For my second cultural artifact, I have chosen to do mezuzahs. I have put a picture below, they are pretty recognizable, even for non-Jewish people.
A part of the mezuzah has a handwritten scroll, called a klaf. It normally has the following torah verse (Deuteronomy 6:4–9). This passage is known as the Shema, which is one of the most important prayers in Judaism. The first line, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one,” declares the belief in one God. It also says to write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, which is where the tradition of the mezuzah comes from.
The Hebrew language on the klaf is very important. The text is written in biblical Hebrew, using a special script called “ktav Ashuri”. An especially trained scribe, called a sofer, writes the words by hand with black ink on parchment. Each letter must be formed perfectly according to Jewish law. If even one letter is messed up, the mezuzah is not considered kosher. I can imagine this takes so much work and practice for the sofer. The letters are not just symbols for sounds, but holy characters that carry spiritual meaning for the Jewish people.
Also written on the back of the klaf is the Hebrew word שדי, translated as “Shaddai.” This is one of the biblical names of God. It can also be an acronym for “Guardian of Israel’s doors.” The Hebrew letters themselves have meaning. The letter ש (shin) has three branches at the top, and it is often seen as representing strength or divine presence. Many mezuzah cases have the letter ש (shin) displayed on the outside to represent Shaddai. Another Hebrew phrase written on the back is "כוזו במוכסז כוזו." This phrase is the phrase “The Lord, our God, The Lord.” It uses a letter substitution system, where each letter is replaced with the next one in the Hebrew alphabet. Learning about this is absolutely crazy to me, and just really adds to the mystery of the ancient Hebrew language.
Around the scroll, there is a protective case. The mezuzah is put on the right side of a Jewish home, usually at a slight angle. The mezuzah represents God, a reminder of Jewish identity, and a symbol of protection. At first, its purpose was to remind people of God and their responsibilities, but in more modern Judaism, it is also seen as protecting a house from evil.
The word mezuzah translates to “doorpost” in English. The Hebrew root of the word relates to movement or shifting. This can be interpreted as the door that is fixed upon the post. The doorpost supports the door and allows it to move, symbolizing the transition between outside and inside. I find it interesting how the word translates. Not only does it represent where the mezuzah is physically. But it also implies the spiritual meaning of the mezuzah with closing a door towards evil or opening it up to God.
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