What's inside a mezuzah? The scroll, the case, and how to buy a kosher one
Inside every kosher mezuzah is a small parchment scroll, called a klaf, handwritten by a trained scribe with two passages from the Torah. The decorative case only protects it. Below is what the scroll says, what makes it kosher, how to avoid printed copies, and how to match a scroll to your case.
What's inside a mezuzah?
A rolled parchment scroll with two passages from Deuteronomy: the Shema, 6:4-9, and a second passage, 11:13-21. A scribe writes them by hand in 22 lines. The scroll is the mezuzah. The case around it, however beautiful, is a cover.
Both passages include the instruction the custom comes from, to write these words "upon the doorposts of thy house, and upon thy gates." That is why the scroll goes on the doorpost and not somewhere else in the home.
Why so many cases carry the letter shin
On the back of the scroll the scribe writes one word, Shaddai, a name of God that is often read as an acronym for "Guardian of the doors of Israel." Many cases show its first letter, shin, on the front, and most of ours do too. See them in our shin letter collection.
What makes a mezuzah scroll kosher?
It has to be written by hand, by a qualified scribe, on parchment, with every letter complete and in the right order. A single missing or cracked letter makes the scroll invalid. A printed or photocopied scroll is not kosher, however good it looks.
- Handwritten by a sofer. A sofer is a scribe trained in the laws of writing Torah texts.
- On parchment. It is prepared from the skin of a kosher animal, not paper.
- Every letter whole. No letter can be missing, broken, or touching the one next to it.
- Checked over time. Ink fades and parchment cracks, so Jewish law asks for the scrolls in a home to be checked twice every seven years.
| Kosher scroll | Printed copy | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | A scribe, by hand | A printer |
| Material | Parchment | Paper or plastic |
| Counts as a mezuzah | Yes | No |
| Needs checking | Twice every seven years | No |
Some mezuzah sets come with a printed paper insert. It looks like a scroll, but it is decoration.
How do you buy a kosher mezuzah scroll?
Buy from a scribe or a Judaica store that can tell you who wrote the scroll and how it was checked. Pick the script your family uses and a length that fits your case, and ask your rabbi if you are not sure.
- Ask who wrote and checked it. Reputable sellers can name the scribe. Many scrolls are also checked a second time, by another expert or by software that compares every letter.
- Choose the script. Ashkenazi, Chassidic and Sephardi communities each use a slightly different style of lettering.
- Match the length to the case. Scrolls come in several lengths, so measure the inside of your case first. Ours hold a scroll up to 12 cm, or 4.7 inches.
- Budget for it. A good kosher scroll can cost about as much as the case itself. It is the part that matters.
Why our cases don't come with a scroll
Choosing a scroll is a personal decision, from the script to the scribe, and it can cost as much as the case. So we sell the case and leave the scroll to you and your rabbi. Every case we make fits a scroll up to 12 cm and mounts with two adhesive strips. Our guide to hanging a mezuzah shows where it goes.
Modern Mezuzah Case. Gold Shin Letter
$78.00 CAD
Modern Mezuzah Case. Silver Shin Letter
$75.00 CAD
Modern Mezuzah Case. Gold Shin Letter on Holographic Glitter
$75.00 CAD
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the printed scroll that came with my mezuzah?
It can stay in the case as decoration, but it does not count as a mezuzah. For the mitzvah you need a handwritten kosher scroll.
Do I need a scroll for every door?
Yes. Each doorway that needs a mezuzah needs its own kosher scroll. The case alone doesn't count.
Can I take my scrolls with me when I move?
Yes, unless the next residents are Jewish, in which case the custom is to leave them up. Have the scrolls checked before you put them up again.
How do I know if an old scroll is still kosher?
Take it to a scribe or a Judaica store that offers checking. They look for faded, cracked or touching letters, and some damage can be repaired.
What to remember
- The scroll is the mezuzah: two handwritten passages from Deuteronomy on parchment. The case protects it.
- Printed copies are decoration. Buy a handwritten scroll from a seller who can tell you who wrote and checked it.
- Measure your case before you buy a scroll. Ours take scrolls up to 12 cm.
