Dose of Halacha

Question: A non-Jewish work colleague asked me if I could buy a mezuza for her as she believes it is a good luck charm. I explained to her that we are not supposed to. Can I give her one that is passul instead? Answer: The Gemara Yerushalmi (Peah 1:1) teaches that R’ Yehuda Hanasi gave Artaban a mezuza in return for a precious stone. Nonetheless, the poskim write that this does not mean that we can just give mezuzos away to anyone. The Rema ( Darkei Moshe YD 291:2) relates that a particular ruler once promised to act favourably towards his Jewish subjects providing that they gave him a mezuza . If they did not, he promised there would be reprisals. The Maharil ruled that they must not send it. R’ Yaakov Emden (She’elas Yaavetz 2:121) challenges the Maharil from this Gemara Yerushalmi, writing that one may certainly give a mezuza to a non-Jewish person who has promised to protect it. However, the Rema (ibid; YD 291:2) writes that one should avoid giving a mezuza to a non-...

Question: We are hiring a carer to look after our mother. As she is not Jewish, do we need to place a mezuza on her door? Answer: The Rema (YD 286:1) writes that one who shares a house with a non-Jewish roommate is not obligated to affix a mezuza to their door. The Gemara (Yoma 11a) teaches that the city gates of Mechuza did not have mezuzos . As the non-Jewish inhabitants may have suspected the Jewish residents of witchcraft, it was deemed dangerous. The Bach (YD 286) and Taz (YD 286:2) explain that this is why modern city gates don’t have mezuzos . Additionally, we are concerned that the mezuza may get mistreated (See Shach YD 286:6). The Shulchan Aruch (YD 291:2) writes that the obligation to affix a mezuza is on the one living in a home rather than the owner. Therefore, one renting a house to a non-Jewish person should not affix mezuzos on that house. The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 286:3) writes that one who employs a non-Jewish person who lives in their house is obligated...

Question: We were decorating our daughter’s bedroom and removed the mezuza case only to find to that it was empty. We have ordered a new mezuza . Can she sleep there without a mezuza until it arrives? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 38:12) writes that if one cannot afford to buy oneself both tefillin and a mezuza and needs to choose one over the other, they should buy a pair of tefillin. The Rema (YD 285:1) explains that this is because tefillin is a mitzva that pertains to the individual, as opposed to mezuza which belongs to the house. However, the Magen Avraham (38:15) writes that as we no longer wear tefillin all day, one should rather buy a mezuza and borrow someone else’s tefillin . The Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham 38:15) adds that while tefillin are considered holier than mezuzos, the mitzva of mezuza applies on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Therefore, one must move out of a room without a mezuza on Shabbos or Yom Tov if they have another room available. The Pischei Teshu...