What are the implications of the word "u'Chesavtam"?
B'rachos, 15b: It implies that one should write the entire Parhah 1 in the Tefilin - even the commands ("Ve'ahavta ... ", "Vehayu ha'Devarim ha'Eileh ... ", "u'Keshartam ... " and u'Chesavtam ... ". 2
Shabbos, 103b: It implies 'Kesivah Tamah' (See answer #1 and note) - that one should not write an 'Alef' like an 'Ayin', 3 a 'Beis' like a 'Kaf' or a 'Daled' like a 'Reish', or vice-versa. 4 And by the same token, one should also take care not to switch an open 'Mem' for a closed one, or vice-versa.
Menachos, 34a: It implies 'Kesivah Tamah' (See answer #1 and note) - that one should not write the Mezuzah on (the) stones (of the doorpost - but on parchment - Torah Temimah). 5
"u'Chesavtam" is the acronym of 'Kesivah Tamah'.
And not just "Sh'ma Yisrael" - Kabalas Ol Malchus Shamayim.
Torah Temimah: Which are often confused beause they sound similar.
Which look similar. See also Torah Temimah, citing Shabbos, Ibid. for more examples and note 49.
Menachos (Ibid.): Others learnit from aa Gezeirah Shavah 'Kesivsh' 'Kesivah' from Get - ki Seitzei,24:1 & 3.
Why is "Mezuzos" written Chaser (minus a 'Vav')?
Rashi: "Mezuzos" is written Chaser (minus a 'Vav') to teach us that each doorway requires only one Mezuzah 1 - since the word can be read 'Mezuzas'.
?u?Chesavtam al Mezuzos Beisecha?. Whereabouts on the doorpost does one fix the Mezuzah?
R. Bachye (citing the Yerushalmi Megilah, end of Perek 4), Targum Yonasan and Menachos, 33a: At the beginning of the top third of the doorpost 1 (on the Tefach that is closest to the street 2 ).
Menachos, 33a: Which we learn the Hekesh "u'Keshartam" "u'Chesavtam" - just as one binds the tefilin on the upper part of the arm, so too should one place the Mezuzah on the upper part of the doorpost.
Peirush Yonasan: See also Na'ar Yonasan. See also R. Chavel?s footnotes on R. Bachye DH ?be?Sof Sh?lish ha?Elyon?.
Why is "Mezuzos" written in the plural?
Menachos, 34a (according to the Chachamim): To teach us that a doorway with only one doorpost is Patur from Mezuzah. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 54. See also Torah Temimah, citing Menachos, Ibid., citing R. Meir - that, since the Torah writes twice "Mezuzos" (plural) - once here and once in 'Eikev', 11:20, and since a Ribuy after a Ribuy comes to exclude, even one doorpost is also Chayav Mezuzah. See Torah Temimah, who elaborates.
What is the significance of the top third of the doorpost - o which affixes the Mezuzah.
What are the implications of the word "Beisecha"?
Rashi (in Bava Metzi'a, 101a): "Beisecha" - 'Derech Bi'ascha' implying that it is the person who is living in the house 1 who is obligated to affix the Mezuzos - not the owner.
R. Bachye (citing Menachos, 34a) and Targum Yonasan: It implies that one affixes the Mezuzah on the right-hand doorpost (from the perspective of outside) as implied by the word "Beisecha."
R. Bachye (citing Yoma, 11b #1): Beisecha" implies a house - to preclude a sun-porch and a balcony from Mezuzah.
R. Bachye (citing Yoma, 11b #2): Beisecha" implies a house - to preclude a bathroom, a tannery, a bath-house, and a Mikvah - all of which are not places of Kavod.
R. Bachye (citing Yoma, 11b: #3): Only a room that is Chol is subject to Mezuzah, but not the Har ha'Bayis, the chambers of the Beis-Hamikdash and the Azaros, which are Kodesh.
Succah, 3b: "Bayis" implies one of at least four by four Amos - to preclude one that measures less from Mezuzah.
?Who comes and goes to and from the house.
Why does the Torah add the suffix "Beisecha"?
Yoma, 11a: To preclude from Mezuzah a store-house of straw or wood, a stable and a store for wine or oil - all of which are not for personal living. 1
Tosfos Avodah Zarah, 21a: To preclude a rented room from Mezuzah. 2
What are the implications of the word "u'vi'Sh'arecha"?
Why does the Torah add the 'Veis' in Beisecha u'vi'She'arecha"?
Oznayim la'Torah (citing the Ha'amek Davar): To teach us that in locations which are not guarded and are not clean - such as those on the gate of courtyards and towns, should be placed inside a crevice in the wall. 1
Oznayim la'Torah (Ibid.): As opposed to those that are placed on houses, should preferebly be placed on the outside of the wall, where they are visible.
What is the underlying reason behind the Mitzvah of Mezuzah?
R. Bachye: It contains the main principles of Emunah - the Creation of the world, Hashem?s Hashgachah (supervision of the world), reward and punishment and prophecy, which stem from the unification of Hashem and Talmud Torah in the first Parshah and reward and punishment, in the second Parshah. 1
R. Bachye:All three of which (he does not include prophecy in this statement) we also lrom the miracles and wonders of Yetzi?as Mitzrayim. See R. Chavel;s footnotes.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Mezuzos" is written without the second 'Vav'. But in our texts it is written 'full'?
Riva (in Chayei Sarah, 25:6): We find that the Gemara 1 disagrees with our tradition (in several places).
Tosfos (Menachos 34a DH ke'she'Hu): R. Meir learns from Ribuy after Ribuy - Refer to 6:9:2.1:1* - implying that it is written full.
