Q. This question came up over Shabbos, and got me thinking. Some mezuzos have Shem Hashem on the case. If such a Mezuzah is on a bedroom doorway, would it be assur to change in there? If so, would the same issue arise from having a shma card hanging on the wall with Shem Hashem? If the shma card does not have Hashem written out, but has full pesukim (shma, hamalach, rigzu...) or tehillim, is this a problem?
A. Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 286: 14) rules that it is preferable to place the mezuza of a bedroom on the frame on the outside of the door, the mezuza now being on the exterior of the room when the door is closed, thus avoiding issues of honoring the kedusha of the mezuza, including yours.
If it cannot be done, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that Hashem’s name on the mezuza case requires double covering, similar to the parchment inside. (See Agur Beohalecha 9:5, Shaarei Mezuza 18: 8). He added, that you may be lenient in need, if the name of Hashem is written or engraved vertically.
Cards and posters that have Hashem’s names or psukim, should not be displayed in a bedroom.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
