Mezuzahs

On the doorposts of many Jewish homes and businesses in Israel are narrow, rectangular containers. These are mezuzahs, amazing visual reminders of an ancient biblical commandment.

The word "mezuzah" means "doorpost." God commanded the children of Israel to post His commandments on the doorposts of their homes.

Inside each mezuzah is a tiny parchment scroll which begins, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4). The entire passage on the scroll is Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. 

When entering a house, an observant Jew will brush his or her hand across the mezuzah. Some mezuzahs are plain and inexpensive; others are beautifully ornamental, artistic, and expensive.

As seen in this photo, mezuzahs often have on them the Hebrew letter "shin," which is the first letter of the word Shaddai. 

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sites in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Deuteronomy 4:6-9