Custom to Check Mezuzos During the Month of Elul and Every Twelve Months

Rabbi Dovid Nissan Bressman

Custom to Check Mezuzos
During the Month of Elul and Every Twelve Months

Those that are scrupulous in mitzvah observance have their tefillin and mezuzos checked once every year, during the month of Elul.[1]

According to an opinion brought in the Mechilta,[2] one should see to it that one’s tefillin and mezuzos are checked every 12 months. The Lubavitcher Rebbe would quote this Mechilta and arouse people’s attention to checking their tefillin and mezuzos periodically.[3] Therefore, according to this practice, one should check one's tefillin and mezuzos every 12 months, even if it is not specifically during the month of Elul.

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[1] Mateh Efraim 581:10; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128:3.

[2] Shemos 13:10.

[3] Igros Kodesh Vol. 8 (p. 198); ibid Vol. 18 (p. 359); ibid Vol. 11 (p. 248): One should check one’s mezuzos, not because there is a definite suspicion, but to follow the opinion that is brought in the Mechilta "מימים ימימה- י"ב חודש"  (from year to year- 12 months). (According to the text of the Rosh in the end of Hilchos Tefillin, the opinion that requires to check every 12 months is Beis Shamai; however, according to our text of the Mechilta and is also the text of Tosfos Menachos 43a, the opinion that requires checking every 12 months is Beis Hillel.)

The fact that the mezuzos were kosher beforehand does not contradict the need to recheck one’s mezuzos. The proof is from the need to check twice every seven years according to Jewish law. Sometimes the ink can break off or some water can get into the case and damage the parchment. When the matter is concerning health, one should be extra careful in these matters even out of doubt.

See also Sichos Kodesh 5734 Vol. 2 (p. 378): Despite that according to Jewish law mezuzos of an individual need to be checked only twice every seven years, nonetheless, when one wants extra blessings from above it is better to have them checked every year. How much more so today, that in many places there are serious concerns on the kashrus of the mezuzos. For there are many mezuzos that are invalid and forged. Many mezuzos are written on parchment that does not hold the ink well as it did in the times of the Talmud (probably referring to coated parchment).