Plastic Mezuzah Case – Efficient and Affordable!

Plastic Mezuzah Case: Is it the Ideal Solution for the Jewish Home?

What is a Mezuzah Anyway?

Before understanding what a plastic mezuzah case is, we need to understand what a mezuzah actually is. A mezuzah consists of a mezuzah scroll + a mezuzah case. The mezuzah case can be made of plastic or any other material that protects the mezuzah scroll and can be installed on the right side of the entrance. What is written in the mezuzah? That is, what is written on the mezuzah scroll? The essence of the mezuzah is a parchment scroll made from the skin of a kosher animal, on which a Sofer Stam (an expert scribe specializing in Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot) writes two special passages — “Shema Yisrael” and “Vehaya im shamoa” — in a special script called Stam script. This mezuzah scroll is rolled from the end to the beginning and placed inside an elongated box called the mezuzah case. Many choose a plastic mezuzah case because it is accessible, durable, inexpensive, and convenient. The plastic mezuzah case is not the main essence of the mezuzah, but rather it protects the mezuzah; it is its “home.” Essentially, it is a container that holds the main part of the mezuzah, which is the parchment scroll with the two passages “Shema Yisrael” and “Vehaya im shamoa,” and so forth. The great and mighty mitzvah of mezuzah, which is mentioned every day during the morning and evening Shema prayers, has been recited by Jews worldwide for thousands of years with the words, “and you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” And it is brought in the Talmud (Menachot 33b, Avodah Zara 11a) that Rabbi Hanina said: Come and see that the attribute of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not like the attribute of flesh and blood, where a king sits inside and his servants guard him outside, but the attribute of the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so; His servants sit inside and He guards them from outside, as it is said, “The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” And the Chatam Sofer explained in his responsa (Orach Chaim 136) that the commandment of the mezuzah is hinted at in this verse, because when one goes out and comes in the doorway, the Holy One, blessed be He, guards him, and He is like a shadow that accompanies a person as he walks, which is the meaning of the words “Your shadow at your right hand.” And it is brought in the Tikunei Zohar (Tikunah 18, page 25): “This is the secret of the mezuzah (this is the secret of the mezuzah) mentioned in the verse ‘And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house’ – mezuzah is written as ‘זז מות’ – ‘move death’,” thus the Zohar states. In other words, the commandment of the mezuzah has the power to move death away. And the Mordechai wrote in the name of Maharam: “And I am certain that every house properly fixed with a mezuzah, no harm can control it.” The Kesef Mishneh writes, “When the mezuzah is written according to its proper form, it covers the protection of the Holy One, blessed be He, over the house.” How do you place a plastic mezuzah? How do you install a plastic mezuzah? Many ask – how do you install a plastic mezuzah? The answer is that a plastic mezuzah case is installed like any other mezuzah case – on the right side of the doorway at the entrance to the room or house, at the upper third of the doorpost. Sephardim usually affix the mezuzah upright, while Ashkenazim and Moroccan Jews tend to tilt it slightly diagonally. And if someone installed the plastic mezuzah or any other type on the left side of the doorway – it is invalid (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah siman 285, se’if 2) and it must be removed from the left side and reaffixed on the right side. The mezuzah must be firmly attached to the right side of the doorway so that it does not fall, for example with nails or glue. Before affixing the mezuzah, one should recite the blessing: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.” Even if several mezuzot are affixed, only one blessing is recited for them all. It is necessary to study the laws to know in which room a mezuzah must be installed and in which it is exempt. Because only an entrance that has two mezuzot and a doorpost and faces a room measuring four cubits (192 cm) by four cubits requires a mezuzah. There are cases where the entrance is exempt, or where a mezuzah is required without a blessing when affixing it; therefore, if it is unclear, one should consult a rabbi or someone knowledgeable in halacha for each specific case. And you can seeat this linkwhich room requires a mezuzah and which is exempt. Mezuzah inspection – how often should a plastic mezuzah be checked? There is no difference between a plastic mezuzah case and one made of another material – all types of mezuzot in the home must be inspected at least every 3.5 years. A mezuzah fixed in a place belonging to many people, in a public location and not a private home, must be checked at least every 25 years. And even though it has been explained that mezuzot in the home must be checked only once every 3.5 years, some have the custom, out of piety, to inspect mezuzot every year during the month of Elul. And it is the custom of Israel that if there is some distress or illness in the home, God forbid, mezuzot are checked even if the 3.5 years have not passed. Important to know: All the protective virtues of the mezuzah exist only when the mezuzah is kosher according to halacha. Therefore, one should purchase the mezuzah from a reliable store whose owners are known to be God-fearing. One should also keep in mind that the mezuzah contains 713 letters, and each letter can have several forms that can disqualify it. If there is even one defective letter out of the 713, the mezuzah is invalid by law. How to maintain a mezuzah placed inside a plastic mezuzah case so it won’t become invalid? One must be careful that the mezuzah scroll does not become invalid or erased. Therefore, when painting the house near the mezuzot, whether it is a plastic mezuzah case or any other material, the mezuzot should be removed before painting so that the moisture from the paint does not damage the mezuzah. Also, when cleaning the doors, one should be careful not to clean near the mezuzah with water and cleaning agents, as this causes damage to the mezuzot and can invalidate them. In case there is a plastic or any other type of mezuzah case outside, the mezuzah scroll must be placed inside a plastic mezuzah case that is weather-resistant so that sun heat and rain will not harm the mezuzah scroll.

Advantages of a plastic mezuzah case

• Water resistance: Not afraid of weather conditions – neither rain nor snow!
• Easy maintenance: All you need is to wipe it with a cloth and you’re set.
• Low cost: Often, it is a cheaper alternative compared to wooden or metal solutions.
• Availability: This product is easy to find in many stores.

What disadvantages does a plastic mezuzah case have?

Despite all the advantages, there are also some disadvantages that cannot be ignored:

• Feel of quality: Sometimes, a plastic mezuzah case does not provide the same feeling of quality as wood or metal.
• Spiritual perception: Does the plastic succeed in conveying the spiritual intention we associate with natural materials?
• Weight and durability: It can be too light and not as solid as other alternatives.