How Do You Wrap Your Mezuzos? Pros, Cons, etc.
Recently I saw Mezuzos shrink-wrapped. Is that really a smart idea?
Some people use saran-wrap, others use wax paper.
I've seen Mezuzos wrapped first and then rolled up so that the plastic covers all the words, is that oisgehalten? I can't find a reason to prohibit it, but it just seems to me that it might be a problem.
How do you wrap your mezuzos?
Some people use saran-wrap, others use wax paper.
I've seen Mezuzos wrapped first and then rolled up so that the plastic covers all the words, is that oisgehalten? I can't find a reason to prohibit it, but it just seems to me that it might be a problem.
How do you wrap your mezuzos?
Rav Friedlander told me that the mezuzahs must first be rolled and only then wrapped. If it is first sealed in plastic it must be removed before rolling.
ReplyDeleteExperts recommend parchment/baking paper as it allows the mezuzah to breath.
Wax paper is best, lightly twisted on the top. It will "breathe" but the wax will keep it water resistant. Plastic or glad wrap sealed tightly will cause the mezuzah to "sweat" esp in humid conditions.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why many experts recommend parchment/baking paper over wax paper is because the material breathes while wax paper doesn't. However, a bit of air will get in along the top, bottom and vertical edge of the wax paper.
ReplyDeleteBaking paper provides no water resistance. Wax paper does, but air can still flow through as discussed from side, top and bottom. Plastic has no ventilation at all...
DeleteI dry the mezuza in the sun for a few minutes, then wrap it tightly sealed in plastic foil. For 35 years never had a problem.
ReplyDeleteUnless your wrapping a freshly written mezuzah, which is almost never the case since it needs to be computer and manually checked, I see no need to sun dry it. In my considerable years, I've seen mezuzahs affected due to being sealed in plastic wrap.
DeleteI don't dry in the sun for the ink. I dry it in order to reduce the moisture trapped in the klaf. This way, the mezuzah is never affected over time.
DeleteThe damage I've seen on mezuzahs would not have anything to do with the very minimal moisture that may be in the klaf.
DeleteI use plastic for its strength and flexibility, but also bec. the Shem is more crearly visible. However, I don't seal the ends; Using a thin, not-sharp instrument, I tuck the end into the rolled Mezuza. It's tight enough that most of the "hole" is covered, but it's obviously not airtight that way.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the Shem is certainly a good thing. However, I think the wax and better yet, the parchment paper provides better protection and hence outweighs clearly seeing the Shem.
DeleteYou can see the shem pretty clearly with wax pas
DeletePaper (unless you wrap it around too many times_