Q&A: Mezuzah on an Aluminum Door
Mezuzah on an Aluminum Door
Question
Have a good week, Rabbi,
Regarding a mezuzah on an aluminum door: where do you think the mezuzah should be affixed? This is a door that fills the entire doorway opening, so it is impossible to place the mezuzah within the space of the doorway; see an example picture. The Talmud in Menachot 32b says: “Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: it is a commandment to place it within the hollow of the doorway.” I have heard of solutions that involve carving into the aluminum and inserting the mezuzah into the carved-out space, or solutions that widen the doorway space by adding wooden extensions. Or perhaps it is permissible from the outset to affix it as shown in the picture?
Best regards,
Answer
As far as I know, that is exactly what people customarily do in such cases. The wording, too, “it is a commandment to place it,” suggests that this is the preferred practice from the outset, but if that is impossible, one places it this way.
Hello Oren, below is an answer from Chovat Hadar (on the laws of mezuzah) by Rabbi Yaakov Blau of blessed memory (a member of the Badatz of the Edah HaHaredit), p. 77. It appears that he permits affixing the mezuzah not within the space of the doorway, but is uncertain regarding the blessing, since the matter depends on a dispute. He also adds some further details:
“If he cannot affix the mezuzah within the space of the doorway, he may affix it outside the space, either on the inside or on the outside, within a handbreadth of the doorway space. If he placed it a handbreadth away… it is invalid.” And in the notes he cited the source of the ruling: “Yad HaKetanah, and so too in the Shakh (289:3) in the name of Ma’adanei Melekh. However, the Levush wrote… it is invalid. As for the blessing, since the Shakh states this without qualification, it is possible that one may recite a blessing. But in Nishmat Adam he wrote… if it is on the wall and not within the space of the doorway, he has accomplished nothing according to all opinions.”
And on pp. 83-84, in the notes, he concluded that in such a case it is preferable to affix the mezuzah on the outside rather than on the inside. And when affixing it on the outside, one should place its top close to the doorway and its bottom angled farther away; and if that is impossible and he affixes it on the inside, he should do the opposite: its bottom close to the doorway and its top angled farther away.