mezuzah
/mɛˈzuːzə
/noun (plural mezuzahs or mezuzoth /mɛˈzuːzəʊt/)
A parchment inscribed with religious texts and attached in a case to the doorpost of a Jewish house as a sign of faith.When I first became interested in Judaism a few months back, I had planned on buying all my Jewish kit in Haifa - a kippah, mezuzahs, Chanukah menorah, dreidels, tallit, Seder plate, and lots of holy books to study from....
- But every Jewish building has, of course, a tell-tale identifying sign: a mezuzah on the right-hand doorpost.
- On the doorpost of every Jewish home rests a mezuzah.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Hebrew mĕzūzāh 'doorpost'.