SEALED MEZUZAH CASE

Abstract

A mezuzah case includes a housing made of a vacuum-sealable material, a protective layer inside the mezuzah case configured to prevent damage to a mezuzah inside the mezuzah case from sun or light or other external conditions; and a heat and fire insulator inside the mezuzah case.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ritual article case, and particularly to a mezuzah case that seals and protects the mezuzah from deteriorating with time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with Judaic law, a small scroll, called a mezuzah, is inscribed with Biblical verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21) and is usually placed in a case, which is attached to a doorpost of a room or doorway.

It is important that the scroll of Biblical verses be maintained in good condition. Hence, it is necessary that the scroll be checked periodically to either confirm its good condition or to replace a deteriorated scroll with a new scroll having halachically verified script. Mezuzahs placed on home doorposts are generally required to be checked twice in seven years.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to provide a mezuzah case that seals and protects the mezuzah from deteriorating with time, and a method for placing the mezuzah into the mezuzah case. Prominent experts on Jewish law have determined that with the mezuzah case of the invention, there is no need to remove and inspect the mezuzah and it is assumed the mezuzah is intact.

There is provided in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a housing made of a vacuum-sealable material, a protective layer inside the mezuzah case configured to prevent damage to a mezuzah inside the mezuzah case from sun or light or other external conditions; and a heat and fire insulator inside the mezuzah case. A mezuzah may be vacuum-sealed inside the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are simplified pictorial and end-view illustrations, respectively, of a mezuzah case, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate a mezuzah case 10, in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The mezuzah case 10 may include a housing made of any material which can be vacuum sealed without damage to the mezuzah that is placed inside before the sealing process. One non-limiting suitable material is borosilicate glass. The glass may come from the manufacturer as a long glass tube, which can be cut to be appropriate for any mezuzah length, e.g., without limitation, 15 cm, 18.5 cm, and more. The diameter may be, e.g., without limitation, 14 mm or 16 mm or others.

The glass tube (the housing) may be closed at one end by melting the glass at that end with a torch. The glass tube may be heat treated (tempered), without limitation, for 12 hours in an oven at 1400° C. The tube may be protected by ceramic wool to prevent charring or blackening during heat treatment. The tube may be removed from the oven and immediately closed with a cork and the like to preserve the cleanliness and sterility of the inside of the tube. The inside of the tube may be cleaned with 70% alcohol with cotton and dried in air or sun or oven.

After the tube is clean, one may insert the mezuzah 11 carefully into the tube. FIG. 2 shows the mezuzah 11 in the case 10 before vacuum sealing. The mezuzah may be wrapped or the inside of the mezuzah case housing may be lined (or otherwise covered) with a protective layer 12, such as but not limited to, aluminum foil or a reflective metal layer and such, to prevent damage to the mezuzah from sun or light or other external conditions. The mezuzah may be wrapped (or otherwise covered) or the inside of the mezuzah case housing may be lined with a heat and fir insulator 14, such as but not limited to, insulating ceramic wool, e.g., 0.5-1 cm thick.

The tube may then be vacuum sealed with a torch. This may include creating a vacuum in the tube with a vacuum pump, and heating a small portion of the tube near the insertion end so that the walls of the tube collapse (due to the greater atmospheric pressure outside the tube) and unite to form a sealed end. This heat is not conducted to the portion where the mezuzah is located so as not to damage the mezuzah. An inert gas, such as but not limited to, helium gas, may be introduced into the tube to preserve the mezuzah, such as in a Schlenk line. This completes the vacuum closure and the mezuzah and its case are ready for installment on a doorpost.

Without limitation, suitable insulating ceramic wools include FIXWOOL coatings and rigidizers, from UNIFRAX fiber insulation products, INSULFRAX insulating paper, FIBERFRAX, DURABOARD, SUPERWOOL PLUS and SUPERWOOL BLANKET made of long SUPERWOOL fibers, and others.

Claims

1. A mezuzah case comprising: a housing made of a vacuum-sealable material;a protective layer inside said mezuzah case configured to prevent damage to a mezuzah inside said mezuzah case from sun or light or other external conditions; anda heat and fire insulator inside said mezuzah case.

2. The mezuzah case according to claim 1, further comprising a mezuzah vacuum-sealed inside said housing.

3. The mezuzah case according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made of glass.

4. The mezuzah case according to claim 1, wherein an inside of said housing is lined with said protective layer.

5. The mezuzah case according to claim 2, wherein said mezuzah is covered with said protective layer.

6. The mezuzah case according to claim 1, wherein an inside of said housing is lined with said heat and fire insulator.

7. The mezuzah case according to claim 2, wherein said mezuzah is covered with said heat and fire insulator.

8. The mezuzah case according to claim 2, further comprising an inert gas inside said housing.