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Why do Jews hang boxes containing prayers on their doorposts
(mezuzahs)?
Common belief is that the boxes represent lamb's blood
that the Jews placed on their doorposts during the tenth
plague. The Pharaoh of Egypt refused to free the Israelites
until the last plague. In order to force the Pharaoh to
free the Israelites, God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that
he intended to kill the first-born of both human and beast.
To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark
their houses with lamb's blood so that God could identify
and "pass over" their homes. Some people believe the mezuzah
symbolizes this event.
In fact, a mezuzah is the container that is placed on
the doorpost to each room in a house, in order to be a
constant reminder of God and the commandments. In the
container is a prayer called the Shema. In the Shema,
God tells us to remember God's words constantly, by writing
them on the doorposts of the house and on the gates to
our homes. The Shema is written on a small parchment,
which goes into the container. Traditionally, the mezuzah
is touched and the hand that touches it is kissed upon
entering and leaving the room, as a further expression
of love to God.
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