Mezuzot and Dedications

A Lesson for K-2, on March 2, 2003

 

Goal: 

The students will become excited and interested in the idea of dedicating the Temple and specifically learn about the mezuzah.

 

Objectives:  

            The students will be able to list the different parts of the mezuzah.

The students will be able to recognize the prayer said before affixing a mezuzah.

 

Procedure:

 

Hold up a mezuzah   and ask the students to describe what you are holding.

 

ASK:

 

What is this?

Where can you find one these?

Who has one in their house?

Describe the mezuzah you have at home

 

TEACH:

 

Though mezuzah literally means "doorpost," it commonly refers to a scroll of parchment containing biblical verses, placed on the doorpost.

The mezuzah recalls the Exodus from Egypt, when the lamb's blood smeared on the doorpost "identified" the Jewish homes that God passed over during the plague of the first-born.

 

There are four different parts of the mezuzah.

 

uHOLD UP THE HOUSING (BAYIT)   

The housing or casing is called a bayit.   This really means house, because it is the house in which the special paper lives

 

v/wPOINT OUT THE SH’MA

The Shema prayer is written on special paper called the Klaf.  This special paper is called parchment.  The klaf is made from animal skin.

 

RECITE THE SH’MA AS A CLASS

 

xPOINT OUT THE DOORPOST

Mezuzah means doorpost

 

These are all the different parts of the mezuzah.   Teach the song about the different parts of the mezuzah.

 

 

SONG

 

The Mezuzah is on the door

To the tune of “the green grass grows all around”

 

There was a shema
That was on a klaf

The prettiest sh’ma
that you ever did see

The sh’ma’s on the klaf

And the klaf’s in the bayit

And the mezuzah’s on the door

And the mezuzah is on the door the door, and the mezuzah is on the door

And on that door
there was a bell
the prettiest bell
that you ever did see
 

The sh’ma’s on the klaf

And the klaf’s in the bayit

And the mezuzah’s on the door

The bell is on the door

And the mezuzah is on the door the door, and the mezuzah is on the door

 

TEACH:

 

Teach the prayer for affixing the mezuzah

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elo-heinu Melech Ha'olam, asher kid'shanu bi'mitzvo-tav, vi'tzivanu leek-bo-a mezuzah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah. 

 

MOVEMENT ACTIVITY

 

Have groups of 4 index cards, one for each student, so that every 4 students is a  “set” equally a full mezuzah.  Use ma’aseh and teachers to help make the total number of students divisible by 4.  If you have an extra student they can go around and pretend to hammer a completed mezuzah or   use two fingers to touch the mezuzah and then touch their lips.

 

Step 1

 

Have each student draw on his or her index card a picture of a vklaf, wbayit, xdoor, or the ushema. You must assign parts so there is the right number of each, one for every four students. (See attached pictures)

 

Step 2

 

Use tape or have each student hold their card.  You may choose to shuffle the cards and hand them out or have each student hold the card that they designed.

 

Step 3

 

Play any music you choose, preferably Jewish music.  When the music stops, they must get into groups of four in a line.  The xdoor must be in the back of the line, next the wbayit, next the vklaf and in the front of the line must be the ushema.  The students must sit in that order.  The first team to do that wins that round. 

 

Step 4

 

When every team is sitting the entire class should recite the blessing for affixing the mezuzah, lead by the teacher.

Baruch Ata Adonoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha'olam, asher kid'shanu bi'mitzvo-sav, vi'tzivanu leek-bo-a mezuzah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.

 

Play this game several times.  Feel free to collect the cards and redistribute so that everyone gets a new card each time you play the game.

Discussion:

 

ASK

What are the four parts of the mezuzah?

What words are in the mezuzah?

Where does a mezuzah go?

Why might it be important to have a mezuzah?

Why is it important that the shema is in the mezuzah?

Why do we use fingers to touch the mezuzah and then our lips?

 

 

Additional Information:

 

On the reverse side of the mezuzah scroll is the Hebrew name of God, Shaddai. This name is an acronym for "Guardian of the Doors of Israel." (Shin, the first letter of this Name, often appears on the mezuzah case.)