Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site mtunh.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mis From: mis@mtunh.UUCP (Meyer Steinberg) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Kosher Mazuza? Message-ID: <490@mtunh.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 14:45:27 EDT Article-I.D.: mtunh.490 Posted: Mon Aug 19 14:45:27 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 22:04:02 EDT References: <3660@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ Lines: 20 A few things can render a Mazuza non-kosher. The "paper" inside the mezuza must be made of real parchment, usually made from deer skin. The letters must be whole, not missing any parts of the letter. Sometimes through age, heat and humidity, the ink of a letter cracks and ruins the letter. Also when the parchment is rolled up to fit inside the box, this can cause letters to crack and become partially erased. The letters must be hand written using certain natural inks (usully made from tannic acid obtained form gall nuts). A few suggestions when obtaining mazuzas: The small ones usually don't last as long as the larger ones. If you can get mazuzas that the parchment has not been dusted with chalk or laquer, they will last longer. Many parchments are dusted with chalk to make the writting easier, but the chalk tends to crack under the folding of the parchment. The uncoated mezuzas usually cost more. Meyer Steinberg