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Why dedicate a mezuzah?

The Torah commands us to inscribe holy words on our doorposts (mezuzot), namely that we should love God, believe in God's oneness, and pass those teachings on to our children. The mitzvah of mezuzah occurs when we affix these words on the doorposts of our homes, schools, and sacred places. Each time we see them, we are reminded of our connection with God and with our heritage, and the commandment to teach our children what matters most.

When a sacred Jewish space is built or renovated, a mezuzah must be affixed to each of the doors. A mezuzah will often stay on that doorway even long after the family or individual who put it up has come and gone; it is a permanent reminder of the dedication of the people who lived and learned there.

We have a marvelous opportunity to choose and affix new mezuzot to the doors of every room in our renovated Education Center. Each mezuzah provides not only a chance to carry on an ancient Jewish tradition, but also to infuse our own love for our teachers and school as we dedicate mezuzot to them.

We are inviting individuals, families, and classes to design their own mezuzot that will be placed on the doorway of your choice throughout our newly renovated building housing Deutsch Early Childhood Center and Religious School at Temple Israel. This is a wonderful way to honor your favorite teachers or school experiences. Once these mezuzot are ordered and delivered, there will be a dedication ceremony where each mezuzah will be affixed to the doorframe and blessed by the Rabbis with the help of donors. Funds raised will go to support ongoing expenses in the synagogue, and all donors will be listed on the ReImagining Donor Wall when renovations have been completed.

Have fun designing your special mezuzot!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DESIGN OPTIONS  

Rabbi Amy Feder
Senior Rabbi