"Hear, O Israel...these words that I am commanding you today shall be on your heart. And you shall point them out to your sons...And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates." D'varim (Deuteronomy) 6:1-9
Also, upside down, at the bottom of the obverse side, the words Kozu appear. These words are a cryptogram for "YHVH Elohenu YHVH" (the L-RD, our G-D, the L-RD), and are made by substituting the next letter of the alphabet for the original letters.
In order to protect the writing, it became customary to roll up the parchment and insert it into a wooden or metal container with a small opening on the side of the container, near the top. The Hebrew word Shaddai was positioned so that it would be visible through that opening. Today, many mezuzot are made without the aperture or opening that reveals the word, Shaddai.
To remind people to reach upward to G-D, the mezuzah is mounted at approximately eye level. Most people have to look up to see the mezuzah, and have to reach up to touch it. Many Jewish people usually, upon passing through the door (coming or going), touch the mezuzah and then kiss the hand that touched it, while reciting the prayer, "May G-D protect my going out and coming in, now and forever." This tradition or custom is of Talmudic origin.
As to the slant on the doorpost, some scholars believe that the position of the mezuzah was arrived at during the Middle ages, when there was a dispute as to whether the mezuzah was to be placed horizontally or vertically. A compromise was reached and the slanting position became the acceptable manner for affixing a mezuzah.
A mezuzah must be placed on the doorpost of the entrance to every building that is a residence, and on the doorposts of most of the rooms within that residence. The exceptions are bathrooms, storerooms, closets, and other areas that people do not actually live in.
The earliest evidence of the use of the mezuzah dates from the Second temple period. Very little had been added to its observance since that time. No doubt, Y'shua observed a mezuzah as He entered the homes of other Jews.
The mezuzah symbolizes not only a Jewish person's dedication to the commandments, the sanctification of the home, and the love of G-D; but also an affirmation of Jewish identity.
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