Mezuzot

 A bonus post, in honor of starting the blog, because I couldn't decide on one post for today:

In a Jewish home, it is traditional to hang a mezuzah on our front doorpost, and some people do all doorposts.  I am working on doing my entire apartment; so far I have the outer door (to a hallway, not the outside, or this style wouldn't work) and both bedrooms.  It was important to me to do the bedrooms after the outer door but before anything else inside, as I want anybody sleeping in my home "protected" by a  mezuzah.

So what is a mezuzah? The important part, the ritual bit, is the scroll inside.  On this parchment scroll, written by hand by a scribe, is the Shema prayer: "Hear O Israel, the LORD is God, the LORD is One," and the paragraphs after, about loving God and obedience to God.  It is traditional to reach up, touch the mezuzah, and kiss one's fingers when entering or exiting a room.

The case can be many different styles/materials.  I am a bit of a design snob, for all my Judaica; I collect works by designer Yair Emanuel.  My favorite mezuzah cases are painted wood by this designer.  Pictures of mine below:

Here is my front door.  This one hung on the door of my old apartment, a studio which only required one mezuzah.  This was my "original."

And this is my second, on the door to my bedroom! I normally do not go for Jerusalem themes among my Judaica; but for this mezuzah, I made an exception.  I love the soft, pastel colors here.

And finally, on the door to my guest room! This is actually not the case I picked out; I had chosen a "seven species" (of Israel) theme.  But I didn't catch the mistake till this was already hanging; and it is pretty, nonetheless.