Jackie Hajdenberg | JTA
A Jewish nonprofit that distributes mezuzahs has been deluged with thousands of requests after a Catholic sitcom actress launched a campaign encouraging people to put up the ritual object in support of the Jewish community.
Patricia Heaton, known for her starring roles in “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle,” announced the campaign on Sept. 23 as part of her nonprofit, The October 7 Coalition, a Christian group founded after the Hamas attack in Israel last year to support the Jewish community and Israel.
“As we head toward the one year anniversary of October 7th, I ask that you please join me in the #MyzuzahYourzuzah campaign to show solidarity with your Jewish friends and neighbors, fight antisemitism and bless your household,” says Heaton’s post, accompanied by a video of her affixing a mezuzah on the right side of her doorpost in the manner traditionally practiced by Jews.
The text then gives instructions for how to order a mezuzah and post a video about the campaign before Oct. 7. The post directs readers to MyZuzah, a Jewish nonprofit that aims to put a mezuzah — an encased piece of rolled-up parchment bearing the first two paragraphs of the “Shema” prayer — on every Jewish home in the world, as Jewish law prescribes.
Alex Shapero, MyZuzah’s program director, told JTA that since the campaign launched on Monday, the organization has already fielded thousands of requests. Most of the inquiries from people who aren’t Jewish, he said, were for the case only, not for the scroll that goes inside, which is called a “klaf.”
“When a non-Jew comes to us, we encourage them or invite them to purchase a mezuzah case and do that. That shows support,” Shapero said. “If they want to also purchase a kosher klaf, they’re welcome to — but we are really clear, explicitly explain to them that it’s an obligation for Jews only.”
Proceeds from the sale of mezuzahs on the MyZuzah website, which partners with various Judaica artists and Jewish nonprofits, go back into the organization’s subsidies for providing free mezuzahs and scrolls for eligible families.
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Catholic,Jewish community,Jewish News,Jewish tradition,kibbitz,mezuzah,Oct. 7,Oct. 7 anniversary,Patricia Heaton,solidarity
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