29
Jul
This mezuzah adorns the Dung Gate into the Old City in Jerusalem and was crafted from an artillery shell from the Six Day War (1967) when after long-last Israel gained control of East Jerusalem and the Old City. We were taught that the significance of this mezuzah comes from this well-known verse (Isaiah 2:4):
וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים, וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת—לֹא-יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל-גּוֹי חֶרֶב, וְלֹא-יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
This mezuzah embodies the verse above by taking an actual weapon of destruction and turning it into a tool for good. While a mezuzah is affixed to the doorframes of Jewish homes to fulfill a commandment, it also serves as a reminder to uphold our Jewish values as we enter and exit our holy spaces.
Thank you for the interesting lesson, Gingy!
