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I purchased a beautiful mezuzah (case only) by mail order for our front exterior door. Upon receipt, I see that the front of it is *open* metal work. How does one protect the parchment scroll? Just enclose the scroll in plastic? or are there special tubes made for this purpose?
I don't know if there is anything made specifically for that, but there are plastic tubes with stoppers that should do the job. You can usually find them at craft stores and such.
Good question! Mine came in wax paper, which I took the scroll out of, but I suppose you could leave it on. If it were my mezuzah case, I'd save that one for indoors, though, and get a new one (without the open part) for outside. I have never seen a protector for the scroll but I'm sure someone must sell them. Will let you know if I come across something like that in my online shopping.
I don't know if there is anything made specifically for that, but there are plastic tubes with stoppers that should do the job. You can usually find them at craft stores and such.
Good question! Mine came in wax paper, which I took the scroll out of, but I suppose you could leave it on. If it were my mezuzah case, I'd save that one for indoors, though, and get a new one (without the open part) for outside. I have never seen a protector for the scroll but I'm sure someone must sell them. Will let you know if I come across something like that in my online shopping.
I might look at a craft store for a small tube but now am wondering how well this particular mezuzah would stand up to freezing temps, wind, and direct sun because it has rhinestones and pearl beads. Didn't really want to have to spend more money but there was another one I really liked anyhow. Where would you put a mezuzah indoors? We have an open floor plan. Maybe for the master bedroom or guestroom door?
In general, you could put it anywhere except the entrance to the bathroom. I'd start with the master bedroom. I just checked online and I don't see where they are selling separate cases for the scrolls if not protected by the mezuzah; the online merchants seem to indicate there are mezuzot for outdoors vs. indoors. However, I think JB's idea would work well also.
PS - On second thought, exposure to the sun would fade the scroll, no matter what you put it in. I would keep that mezuzah and scroll indoors.
For the mezuzah you put on your front door, protecting the scroll from the weather is a million times more important than what the mezuzah cover looks like. I have 21 mezuzahs inside and outside my house (on every single door where it's halachically required, including the garage, the back gate and the shed). I think 5 or 6 of those are outdoors, and all are encased in a simple weather proof case. Nothing fancy - but safe and protective.
I'm curious where you got the scroll? If not purchased from a reputible sofer, there's a 99% chance the scroll is posul (invalid), and you could roll up toilet paper and put it in a mezuzah case and get the same benefit. Every single scroll I purchased from reform/conservative judaica shops before i became frum where later verified as posul. The sofer who checked them speculated that several of them were written by Arabs who sit in the shook in Yerushaliym and bang out a scroll every 15 minutes, or so. They are hired by shady Israeli's to have them written, then they are shipped off to America where unsuspecting Jews buy them. If you paid less than $40 for your mezuzah scroll, I can nearly 100% guarantee you it's posul, which makes it worthless. <end of public service announcement>
Good point. The case is relatively inexpensive; you should buy the best (kosher) scroll you can afford. The people at Eichler's helped me find a kosher one. At first I thought I could buy one from e.bay but that is not a good idea. I'm slowly adding to my collection - it's better to buy the right ones and add slowly to your collection if cost is an issue like it is for me, than have a hundred computer-copied ones in beautiful cases.
For the mezuzah you put on your front door, protecting the scroll from the weather is a million times more important than what the mezuzah cover looks like. I have 21 mezuzahs inside and outside my house (on every single door where it's halachically required, including the garage, the back gate and the shed). I think 5 or 6 of those are outdoors, and all are encased in a simple weather proof case. Nothing fancy - but safe and protective.
I'm curious where you got the scroll? If not purchased from a reputible sofer, there's a 99% chance the scroll is posul (invalid), and you could roll up toilet paper and put it in a mezuzah case and get the same benefit. Every single scroll I purchased from reform/conservative judaica shops before i became frum where later verified as posul. The sofer who checked them speculated that several of them were written by Arabs who sit in the shook in Yerushaliym and bang out a scroll every 15 minutes, or so. They are hired by shady Israeli's to have them written, then they are shipped off to America where unsuspecting Jews buy them. If you paid less than $40 for your mezuzah scroll, I can nearly 100% guarantee you it's posul, which makes it worthless. <end of public service announcement>
Flipflop, you're a wealth of information; thank you! Posul scrolls....written by Arabs????? Are there are any reliable sources online?
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Just enclose the scroll in plastic?
or are there special tubes made for this purpose?
I just checked online and I don't see where they are selling separate cases for the scrolls if not protected by the mezuzah; the online merchants seem to indicate there are mezuzot for outdoors vs. indoors. However, I think JB's idea would work well also.
Are there are any reliable sources online?
