Question re a mezuzah on a chain

kerangoumar · Post by **kerangoumar** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:54 pm

The usual mezuzah has nail holes to permit it to be nailed to the door jamb.

I have an old mezuzah which is on a chain. The links are identical to those on a torah shield that is its companion piece. (Both old, neither marked; they are not particularly substantial and suggest manufacture in a poor area or for a poor patron)

Now, I can understand the torah shield having a chain, as it is hung up. But the mezuzah? At the moment I am leaning toward its having been made for a nomadic family so that when the tents went up, the mezuzah came off until the next location.

Any thoughts? (both posted for comparison of the chains)
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Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:25 pm

Hello, I have seen all kinds of Mezuzot, but never on a chain. It doesn't sound right if one observes the Halakha. Is there an opening so one can see the lettering ? Best wishes, Bahner

kerangoumar · Post by **kerangoumar** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:38 pm

Guten tag, Bahner

The mezuzah is totally closed. There is no prayer inside. (We have a contemporary mezuzah that is also totally closed. Made in Israel.)

It opens at the smaller band near the lower chain loop, see the image (I don't know why I was able successfully to add an image to one post but not to this one). That band is just above the flowered band.

Stylistically it is the mate to the torah shield: compare the nearly heart-shaped scroll with floral centre of the shield with the similar heart-shaped trident with floral centres at the top of the mezuzah. As far as I know they have always been together.