The single most important prayer in Judaism is the Shema. At least that’s what most of us believe—although, since we’re talking about Jews, you know there’s gotta be at least some debate. One section commands Jews to remember God’s words, teach them to their children, and to place them “on the doorposts of thy house.” This is the reason why many Jews place on their doorpost a mezuzah—a small casing that holds a scroll on which the Shema is written. More broadly, doing so signifies that one’s dwelling is the home of a Jewish family. That’s a lot more religion than I’m used to writing about, in particular on a website focused on politics. But this wasn’t just any old dwelling, and we aren’t talking about just any old family. Read more