Mezuzah

A mezuzah is a piece of Jewish culture which can be found on the doorposts of most Jewish homes, and under some interpretation of Jewish law, a mezuzah should be placed on the doorpost of any room large enough to be considered a living space, apart from bathrooms. The placing of the mezuzah fulfills a specific Jewish mitzvah, a good deed under Jewish tradition, which is to "write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9) Within the decorative case is a piece of parchment called a klaf. Transcribed by a well-trained scribe, the klaf will contain the Torah portions Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21, which includes the Shema Yisrael, one of the most important prayers in Judaism.