Mezuzah that Fell to the Ground

Rabbi Dovid Nissan Bressman

Mezuzah that Fell to the Ground

Concerning a mezuzah scroll that fell to the ground from one’s hand, one authority holds that one does not fast,[1] while another authority does.[2] Other authorities write that it is proper to give tzedaka in place of fasting.[3] If, however, the mezuzah fell to the ground while it was in its case, one need not even be stringent to fast; rather, it is proper to give some tzedaka, the value of a prutah (a very small value).[4]

If a Mezuzah fell from the doorpost to the floor, one should take it as a sign that it should be checked.[5] ‌If a mezuzah falls down on Shabbos, one should pick it up and put it in a safe place[6] until after Shabbos ends. Thereafter, one should immediately reaffix it (and preferably check it first). The mezuzah should not be handled for the remainder of the Shabbos since it is considered muktzah.[7]

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[1] Lev Chayim 131.

[2] Sharei Emes as quoted by the Mezuzos Melachim (Halacha Lemoshe 201).

[3] Maharsham 2:264; Be’er Moshe 3:9.

[4] Seemingly this is no more stringent than the rule of tefillin that fell to the ground while in their protective boxes where one need not fast as rules the Magen Avraham (44:5). The Mishna Berura 40:3 bringing this Magen Avraham later quotes from the Aliah Rabbah that one should however give the value of a ‘prutah’ to tzedaka if tefillin fell while in their case. Therefore it seems that it is proper to also give tzedaka if the mezuzah fell in its case.

[5] Shavet Hakehasi 1:275.

[6] Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 85:5 (in regard to Tefillin) - one should pick it up since it is a desecration for a holy object to be on the floor.

[7] Minchas Shabbos 88:37,38- since the mezuzah fell on Shabbos it is similar to the rule of doors that fell off a house on Shabbos that are considered muktzah (Magen Avraham 308:19; Shulchan Aruch Harav 308:35).

It seems even worse if the entire case fell together with the mezuzah scroll since it is currently not fit for any use (not even to read from while it is closed), therefore it is classified as muktzah since one is not allowed to reaffix it on Shabbos.

Differing opinions:

However, see the Be’er Moshe (8:72) which differs in this matter and holds that a mezuzah is not muktzah even if it fell on Shabbos. See the next footnote.