Poskim starting from at least the last century required that the one who checks or writes (or works in any process for producing STa”M) should have a certificate of ordination to work in that field. See Kol Yakov 32:115; Shavet Halevi (Vol. 8 Orach Chayim 9 א).
[3] Yoma 11a; Rambam (Hilchot Mezuzah 5:9); Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 291:1).
[4] Pitchei Teshuva 291:1 quoting the Birkei Yosef.
[5] Rashi on Yoma ibid. One cannot claim that since the mezuzah scroll was not stolen, therefore only a G-d fearing individual needs to have the Mezuzot checked periodically. This claim is incorrect, for one can always worry that the scroll has been damaged, and therefore there is an obligation to check periodically (Shiurei Bracha, Yoreh Deah 291:1).
[6] Meiri on Yoma ibid.
[7] Rambam (Hilchot Mezuzah 5:9); Meiri (ibid): “Perhaps a letter was ripped or erased.”
[8] Aruch Hashulchan (Yoreh Deah 291:1).
[9] Yeshuot Chochma (Hilchot Mezuzah) in the name of Sefer Zechira (quoted in Chovat Hadar 1:8 footnote 35).
[10] Mateh Efraim 581:10; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:3.
[11] Shemot 13:10.
[12] Igrot Kodesh Vol. 8 (p. 198); ibid Vol. 18 (p. 359); ibid Vol. 11 (p. 248): One should check one’s Mezuzot, not because there is a definite suspicion, but to follow the opinion that is brought in the Mechilta “מימים ימימה- י”ב חודש” (from year to year- 12 months). (According to the text of the Rosh in the end of Hilchot Tefillin, the opinion that requires to check every 12 months is Beit Shamai; however, according to our text of the Mechilta and is also the text of Tosfot Menachos 43a, the opinion that requires checking every 12 months is Beit Hillel.)
The fact that the Mezuzot were kosher beforehand does not contradict the need to recheck one’s Mezuzot. The proof is from the need to check twice every seven years according to Jewish law. Sometimes the ink can break off or some water can get into the case and damage the parchment. When the matter is concerning health, one should be extra careful in these matters even out of doubt.
See also Sichot Kodesh 5734 Vol. 2 (p. 378): Despite that according to Jewish law Mezuzot of an individual need to be checked only twice every seven years, nonetheless, when one wants extra blessings from above it is better to have them checked every year. How much more so today, that in many places there are serious concerns on the kashrus of the Mezuzot. For there are many Mezuzot that are invalid and forged. Many Mezuzot are written on parchment that does not hold the ink well as it did in the times of the Talmud (probably referring to coated parchment).
[13] The word מזוזות is from the words זז מות (remove death) (Kitzur Shelah). It is an old custom that is in Torah that when one is not healthy one should have their Mezuzot inspected. Through this one will merit to live long and see their progeny in old age as it says (Devarim 11:21), “In order to prolong your days and days of your children…” (Mezuzot Melachim Ta’am Hatzvi 11).
[14] See Shu”t Maharil 94. One who is experiencing challenging times should check one’s Mezuzot and fix that which needs fixing. The Shivchei Rabeinu Ariza”l also writes, “one should have one’s Mezuzot checked in order to protect one’s family from ‘Ruchot ra’ot’ (evil spirits).” When one has rats in one’s house at night, one should immediately have one’s Mezuzot checked by an expert Sofer/Magiah (Kol Yakov 291:3).
In May 1974, there was a terrible terrorist attack in the northern town of Ma’alot, Israel. Twenty-one Jewish teenagers were brutally murdered in their school. The Lubavitcher Rebbe was informed by someone from Tzfat that the Mezuzot of the school were later checked and that the number of Mezuzot that were found to be passul (invalid) was also twenty-one, corresponding to the same as the number of students who were murdered at their school.
The Rebbe noted that earlier in the year he spoke about the importance of mezuzah (and started a mezuzah campaign) and he did not know why then he specifically chose to focus on mezuzah. He noted, it must have been Divine providence that he chose to push the mezuzah campaign wherein mezuzah represents protection as it clearly says in the Shema prayer. The Zohar further stresses that the mezuzah protects even when one is away from one’s home. The Rebbe urged all to be active in promoting the mezuzah campaign and noted that one who is worried that one will be labeled “too Lubavitch” in doing so; so then one need only follow what the Shema prayer clearly states in how the mezuzah offers protection.
See Sichot Kodesh 5734 Vol. 2 (Parshat Behar Bechukosai) (p. 124+). See also Sichot Kodesh Vol. 2 (p. 169-170) which reiterated these points.
Later the Rebbe explained (see Likkutei Sichot Vol. 13, p. 212) that G-d forbid to say that due to the lack of carefulness in mezuzah (and the other mitzvah campaigns) that this had caused these tragic calamities to come about. Nonetheless, in addition to the main point of fulfilling these mitzvot because they are Hashem’s Will, we need to do everything that we can in our abilities to spiritually armor ourselves.
The Rebbe explained that although Hashem is always a Protector of the Jewish people, nonetheless, the Mezuzah campaign (and similarly the other mitzvah campaigns of Tefillin, Torah study, Tzedaka, Sefarim, etc) should be regarded as a protective ‘metal helmet’. Just like when soldiers go into battle they need to wear protective helmets, so too in relation to mezuzah and the other above mentioned mitzvot that they offer extra protection. The fulfillment of these mitzvot brings added protection not only to the ones who perform them, but also adds protection for all of the Jews throughout the entire world. Nonetheless, every individual should not suffice with one’s own personal fulfillment of the mitzvot, rather everyone should make an effort that others too, should also fulfill them as well.
See also Sichot Kodesh 5736 Vol. 2 (Parshat Matot Masei) (p. 510) in regards to the plane that was hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda in 1976 and the hostages were miraculously rescued. The Rebbe said that it was discovered that the vast majority of those held ranson did not have kosher Mezuzot. The Rebbe again urged that everyone should have kosher Mezuzot on all of their doors and should be affixed correctly. By doing this, this will help in general protection both in and away from the home.
[15] The Lubavitcher Rebbe most often advised people to check their Mezuzot/Tefillin when they were going through difficult times. Additional advice was usually accompanied with this directive as well. The Igros Kodesh responses cited below is only a partial list. It is also worthy to mention that the Rebbe in many of these letters wrote that one should have one’s Mezuzot checked in these situations, if they were not already checked within the last 12 months.
Shalom Bayis: Igros Kodesh 4:1,294; 6:1,672; ibid: 1,672.
Infertility: Igros Kodesh 4:1,321; 7:2,117; 8:2,436.
Pregnancy and giving birth: Igros Kodesh 5:1,315; ibid: 1,321; ibid: 1,422; 6:1,626. On many occasions the Rebbe instructed people to check just the Mezuzot.
Shiduch for the children: Igros Kodesh 24:9, 208.
Children that went off the path of Torah and Mitzvot: Igros Kodesh 6:1,771; 15:5,758; 19:7,344.
Parnasah (livelihood): Igros Kodesh 11:3,764; 15:5,544.
Fear and Anxiety: Igros Kodesh 23:8,757; 25:9,571.
