Bidspirit auction | Mezuzah Found in Lublin Ghetto

Mezuzah Found in Lublin Ghetto - A true ”been there” item connected with the Ghetto of Lublin. It's a Mezuzah found in the Lublin ghetto area 2 decades ago. The scroll is handwritten and we believe its kosver written by a Sofer. Found 25 years in the ”Old Town” area of Lublin which during the war this area was a Jewish district. Here is the story of how and where this was found.”I rented a small apartment on 34 Grodzka Street. Immediately after moving into this apartment, I noticed that there was a bulge in the door frame. It turned out that the mezuzah was simply painted over with several more layers of paint. Actually, it wasn't known what it was. The entire tenement was intended for renovation and during the move I decided to check what was there. Undoubtedly, it is an object from a world that no longer exists. A mezuzah is a beautiful and special Jewish object used to mark the doorposts of Jewish homes. Originating in the Torah, mezuzahs consist of two parts - the mezuzah case and the mezuzah parchment called a klaf. The klaf contained inside the case is inscribed with specific Hebrew verses, sections of the Shema prayer beginning with the famous words, Shema Yisrael. While there are many strict and complex laws surrounding the preparation of the mezuzah scroll, the cases that protect them don't require any particular specifications. In general, mezuzah cases are often decorative and can be made of a multitude of materials ranging from simple plastic cases to ornate masterpieces made from sterling silver, stone, wood, glass, and more.Mezuzahs have two purposes: They serve to remind those entering and leaving of the covenant between Hashem and the Jewish people, and they identify one's dwelling as a Jewish household. Mezuzah parchments are written by highly trained and qualified scribes called Sofers who carefully pens each individual letter to perfection. Once the klaf is complete, the parchment is rolled up and placed inside the mezuzah case, though the case is not sealed permanently as it is recommended that parchments be checked for damage or defects at least once or twice every seven years. The mezuzah case is affixed to the top third of a doorway on the right, right side up, with the top of the mezuzah tilting towards the inside of the room. It is customary to keep mezuzot affixed to every doorway except for bathrooms and small closet. In order for a mezuzah to be considered kosher, it must contain a kosher mezuzah scroll. A kosher scroll is one that has been meticulously handwritten by a Sofer, or expert scribe according to halacha, or Jewish law. Preparing a mezuzah scroll is a very precise and challenging process as even the tiniest imperfection can render the scroll unsuitable. There cannot be any cracks or flaws in the parchment, every single letter must be formed perfectly, and the scroll should be written with the proper intention. A kosher mezuzah scroll may not be printed, and only one side of the parchment is fully inscribed. On the opposite side of the scroll, only a single word is written: ”Sha-dai,” one of the three-letter names of G-d and a Hebrew acronym for ”Shomer Daltot Yisrael,” which means, ”Guardian of Israel's doors.” When the mezuzah parchment is rolled up, this is the only word that is left visible. It is for this reason that many mezuzah cases are marked with the Hebrew letter Shin, as it is the first letter of ”Sha-dai,” though some cases feature the full word.