Digital Maggid
ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים
vayehi mikeitz sh’natim yamim . . .
and it came to pass at the end of two full years . . .
(Genesis 41:1)
ויהי מקץ “שנתים” מאכן די ראשי תיבות: שׂמֹאל – נר – תדליק – ימין – מזוזה. מיט דער לינקער האנט זאל מען אֶנצינדען די שבת’דיגע ליכט און מיט דער רעכטער האנט זאל מען צוקלעפּען די מזוזה. (ר’ שמואל אֶסטראֶווצער).
Vayehi mikeitz “sh’natim” is an acronym for: Smol (left) – Ner (candle) – Tadlik (shall light) – Yamim (right) – Mezuzah (mezuzah). With the left hand one should light the shabbos candles and with the right hand one should attach the mezuzah.
For those who may not be familiar, “mezuzah” refers to a small encased scroll that is mounted at eye level on the doorposts (both interior and exterior) of Jewish homes. When entering or exiting the home (or rooms therein) it is customary to “kiss the mezuzah.” One does not actually kiss the mezuzah itself, but rather, taps the mezuzah (usually with two finger tips) and then brings the fingers to the lips. Written on the encased scroll are two scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21.
