"Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

(Deut. 6:9, 11:20).

Putting up a mezuzah

1. Roll the parchment from the end to the beginning so that the word Shema is on top.
2. Place it in the mezuzah case. The mezuzah should be affixed to the upper third of the right-hand doorpost (as you enter) but no less than one handbreadth (the width of your hand) from the top. It should be tilted with the top facing inward towards the entrance.
3. Say the following blessings:

   Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu likboah mezuzah.

   Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has made us holy with mitzvot and instructed us to affix the mezuzah.

   Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam she-hecheyanu vekimanu vehigiyanu lazman hazeh.

   Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and helped us to reach this moment.

Things to remember

1. The mezuzah literally means "doorpost" but is normally taken to refer to the case which holds the parchment and then is affixed to the doorpost.
2. On the parchment, which is called the klaf (cloth), is written the Shema Yisrael and Deut 6:4-9, 11:13-31.
3. Mezuzah klaf are handscribed on parchment and should be checked twice every seven years and repaired or replaced if you can no longer read every character, similar to a Torah.
4. When moving to a new home, leave your mezuzah for the new family if they are Jewish.