Hanukat HaBayit ("dedication of the house") is a Jewish house-warming party. The Hanukat HaBayit is when the Mezuzah is affixed to the front door of your new home. It is a tradition to infuse the start of a new home with blessings, warmth and holiness. This is the time when we can appreciate the importance of a Jewish home. One might think that most of our essential functions take place in the synagogue, but if you take a look, you will see that, in fact, they mostly take place in our homes. We light our Shabbat candles and Hanukkiah in our home. We celebrate the Sabbath, Passover seders and other holidays around our dining tables, we build our sukkah in our yards, raise our children, and mourn our loved ones who pass in our homes. So why not celebrate your new home when affixing your mezuzah? Please contact Bonnie Cohen, Rabbis’ Administrative Assistant at bonnie@betham.com or 858.481.8454, to schedule a time when one of our rabbis can visit your home to affix your mezuzah.
However, if you want a more intimate family gathering, below is the blessing to affix the mezuzah:
Barukh ata adonay eloheynu melekh haolam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu likboah mezuzah.
Blessed are you, God, Sovereign/Spirit of the Universe, who has sanctified us with God's commandments and commanded us to affix the mezuzah.
