mezuzah

American  

[muh-zooz-uh, muh-zoo-zah, muh-zoo-zuh] / məˈzʊz ə, mə zuˈzɑ, məˈzʊ zə /

Or mezuza

noun

mezuzoth, plural mezuzot, plural mezuzos, plural mezuzahs plural

1. Judaism. a parchment scroll inscribed on one side with the Biblical passages Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and on the other side with the word Shaddai (a name applied to God), inserted in a small case or tube so that Shaddai is visible through an aperture in front, and attached by some Jews to the doorjambs of the home.

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mezuzah British  

/ məˈzʊzə, məˈzʊzə, -ˈzuː-, məzʊˈzɑ /

noun

1. a piece of parchment inscribed with biblical passages and fixed to the doorpost of the rooms of a Jewish house

2. a metal case for such a parchment, sometimes worn as an ornament

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mezuzahs
  plural
• mezuzos
  plural
• mezuzot
  plural
• mezuzoth
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mezuzah

First recorded in 1640–50; from Hebrew məzūzāh, literally, “doorjamb, doorpost”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mezuzah mezuzahs mezuzoth

"Every house in a Jewish town has a mezuzah on the door, which is like a little tube with a little Torah scroll inside and when you come through, you touch it."

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2025

Yet, a broken clock is right at least twice, as the saying goes; for example, many doors have a mezuzah on them, and, miraculously, no one seems to have to explain it.

From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2022

Mr. Hatch was also remembered by Jewish media for writing a Hanukkah song — and for wearing a mezuzah around his neck and staunchly supporting Israel.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 25, 2022

As she reached for the goods -- a mezuzah, a hanukiah -- Mishulovin wrapped tefillin around her husband's wrist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2016

We kiss the mezuzah that is on the doorpost, not hidden, and we enter their house, where we are greeted by my mother’s sister and brother—Tía Mazal and Tío Yehuda.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Many Jews have removed mezuzahs - the small Torah scrolls - from their doorposts, or they have covered them with duct tape out of fear of reprisal.

From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2024

Rosenthal has also removed mezuzahs from her property.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2023

There’s been talk of blending in better: covering skullcaps in public and perhaps hiding mezuzahs, the traditional symbol on doorposts of Jewish homes.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 25, 2023

The Conference of European Rabbis has advised people not to kiss the Torah scroll, and Israel’s chief rabbi has said people should not touch or kiss mezuzahs affixed to door frames.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 14, 2020

We did not have mezuzahs in the doorways.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Neither do I parade mezuzoth on my doors.

From St. Elmo by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)

One is reminded of the mezuzoth, the metallic or wooden cases, attached to the doorposts of their houses by the Jews, and which originally served a similar purpose.

From The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria by Jastrow, Morris