Mezuzah (מזוזה‎‎)

A mezuzah (מזוזה), literally translated from Hebrew as "door frame" or "doorway," is a small box placed on the door frame that contains a parchment scroll with verses from the Torah (part of the Shema Yisra'el prayer). The case in which the scroll is placed is often ornamented and may be made of various materials. The mezuzah is typical of Jewish households or shops, and is one of the 613 commandments mentioned in the Torah. It is customary for observant Jews to touch and kiss the mezuzah with the fingers that have touched it as they pass by it. The parchment scroll must be inspected once every seven years by a qualified sofer.