Jewish Scene
Chief rabbi: Mezuzah mandatory in yachts
Ofer Petersburg
Published: 12.11.10, 16:21
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15 Talkbacks for this article
1. What!?!? what about the shmear of lamb's blood?
seadog1946 ,   Shooters Island, NJ   (11.12.10)
2. i guess they wanted a piece of the action
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (11.12.10)
3. By definition..................
Philip ,   Afula, Israel   (11.13.10)
An exercise in trivia.
4. really?
tom ,   toronto, canada   (11.13.10)
did ancient ships (which were longer than 2.5 m and higher than 1m) have mezuzoth? not to contradict the good rabbi, but the torah only requires a mezuzah on your house and your gate, NOT your residence (megurekha). even if the rabbis extended the Torah's commandment to "residences", yachts aren't cruise ships or house boats - people don't usually think of living on yachts, but of taking trips or vacations. perhaps the rabbi can think of a better way to drum up some extra "business".
5. I suppose
Raptor   (11.13.10)
this ruling is based on the premise that Noah's ark had a mezuzza and the representative of each species kissed it upon entering and exiting. No end to religious nonsense, no end.
6. and he gets a salary for this ?
Michael ,   Haifa   (11.13.10)
7. At Least You Don't Have to Build An Eruv
Michael ,   Boston, MA, USA   (11.13.10)
That is defined as the ship, if you are in more than five hands of water. How is that for "handing" you a freebie?
8. mezuzot on boats
Sailor ,   Florida   (11.14.10)
I agree with the rabbi. There might be some people who live on their boats at the Tel Aviv marina permanently.
9. courage of seadog
Mordechai ,   MANCHESTER UK   (11.14.10)
Seadog1946 has great courage to display such blistering ignorance. Any kid in cheder knows that only once in the history of the Jewish people was the "shmearing" (sic) of blood on doorposts mandated, i.e. at the time of the first pessach.
10. The rabbi needs a lesson in history
Norman Gellman ,   Rehovot   (11.14.10)
Ancient ships were at sea for months not weeks. Ancient ships did not have mezuzahs, perhaps because they were manned and captained by non Jews. If you go on a 2 week vacation and rent a room or house do you then have to affix mezuzahs even if the premises’ is owned by a non Jew? How does the rabbi come to the conclusion that 2 weeks is equivalent to being in residence? Maybe the local authorities should accept this idea and tax people who are on vacation residence taxes. Is the rabbi getting a little senile? This ruling is just not logical asnd should be ignored. Of course if someone actually lives on a boat or a ship instead of on land the need for a mezuzah would be relevant.
11. also on public toilets outdoors
reverand almoggy   (11.14.10)
if you stay inside longer than it naturally takes you, ie, you are constipated or doing illegal drugs then it is advisable to touch the mezuza and then wash your hands and wASH HANDS AFTER LEAVING,before touching and then wash hands as soon as possible somewhere else., in the case of an absence of mezuza on outdoor toilets then it is halakicaly okay to just do it by a tree or the side of a road, try not to expose to passing vehicles, i hop this helps.
12. #9 - pardon my ignorance... can you haul up the anchor on
seadog1946 ,   Shooters Island, NJ   (11.14.10)
shabbat or do you have to build an eruv to include the anchor buoy?
13. A pressing question
Igor ,   Germany   (11.15.10)
Did Space Shuttle which carried Ilan Ramon also have a mezuzah?
14. MAKE FUN WHILE YOU CAN
Tol Yuso ,   xXanadUu   (11.15.10)
Gods experiment in giving flatulent primates "free will" is about over and there will be no more need for the exhibits.
15. Some homeless sleep in cardboard boxes
Dan ,   R"G   (09.25.11)
Do they need to have a mezzuza? What about people who sleep in cars or trucks? What size does a van need to be to require a mezzuza?
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