57 stores in this directory sell mezuzos and STaM (sifrei Torah, tefillin, mezuzos). They range from sofrim and STaM specialists to general Judaica shops and artists who make cases. Every listing links to the store's own site, and each fact on it comes from a dated source.
The scroll is the mezuzah
The mitzvah is the parchment inside, not the case. A beautiful case with an invalid scroll is not a kosher mezuzah, so put your budget into the scroll first.[1] A kosher scroll is handwritten on parchment by a trained sofer. Printed scrolls are not kosher, and some are made to look handwritten.[2] Very low prices deserve questions: an experienced sofer spends hours on one scroll.[2]
Which kind of store
- Sofrim and STaM specialists write, check or source scrolls directly. Go here when the scroll is the priority, or to have existing mezuzos checked.
- General Judaica retailers sell scrolls alongside a wide range of cases. Ask who supplies and checks their scrolls.
- Artists and designers mostly sell cases. Buy the scroll from a reliable source and make sure it fits the case.
Many problems with a scroll are invisible to an untrained eye, so the seller's reliability matters more than how neat the writing looks. Buy from a trusted, G-d-fearing source,[1] and ask your rav if you are unsure where to go.
Questions to ask the seller
- Who wrote this scroll, and who checked it? Was it checked by a person as well as by computer?
- Which script is it (Beis Yosef, Arizal, Vellish)? Tell the seller if your family has a custom.
- Does the case close well enough for an outdoor doorpost, and does it fit this scroll size?
- Do you check existing mezuzos, and how long does a check take?
Timing
For a private home, the Shulchan Aruch requires checking each mezuzah twice every seven years,[3] and many people schedule checks for Elul, before Rosh Hashanah. Sofrim can be busy then, so book early. Moving in? Order before the move so the scrolls are ready, and ask your rav about the bracha and the 30-day rule for renters outside Israel.[4]
For the full picture, read our guide, Buying a Kosher Mezuzah.
Sources
- The Mezuzah Scroll and Case – Chabad.org
- Wireless Security: A Mezuzah Primer – Star-K
- Checking Mezuzos – Din Online
- The Laws and Customs (Mezuzah) – Chabad.org
- Do I Need Anything Besides the Mezuzah Case? – Chabad.org
- Mezuzah – Halachipedia
- From the Blessing over the Mezuzah to the Customs of the Different Communities Regarding Tefillin – Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, Yeshivat Har Bracha (Peninei Halakha)