Our new neighbours are Orthodox Jews and I was rather astonished to watch them banging in their mezuzah at five to midnight! Just wondering if there's a reason why they would choose this time to do it...? Is it significant? I'm Jewish but I'm not aware of any Jewish law about this. Your help much appreciated!
2007-08-02 11:46:33 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
NOTE: they had the entire day in which to put the mezuzah up... yet they waited until midnight!
2007-08-02 11:59:54 · update #1
I don't know of any requirements for a specific time. Generally, it is preferable to put a mezuzah up during the day. If they own the apartment they should actualy have done it before sunset to be completely in line with the requirements of the mitzvah- if they are only renting, they have 30 days.
More likely- they were too involved in what they were doing, unpacking and getting into a new home is an exciting time, and they didn't pay enough attention to the time, panicked, and did it just before midnight. They may have missed the first day (since it was past sunset) and wanted to get it done as soon as possible to correct the error Hey, Orthodox Jews are merely people with the standard foibles that go with that!
2007-08-02 19:09:20 · answer #1 · answered by allonyoav 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Huh, I don't know about five to midnight; however, it does have to be done on the first day. I've put a link below with all the laws of the mezuzah; they're rather interesting.
2007-08-02 19:07:28 · answer #2 · answered by Mark S, JPAA 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's not so much about being five to midnight, as not wanting to spend a night in the new place without the mezuzahs being up. Can't do that.
2007-08-02 18:50:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There's absolutely no reason for them to do it at that time. As a matter of fact, they were violating an important prohibition of showing contempt for other people and creating discord in the world. Sorry, but just like any other people, some orthodox Jews are idiots.
2007-08-04 12:44:56 · answer #4 · answered by squeezie_1999 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If it was their first day moving in, they probably had plenty of other things to do all day to make the house suitable for living, and you cannot go to sleep in your home if it does not have it's mezuzot up. They probably did it right before they were going to sleep.
2007-08-02 19:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they were busy banging each other up until that point.
2007-08-02 18:50:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 8⤋