Comments on: What is this strange object nailed into our front door frame?

Question: What is this strange object nailed into our front door frame?

stungeye — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:10:51 -0800

StrangeObjectFilter: What is this strange metal/stone object nailed into the door-frame between our front door and the screen door? It points down and outwards.

By: changeling

changeling — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:18:23 -0800

It's some kind of Jewish mezuzah.

By: MegoSteve

MegoSteve — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:18:33 -0800

It kind of reminds me of a Mezuzah.

By: stungeye

stungeye — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:19:30 -0800

Does anyone recognize the symbol at the top of the object?

By: oflinkey

oflinkey — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:22:08 -0800

Shin.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:23:31 -0800

That's definitely a mezuzah. The "symbol" is a stylized letter shin, which stands for "Shaddai," one of the Hebrew names of God, and is commonly written on or incorporated into the design of a mezuzah.

By: stungeye

stungeye — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:27:45 -0800

Gotta love AskMeFi. Thanks all!

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:29:11 -0800

changeling writes "It's some kind of Jewish mezuzah."

As opposed to all the non-Jewish mezuzim? ;)

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:34:17 -0800

That's mezuzot, dnab. :)

By: trevyn

trevyn — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:23:40 -0800

Am I the only one who finds this practice a little disturbing?

By: luriete

luriete — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:41:40 -0800

What practice? Hanging a blessing or luck charm or symbol on one's door or in one's house? I thought almost all religions had such practices?

By: dudeman

dudeman — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:17:48 -0800

So, what are you going to do with it now? In most cases, inside the mezuzah is a tiny piece of parchment with Hebrew writing on it. Many Jewish people would consider it improper to throw the parchment away because it contains the name of God. (Not binding on you as a non-Jew, of course, but still...) Rather than throw it away, I suggest you give the mezuzah to a Jewish friend or relative as a gift.

By: Captaintripps

Captaintripps — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:32:49 -0800

It's too bad you don't live near New York. I'd totally take that off your hands if you didn't want it. It's beautiful (and just a tad gaudy).

By: MegoSteve

MegoSteve — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:50:22 -0800

I would not have known this if it weren't for Curb Your Enthusiasm.

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:58:09 -0800

You could also call the local synagogue and ask them if there's any particular protocol to follow if you want to remove/dispose of it respectfully.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:38:24 -0800

Faint of Butt writes "That's mezuzot, dnab. :)"

The annoying part is that's what I meant to write. Now I have visions of legions of mezuzah-shaped cyber-zombies forcibly ensuring people have nice, pleasant homes..

By: njb

njb — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:42:19 -0800

If the parchment in it is real, you're supposed to bury it in a jewish cemetary. This is supposed to happen to lots of different Sacred scripts (the parchment in the torah scroll, tefillin, and probably some others I'm forgetting). Definately take the parchment to a synogogue, they'll either reuse it or dispose of it properly.

By: luriete

luriete — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 15:41:42 -0800

I'm still not sure why you'd want to get rid of it. Unless you know that the next resident after you will absolutely not be Jewish, why pry it off?

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:00:14 -0800

trevyn: why disturbing? - i ask this as a judeophile but nonethless a rabid atheist.

By: Savannah

Savannah — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:27:13 -0800

I'd leave it where it is. It adds character and history to your home, and a little blessing never hurt anyone. The stone is very pretty.

I've never found anything as nice or interesting in our house, just junk the previous owners tossed into the woods behind the place.

By: prodevel

prodevel — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:39:34 -0800

Makes you wonder what happened to the previous residents who placed it there, unless the simply forgot it...

/creepy music

By: stungeye

stungeye — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:43:18 -0800

I think I'll leave it in place.

I like the look of it, and now that I know the meaning behind it I find it endearing.

By: Cranialtorque

Cranialtorque — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:38:40 -0800

Plus any angels of death will know to pass over your house! Your first-born son will thank you.

By: mediareport

mediareport — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:42:21 -0800

It's cool you want to keep it, stungeye. I'd just add that if you didn't, I don't think you'd be under any obligation at all to take it to a synagogue for disposal.

By: vanoakenfold

vanoakenfold — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:52:06 -0800

Cranialtorque: I think that's only if you slosh lamb's blood over the door no?