[muh-zoo
z-uh; Seph. Heb. muh-zoo-zah; Ashk. Heb. muh-zoo-zuh] 
[Seph. Heb. -zoo-zawt; Ashk. Heb. -zoo-zohs] ; English. -zu⋅zahs. Judaism. | a parchment scroll inscribed on one side with the Biblical passages Deut. 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and on the other side with the word Shaddai (a name applied to God), inserted in a small case or tube so that Shaddai is visible through an aperture in front, and attached by some Jews to the doorpost of the home. |
| me·zu·zah also me·zu·za (mə-zŏŏz'ə, -zōō-zä') n. pl. me·zu·zahs also me·zu·zas (-zŏŏz'əz) or me·zu·zot (-zōō-zôt') A small piece of parchment inscribed with the biblical passages Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 and marked with the word Shaddai, a name of the Almighty, that is rolled up in a container and affixed by many Jewish households to their door frames in conformity with Jewish law and as a sign of their faith. [Hebrew məzûzâ, doorpost, mezuzah; see ḏwḏ1 in Semitic roots.] |
mezuzah
small folded or rolled parchment inscribed by a qualified calligraphist with scriptural verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21) to remind Jews of their obligations toward God. The parchment is placed in a metal, wooden, or glass case so that the word Shaddai ("Almighty") can usually be seen on the back of the parchment. After a special blessing is recited, the mezuzah is firmly fixed to the main doorpost of the home (to the right as one enters). It is a custom with some Jews to kiss the mezuzah as they pass it. The wearing of a mezuzah on a chain around the neck is a practice of relatively recent origin
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