Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mezuza on an angle and right side

Why is that the mezuzah’s are put up on an angle and on the right side of the door?

Placing the mezuza on an angle is actually an Ashkenaz custom, sefardim place the mezuza standing straight up. I placed your mezuzas on a slight angle because; a) your husband is Ashkenaz and b) all of your mezuzas are Ashkenaz script (sofrim call this ksav beis yosef).
The difference of custom is based on an argument between two of the rishonim (mid-evil Talmudic scholars) in interpereting a talmudic passage. Rashi holds a mezuza should be should stand straight up. Rabeinu Tam argued that a mezuza should be placed horizontally. The Rema 189:6( an ashkenaz halachik authority of the 16th century) writes that we can fulfill both opinions by placing the mezuza on a slant (so it is also standing and also laying down).

We place the mezuza on the right side of entry since the Torah uses the word ביתך "your house" concerning mezuzas, and the Talmud (Yoma 11) derives from the wording that the placing of the mezuzas need to be on the way you enter the door from the right side. As most move their right foot before their left foot to walk. A second reason is that many aspects in holiness we start from the right side first.

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