Tall Doorway

Question: The entrance to our warehouse is sixteen feet tall. How high up the doorframe should we place the mezuza?

Answer: The Gemara (Menachos 33a) teaches that one must place the mezuza two thirds of the way up the doorpost. Tosafos (Menachos 33a; Yoma 11b) quotes the Talmud Yerushalmi (Megilla 4:12) that teaches that when the doorway is particularly high, one places the mezuza at shoulder height. The Bach (YD 289:4), Taz (YD 289:3) and Shach (YD 289:4) write that we follow the Yerushalmi and place the mezuza at shoulder height on a tall doorway.

The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 289:10), Chayei Adam (1:15:17), Avnei Nezer (YD 379) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:538) write that we pasken this way.

Nonetheless, the Netziv (Haamek Sheila Ekev 3) disagrees, writing that the Yerushalmi disagrees with the Talmud Bavli. According to Rambam (Mezuza 6:12), placing the mezuza below the top third would be passul (see Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Lechem Hapanim 11:1). Likewise, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer YD 2:21) writes that one must always place the mezuza in the top third, regardless of the height of the doorway.

In conclusion, the mainstream view is to place the mezuza on tall doorways at shoulder level, though some Sefardim place it in the top third.