| These Mezuzahs were in a house that had a fire, as you can see these Mezuzahs were all damaged. Unfortunately the Mezuzahs on the doors closest to the area where the fire broke out were consumed in the flames. The one on the right was the first Mezuzah I found within close proximity to the area where the fire broke out, As you can see it has begun to melt and had extensive damage and had to be put in Sheimos, The one in the middle which was a bit further away the case has begun to warp slightly and the Mezuzah only had minor damage. The one on the left was even further and was only covered in soot. and aside from smelling like smoke there was little to no damage discovered due to the smoke. Unfortunately fire proof Mezuzah cases don't exist yet, who knows maybe one day in our future... |
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 Q What should I do if my Mezuzah falls down?
A. If a Mezuzah has fallen down on to the ground and it is still in its case one should give charity. If it is not in its case (if the case breaks from the fall or it falls while it is being inserted into its case) it is questionable whether one is required to fast as in the case of Tefillin. In this case, one should as least give charity. It is written in Seforim that if a Mezuzah falls down it is customary to have it checked before it is reaffixed. If one does not have plans to get the Mezuzah checked, it must be reaffixed immediately (even before putting on Tefillin or davening) with a Brachah if its a location that requires a Brachah. If however, it cannot be reaffixed immediately, for example if it falls off on Shabbos/Shabbat, you may continue to use the room. The Mezuzah should be picked up in an irregular manner, i.e. with a spoon and put aside in order to be put up right after Shabbos. Practically speaking, before you put it back up you should check that it was attached properly, such as with screws, nails or double-sided mounting tape. If it wasn’t make sure it is re-affixed properly.  I found this today while checking a Mezuzah.
On the second line it is supposed to say Elokim Acherim. However the Sofer forgot to make the left leg of the Hei it now reads as a Daled and is not Kosher. Seems like an easy fix right? Just add in the leg, a bit of ink and it will be a good Hei, it will look like nothing was ever wrong. WRONG! One of the basic laws in writing Mezuzahs are that the letters need to be written in order, if we were to add the left leg now we would be creating the letter Hei out of order. Why does a Sofer need to be G-d fearing? I will let you answer that question yourself, imagine you just spent nearly 4 hours writing a Mezuzah and you find this exact scenario it seems like an easy fix. Only you and G-d will ever Know if you do the right thing ( i.e dispose of it in Genizah and not make the illegal correction) as it is not discernable to the eye after the fact. The Sofer needs to make the right decision. This is why it is important to buy only from a certified and G-d fearing Sofer / Scribe.  So at first I thought it was dirt. But with a closer look I realized it was light and hollow. I turned one over and found a little hole on one side.
Apparently an insect has made this Mezuzah his home. I understand some insects grow in a sort of cocoon and when fully grown make their way out... unfortunately the Mezuzah is no longer kosher whatever was in there has ruined the letters... need I say more? If you don't have or are not sure if you have a properly sealed weather (bug) proof Mezuzah case for all your outdoor Mezuzahs. Call our office today at 845-262-0246! we ship nation wide. Protect your Mezuzahs so they can protect you! The number one reason why I tell people not to buy a Mezuzah in a Jewish museum gift shop or even a Judaica store. The Mezuzahs are almost always very poor quality. And more often then not blatantly not Kosher. A Mezuzah is not to be compared to a Menorah or a Seder plate, who can blame a untrained sales clerk or Judaica owner from knowing any better. A Mezuzah is a specialty item and must be very specific and accurate to be Kosher and therefore must be purchased from a certified trained Sofer. How many letters in this Mezuzah can you actually decipher?  Fraudulent Mezuzah Someone put the nail right through the Mezuzah, they are very lucky it did not go through the letters. A good Mezuzah cover has the holes for the nails outside of the Mezuzah compartment.  |
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AuthorRabbi Kass was ordained by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Ashkenazik Chief Rabbi of Israel. He is certified as a Sofer for both Kesivah and Hagoah by one of the leading experts in Safrus, Rabbi Avrohom Tzvi Vosner, Rav of the Vad Mishmeres Sta”m. 
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