By Regina C.
In traditional Jewish families, a mezuzah is hung on the doorpost at the entrance to the house. In Hebrew the word mezuzah means doorpost. At The Family Foundation School, Rabbi Michelle Medwin and the Jewish students recently placed mezuzahs on the doorposts of all the family entrances as well as most of the dorms.
While hanging the mezuzahs, the students with Rabbi Medwin recited a traditional blessing. Rabbi Medwin explained that when the mezuzahs are nailed to the post they are slanted inward toward the entrance of the room. She explained the 2,000-year-old custom like this: two rabbis were suggesting different ways of placing mezuzahs on doorposts. One suggested it be placed vertically in order to show that God is with us on Earth as well as in Heaven. The other rabbi said the mezuzah should be placed horizontally because it represented God outside and inside of our homes. The two rabbis couldn’t agree, so they compromised and had the mezuzah slant toward the inside, on the right side of the doorpost.
The new mezuzahs on campus were donated by the parents of the Jewish students here at the school.
