Mezuzah
One of the 613 Mitzvoth (commandments) from the torah is putting a mezuzah on the right side of every doorpost entrance of a Jewish home, office, school, or business so it can be seen upon entering. Moses told the Israelites "… write them on the doorpost of your houses and on your gates."(Deuteronomy 6-4 6-9) A Jewish home is usually identified by the mezuzah on the doorpost. The mezuzah is regarded as a lucky charm or having protective powers by some, while others regard it as a superstition.
In the mezuzah is the "Shma" prayer. The “Shma” may only be hand written in Hebrew by a "Sofer Stam" on special parchments using a quill. The parchment usually comes from the skin of a lamb or goat. The quill is taken from a goose or turkey and the ink is prepared from vegetable ingredients. This parchment is rolled up and put in a case or box to protect the scroll from rips, cracks or fading. The case without the parchment is not kosher. The case has a shin or shin dalet engraved on it. Since there are no special rules for the mezuzah case or box many artists have made a variety of beautiful styles.
The mezuzah is permanently affixed immediately after moving into the ones’ permanent home. The mezuzah is affixed tilted on a slant towards the room the door opens into - this implies that G-d and the torah are entering the room and reminding Jews to reach towards g-d. A Jew regardless of age may affix the mezuzah while saying the blessing:
"Barukh atta Adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam, asher qiddeshanu bemisvotav vesivvanu liqboa mezuzah."
"Blessed are you, Lord of the our G-d king of the universe, who who sanctified us with his mitzvoth, and commanded us to affix a mezuzah."
The blessing is said only when affixing the first mezuzah but keeping in mind all the other mezuzahs that will be put on every door of the home, where people eat and sleep, (with the exception of bathrooms, closets and temporary structures.) If there is no roof than a mezuzah is not required. The custom is to kiss the mezuzah upon entering home, office, school by touching the mezuzah with your fingetips and then kissing the finger tips that touched the mezuzah. This is a way of expressing love and respect for g-d and his mitzvoth. When moving out of a home, one does not remove the mezuzah unless he knows that the next residents are not Jewish. This is so that the sacred objects are not desecrated.
The mezuzah is one of the primary symbols of Judaism. A miniature mezuzah may also be placed in ones’ car, and can even worn on a necklace.