Question of the Week
I live on the ground floor of an apartment building, right near the entrance. My front door is visible from the street. Any passer-by can see my mezuzah. I am scared that this makes me and my children a target for all those haters out there. Am I justified in taking down my mezuzah, at least until things calm down?
Answer
I can understand your fears. Many of us are facing levels of antisemitism we didn’t think existed anymore. But if you take your mezuzah down, you’ve let the terrorists into your home. Worse, you’ve let them take over your mind.
The evil death cult that raised its ugly head on October 7, and its sympathisers and apologists around the world, are a force of terrible darkness. They want Jews to disappear from the face of the earth. If we fearfully retreat into anonymity, that only emboldens those forces of evil. Darkness can only win when light recedes. But when the light shines, darkness is immediately banished.
We have to shine our Jewish light right now. Retreating is not an option. We all need to be more outwardly Jewish. We can’t Jew down. We have to Jew up.
Don’t remove your mezuzah. Put up more on your other doors. Don’t hide your Jewishness, wear it publicly and proudly. Don’t avoid Jewish gatherings, attend as many as you can. Not a shul goer? Become one. Sending kids to a non-Jewish school? Time to switch them to one where they will be safe, and learn who they are.
Your mezuzah is your protection, a sign that your home is proudly Jewish. Every time you pass it, be reminded that G-d is by your side. Strengthen your faith. Do not fear.
We don’t cower in the face of evil. We shine our light stronger. Live more Jewishly. Let’s all Jew up.
Good Shabbos, please note there will be no services on shabbat and no tiffilin club on sunday.
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
I HAVE A FEW MEZUZAH SCROLLS THAT I WILL GIVE AT NO COST TO ANYONE WHO IS ADDING A NEW MEZUZAH, and I will gladly come over to put it up. Please respond to this email.