THE MEZUZAH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 7 April 1892, Page 40

THE MEZUZAH.

A VENERABLE HEBREW CUSTOM.

One of the first things that struck my notice in the Jews' quarter in London was the reverence bestowed upon a loDg narrow piece of metal nailed up to the doorpost of every house inhabited by Jews. Each person going in or out touched a certain ppot on it with his finger and thtn raised it to his lip«.

This was the Mezuzih, derived from the command in Deuteronomy, "And ihou shale write them upon Ihe posts of thy house and on thy gates." It is the duty of the master of every Jewish house to fix the Mezuzah to his door-post and to repeat while doing this, " Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has scantified us with thy precepts and commanded us to fix a Mezuzah."

The scroll of the Mezuzah is a square piece of parchment on which are written the words of Deur. vi. 4—9, xi 13—21, and muat not exceed 21 line?. The scroll is then rolled together and enclosed in a case of metal, the only word seen from the outside being " Shaddai," the Almighty, and it is this word that is reverently touched or kissed as the Jew enters or leaves the house.

On changing his residence a Jew may not remove the Mezuzah except a Gentile be his successor — in this case it is taken down and examined, and should it be in any degree injured it is placed in a che3t provided in every synagogue for tho reception of worn manuscripts and rolls of the Law, as nothing which has the name of God inscribed on it may bo destroyed.— Mrs Bebwkb, in Sunday at Home.