A mezuzah brings with it the spirit of safe passage
from one place to another.
Mezuzah, which literally means “doorpost”, is a scroll on which is written the ancient “Sh’ma” prayer attesting to belief in God. Jews are commanded to affix a mezuzah to their doorposts, and each scroll is held in a case which is usually decorative in nature. While many think of the mezuzah as something only found on the outside door of a Jewish home, traditionally the mezuzah is fastened on the doorpost of nearly every inside room as well. The
mezuzot (plural) shown here are made for inside the home.
The first images below show mezuzot that I make with paper collage and wood. The artwork is made from handmade papers, with the Hebrew letter “shin” always visible. Shin is the first letter of the word “guardian” and the first letter of one of the names of God. The two-part wooden cases were designed by me and Carol Entin, an artist/scientist friend who produced them on a laser cutter. Each case is sanded, glued and painted before the artwork goes in. When the artwork is complete and glued in, the mezuzah is sealed for protection with varnish. Each is approximately 5" tall and has a slot in the back for the scroll.
The mezuzot are available at craft fairs (see events page on this website) and at Kolbo Fine Judaica Gallery, 437 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA. They can be ordered at www.kolbo.com.